2027 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
The 2027 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), spanning from 2027 to 2055, provides a collective vision for the region’s future to balance transportation and housing needs with social, economic, and environmental goals. The RTP helps guide future planning efforts and policy decisions that affect transportation. This long-range plan aims to achieve a coordinated, balanced, and multimodal regional transportation system that speaks to improvements and investments in all modes, which include but are not limited to pedestrian, bicycle, public transit, highway, rail, maritime and harbors, goods movement, and aviation. There are four elements that make up the RTP:
- The Policy Element describes the goals and policies that inform regional transportation planning, programming, and prioritization of projects, programs, and services.
- The Financial Element identifies funding sources for the RTP, including federal, state, and local funds. It ensures that the plan is financially feasible by providing realistic projections of available funding. The RTP must be fiscally constrained, meaning that planned projects must fit within the estimated budget. Some projects may be labeled as “unfunded,” meaning they are needed but lack the necessary financial resources for completion.
- The Action Element details the specific transportation programs and investments proposed for the region. It includes short-term, mid-term, and long-term activities and assigns responsibilities for implementation. This element covers a range of transportation modes, such as highways, public transportation, active transportation (like biking and walking), and freight systems.
- The Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) is required by Senate Bill 375 (2008) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by aligning transportation infrastructure with land use and housing policies. The California State Air Resources Board requires that our SCS meet their emission thresholds.
Where Are We in the Development Process? (As of May 2026)
The 2027 RTP process officially started in December 2024 with SLOCOG Board approval. Also approved in 2024, the 2024 Public Involvement Plan (PIP) serves as our outreach guide for the RTP development process. All four elements have started, and sections have been brought to the SLOCOG Board in August 2025, October 2025, and December 2025. Our next presentation to the SLOCOG Board will be during the April 2026 Board Meeting.
How to Get Involved
Staff continues to provide RTP 101 presentations to City Councils and interested organizations. If your organization is interested in receiving one, please contact us! There will be an in-person RTP study session on January 13th, 2026, as part of the SLOCOG Workshop Series. For questions or more information contact Sara Sanders, at [email protected].
2027 RTP Environmental Review
The NOP and Project Description can be viewed here: Notice of Preparation and Environmental Review
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that public agencies consider the potentially significant adverse environmental effects of projects over which they have discretionary approval authority before acting on those projects (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.). According to California Code of Regulations Section 15064(f)(1), preparation of an EIR is required whenever a project may result in a significant adverse environmental effect. For the 2027 RTP, SLOCOG proposes to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) that will update the 2019 RTP PEIR and the 2023 Amendments to the 2019 PEIR.
Procedural steps for completing a PEIR include:
Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Scoping – The NOP solicits input from responsible and trustee agencies and interested parties on the content and scope of the EIR, including potential environmental effects that are of most concern and what alternatives should be analyzed in the PEIR. SLOCOG is initiating the NOP and scoping process in January 2026. The NOP is being published in the State Clearinghouse and filed with the County Clerk on January 15, 2026. The 30-day public comment period will end on February 16, 2026 SLOCOG is hosting a virtual Scoping Meeting on February 11, 2026, from 5:30-6:00 PM. Please register for the Scoping Meeting at: https://bit.ly/2027RTPNOP. Comments on the NOP will be accepted between January 15 through February 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM. For questions or NOP responses please contact Monica Stillman at [email protected].
Draft EIR and Public Notice/Public Review – Anticipated to occur in early 2027 with publication of Notice of Availability of the draft EIR and a 45-day public comment period.
Response to Comments on Draft EIR/Final EIR – Anticipated to be completed for certification by the SLOCOG Board of Commissioners in late Spring 2027.
Notice of Determination – The NOD documents certification of the final EIR; it is expected to be filed after certification of the Final EIR in 2027.
2023 RTP
Our current RTP is the 2023 Regional Transportation Plan. It remains as our guiding document until the adoption of the 2027 RTP.
Review the Final 2023 Regional Transportation Plan
Review the 2024 Public Involvement Plan
This page will continue to be updated as the RTP process evolves, and public outreach efforts begin in mid-2025. For questions or more information contact SLOCOG Planning Supervisor, Sara Sanders, at [email protected].