Regional Activity Centers

The TPB Vision called for the development of a composite land use and transportation map of the region. On April 17, 2002 the TPB voted to accept a set of six maps and supporting data depicting regional activity centers as well as those transportation projects expected to receive funding over the next 25 years. The regional activity centers are intended to have a mix of jobs, housing and services in a walkable environment. The maps and data have been developed for use by local jurisdictions, the TPB and other regional bodies to encourage mixed-use development and to significantly increase the percentage of jobs and households that are found in regional activity centers.

The process of developing the maps was conducted primarily by COG's Planning Directors Technical Advisory Committee, with review by a joint task force including members of the TPB and COG's Board of Directors. In July of 1999, an initial map with a depiction of activity centers was transmitted to the COG board. But it was soon determined that more than one map would be needed because different perspectives needed to be addressed and not all of the data could be appropriately combined in one map.

The source data for the activity centers maps is COG's Cooperative forecasts, which are based on the local jurisdictions' projections of population, households and employment. The data for the project was organized and depicted according to criteria and presentation tools approved by the Planning Directors Advisory Committee. The source of the transportation maps is the CLRP as adopted in 2000.