NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT 2027 FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE DRAFT 2026 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN/ SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES STRATEGY, CORRESPONDING DRAFT CONFORMITY ANALYSIS, AND DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Merced County Association of Governments will hold two public hearings regarding the Draft 2026 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (2026 RTP/SCS), the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the Draft 2027 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (2027 FTIP) and the corresponding Draft Air Quality Conformity Analysis for the 2027 FTIP and 2026 RTP/SCS. The public hearings will be on Monday, July 13 at 5:30 PM at the Los Banos Community Center at 645 7th Street, Los Banos, CA 93635 and on Thursday, July 16 at 3:00 PM at the Merced County Administration Building 3rd Floor, Board of Supervisors Chambers, 2222 M Street, Merced, CA 95340 and via Zoom at https://zoom.us/join webinar ID: 889 8618 0672 passcode: 36918 audio only: 1-669-900-6833. The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public comments on these documents. • The 2026 RTP/SCS is a long-term coordinated transportation/land use strategy to meet Merced County's transportation needs out to the year 2049. • The EIR document provides an analysis of potential environmental impacts related to the implementation of the RTP/SCS as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. • The 2027 FTIP is a near-term listing of capital improvement and operational expenditures utilizing federal and state monies for transportation projects in Merced County during the next four years. Public participation for the 2027 FTIP satisfies the program of projects (POP) requirements of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Urbanized Area Formula Program Section 5307 and FTA Bus and Bus Facilities Program Section 5339. If no comments are received on the proposed POP, the proposed transit program (funded with FTA 5307 and FTA 5339 dollars) will be the final program. • The corresponding Conformity Analysis contains the documentation to support a finding that the 2027 FTIP and 2026 RTP/SCS meet the air quality conformity requirements for ozone and particulate matter. Interpreting Services may not be available at MCAG's public meeting unless requested at least three (3) business days in advance. Please call (209) 723-3153 during regular business hours or email info@mcagov.org to request interpreting services. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact MCAG at (209) 723-3153 at least three (3) days in advance of the meeting to request auxiliary aids or other accommodations necessary to participate in the public meeting. The 55-day public review and comment period for the 2026 RTP/SCS begins June 5, 2026. The 45-day public review and comment period for the EIR begins June 16, 2026. The 30-day public review and comment period for the Draft 2027 FTIP and corresponding Conformity Analysis begins July 1, 2026. The draft documents will be available for review at the Merced County Association of Governments offices, located at 369 W. 18th Street Merced, CA 95340 and on the MCAG website at https://www.mcagov.org/301/Regional-Transportation-Plan when the public review period begins. Public comments on all documents are welcomed at the hearing or may be submitted in writing by 5 PM on Friday, July 31, 2026, to Elizabeth Forte, Director of Planning and Programming, at the address below. After considering the comments, the documents will be considered for adoption, by resolution, by the Merced County Association of Governments Governing Board at a regularly scheduled meeting to be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM. The documents will then be submitted to state and federal agencies for approval. Contact Person: Elizabeth Forte, Director of Planning and Programming 369 W. 18th Street Merced, CA 95340 (209) 769-0055 planning@mcagov.org IPL0346383 Jun 5 2026