Maricopa Association of Governments

Transportation Planning - the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) jointly issued Planning Emphasis Areas (PEAs) in March 2015. the PEAs included: (1) FAST Act Implementation: Transition to Performance-Based planning and programming, (2) Regional Models of Planning Cooperation: promote cooperation and coordination across MPO boundaries and across state boundaries where appropriate to ensure a regional approach to transportation planning, and (3) Ladders of Opportunity: Access to essential services, MAG planning efforts are incorporated into the multimodal Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). During FY 2023, MAG transportation planning efforts continued to address the key elements of the urban transportation planning process, including (1) long-range system planning, (2) project programming and implementation, (3) safety, operations, and performance assessment, and (4) travel forecasting and analysis. Planning activities covered a broad range of transportation modes and programs, including freeways and highways, arterial streets, transit, active transportation, safety, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), freight and goods movement, and performance monitoring. These planning efforts included consultation with federal, state, Native nation, and environmental and resource agencies, as well as public outreach and involvement. A state-of-the-practice travel demand model was maintained to support the analytical needs of the planning process. During FY 2023, MAG transportation planning efforts continued to address the key elements of the urban transportation planning process, including (1) long-range system planning, (2) project programming and implementation, (3) safety, operations, and performance assessment, and (4) travel forecasting and analysis. Planning activities covered a broad range of transportation modes and programs, including freeways and highways, arterial streets, transit, active transportation, safety, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), freight and goods movement, and performance monitoring. These planning efforts included consultation with federal, state, Native nation, and environmental and resource agencies, as well as public outreach and involvement. A state-of-the-practice travel demand model was maintained to support the analytical needs of the planning process.

Regional Analytics- The primary responsibility of the Regional Analytics Program is to develop socioeconomic estimates and projections for use by MAG and member agency planning and modeling activities. In accordance with Executive Order 2011-04, the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) approves resident population totals for each county, while MAG develops subregional estimates and projections based upon the Maricopa County resident population control totals. Midyear estimates of resident population by municipal boundaries are produced annually. Municipal Resident Population Esitmates are used to determine municipak expenditure limits and billions of dollars a year in state-shared revenue and are produced every five years. Projections of population, housing units, and employment are developed using the latest decennial or special census as the base. These projections are developed at three levels of subregional geography: Municipal Planning Area (MPA), Regional Analysis Zone (RAZ), and Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ). The projections are used for a wide variety of other regional planning programs. In particular, these projections and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) coverage and data that are used as input to these projections, facilitate the review and analysis of issues and provide consistent credible information for MAG and MAG member agencies.

Environmental Planning - The Environmental Planning Division planning areas include the areas of Sold Waste Management, Water Quality Planning, and Air Quality Planning. The MAG Regional Solid Waste Management Plan is designed to provide for systems-level regional solid waste management planning and to prevent adverse public health and environmental effects resulting from improper solid waste collection, processing, or disposal. MAG is the designated Regional Water Quality Management Planning Program for the Maricopa County Area. This designation was made by Governor Jack Williams in 1974 in accordance with Section 208 of the Clean Water Act. The initial MAG 208 Water Quality Management Plan was prepared in 1979 with revisions in 1982, 1993, 2002, and 2014. The plan serves as the key guiding document for the Regional Water Quality Management Planning Program. MAG was designated as the Regional Air Quality Planning Agency for Maricopa County area by Governor Wesley Bolin in 1978. MAG is responsible for developing air quality plan revisions in accordance with the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. MAG also conducts conformity analysis on the Transportation Improvement Program and the MAG Regional Transportation Plan. MAG pursues a number of other continuing activities in air quality including tracking the air quality inventory data, analyzing air quality control strategies to reduce emissions, reviewing in implementation status of ongoing measures, and reviewing legislation, regulations, and technical guidelines.

Human Services Planning - Since 1976, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Human Services Planning Program has worked closely with a broad range of partners to develop coordinated, regional solutions that respond to the emerging needs and opportunities in each community. This work is conducted through extensive community engagement, sound data analysis, and inclusive consensus building. The MAG Human Services Planning Program identifies strategies to end domestic violence and homelessness, coordinate human services transportation, enhance age-friendly communities, and coordinate regional human services planning. These activities are either federal mandates, as a requirement to receive funding or have been identified as a priority by the MAG Regional Council. The MAG Continuum of Care Board along with the MAG Continuum of Care Regional Committee on Homelessness provide direction on homeless planning and policy. This is done through updates to the Regional Plan to End Homelessness and a consolidated application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support homeless assistance programs. The MAG Regional Domestic Violence Council develops and implements strategies including the Regional Plan to End Domestic Violence and reduces the incidence of trauma associated with domestic violence. The current area of focus is enhancing the regional criminal justice system's response to domestic violence through the MAG Protocol Evaluation Project. Finally, the Ad Hoc Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Transportation Committee determines a priority listing of Section 5310 applications for vehicles, radio equipment, software, and mobility management funds to transport older adults and people with disabilities. Program Implementation-This division has both Air Quality and Transportation projects. The goal of the air quality programs is to reduce particulate pollution through the purchase of PM-10 Street Sweepers, Trip Reduction, Travel Reduction, and Telecommute and Ozone Reduction projects. During the FY, MAG distributed funds to member agencies for qualified street sweeper purchases. MAG assists employers in the region in achievement of the trip reduction goals through programs and services. MAG also assists with programs that support trip reduction policies, amenities and facilities that enhance the use of commute alternatives. Transportation Implementation projects include an educational campaign for the reduction of litter on the freeways and arterial roads, Intelligent Transportation Systems, traffic signal optimization projects, and communication on transportation issues through regional community network data via fiber optics.