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Orinda officials say regional transit‑oriented‑community guidelines need refinement after MTC meeting
Summary
Council members and staff reported meeting with MTC leadership and neighboring city officials to raise concerns about Transit‑Oriented Communities (TOC) guidelines, saying the policy in its current form is difficult for Orinda to implement and that MTC staff are considering less punitive, more incentive‑based approaches.
Council members reported Oct. 7 on a meeting with Sue Nowak of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and representatives of nearby cities, where they expressed concerns that regional Transit‑Oriented Community (TOC) guidelines would be difficult for Orinda to meet.
Council members said they told MTC staff that the TOC approach as written can be punitive and does not account for Orinda’s local conditions — including wildfire risks and a development pattern that limits transit‑oriented urban density. They reported MTC staff acknowledged the feedback and said the commission has substantial recent turnover; staff are considering options that may shift TOC from a punitive compliance model toward incentive‑based approaches. Council members said this could allow more time and flexibility for jurisdictions to respond and that MTC will consider proposals at future meetings.
Council members framed the discussion as one in which regional staff are hearing shared concerns from many member agencies rather than a single‑jurisdiction complaint. The council directed no formal action but noted the city will continue engagement with MTC and regional partners on guidelines and funding allocation questions.
