Councils of Government (COG)
Councils of Government (COG)
A COG is a regional body with voluntary membership that provides a forum for regional transportation planning, collaboration, and decision making in regions comprising several counties with a total contiguously urbanized population of less than 50,000. COGs work with ADOT and other partners to facilitate cross-agency regional transportation discussions, and develop transportation plans and programs for their regions as outlined in the JPA and the Work Program (WP). Arizona has four COGs. The COGs are the primary communications channel between ADOT and the rural local governments.
Central Arizona Government (CAG)
CAG is a COG that serves as the regional planning agency for the rural portions of Pinal and Gila counties, which together comprise approximately 10,170 square miles in southern central Arizona. CAG’s member agencies include the two counties, 17 municipalities, and three Native American nations: the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
The CAG region has experienced rapid population growth. Between 2000 and 2010, the region’s population grew from 231,062 to 429,367. This was a growth rate of 86 percent in that decade, compared with 25 percent for Arizona and 9 percent for the United States. However, with the formation of the SCMPO, the CAG region now represents 83,803, based on a smaller geographic areas. One of the CAG member municipalities is the city of Casa Grande. In the 2010 Census, Casa Grande’s municipal population of 48,571, together with additional population in adjoining areas, triggered a federal requirement to form an MPO in 2013. Casa Grande and other members of the new MPO continue to be members of CAG.
Contacts
Central Arizona Association of Governments (CAG)
Andrea Robles, Interim Executive Director
2540 W. Apache Trail, # 108
Apache Junction, AZ 85120
Phone: 480.474.9300
Fax: 480.474.9306
Central Arizona Association of Governments (CAG)
Travis Ashbaugh, Transportation Planning Manager
2540 W. Apache Trail, # 108
Apache Junction, AZ 85120
Phone: 480.474.9300
Fax: 480.474.9306
Northern Arizona Council of Government (NACOG)
NACOG is a nonprofit membership corporation that represents rural local governments within the four Arizona counties of Apache, Coconino, Navajo, and Yavapai. This vast four-county region covers approximately 48,000 square miles and had a combined population of 318,375 in the 2010 Census. Thus it encompasses about 42 percent of Arizona’s area but accounts for only 8 percent of the state’s population. This planning area is larger than the state of Pennsylvania (as well as 18 other states). NACOG’s member jurisdictions include the four counties, 22 municipalities, and seven Native American tribes.
Contacts
Chris Fetzer, NACOG Executive Director
119 E. Aspen Ave.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 774-1895
Jennifer O’Connor, NACOG Planning Director
323 N. San Francisco St., Ste. A
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 543-9144
Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO)
SEAGO is a rural regional planning agency for the area consisting of Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz counties. Its 19-member jurisdictions include the four counties, 14 municipalities, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The SEAGO region has a combined area of 13,946 square miles. With the formation of the SVMPO, the SEAGO region now represents 228,412 residents, based on a smaller geographic region.
Contacts
Southeastern Arizona Government Organization (SEAGO)
Randy Heiss, Executive Director
1403 W. Hwy 92
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Phone: 520.432.5301x202
Fax: 520.432.5858
Southeastern Arizona Government Organization (SEAGO)
Chris Vertrees, Transportation Planner
1403 W. Hwy 92
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Phone: 520.432.5301x209
Fax: 520.432.5858
Western Arizona Council of Government (WACOG)
WACOG is a voluntary association of rural local governments serving La Paz, Mohave, and Yuma counties, which total about 23,500 square miles, or 20 percent of the state’s total area, whereas the region’s population of 165,172 residents in 2010 represented only 6.5 percent of Arizona’s population. WACOG’s member entities include three counties and 10 municipalities. WACOG’s boundary is shown in figure 1-13.
The WACOG planning area is bordered by the Colorado River, California and Nevada to the west, by Utah to the north, and by Mexico to the south. Some cities along the Mexican border and other YMPO member cities have experienced significant growth. Additionally, the winter visitor population adds over 100,000 additional temporary residents to Yuma County. Several reservations are within the WACOG area including the Hualapai Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the Cocopah Tribe. This large geographical and racially diverse region presents challenges in planning, advocacy, and delivery of services to rural segments of western Arizona.
Contacts
Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG)
Brian Babiars, Executive Director
224 S. Third Ave.
Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone: 928.782.1886
Fax: 928.329.4248
Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG)
Roland Hulse, Senior Transportation Manager
208 N 4th St.
Kingman, AZ 86401
Phone: 928.377.1070
Fax: 928.753.7038
