News

The number of Southern Californians primarily working from home more than tripled between 2019 and 2021 – a “dramatic and universal” surge that has significantly impacted the commuting landscape across the region since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new analysis of U.S. Census data shows.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), as the CEQA Lead Agency, has released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for Connect SoCal 2024 (2024-2050 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy). Release of the NOP initiates a 30-day public review and comment period from October 17, 2022 and ends November 16, 2022 at 5:00 PM (PST) to seek input from interested parties on the scope and content of the Connect SoCal 2024 Draft PEIR. The NOP of the Draft PEIR for Connect SoCal 2024 is posted at /peir.

On Nov. 3, 2022, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) released its 2022 Racial Equity Baseline Conditions Report, which is available as a tool to further understand where the six-county region stands regarding advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the region. 

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has been awarded a $1.18 million grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to fund continued work on its regional traffic safety and community engagement program, Go Human.

At the 13^th Annual Southern California Economic Summit, hosted Thursday by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), economists reporting on each of the six SCAG region counties indicated Southern California’s current economic strengths as:

On Dec. 7, the California Transportation Commission adopted the Statewide Component of the Active Transportation Program, which will bring nearly $345 million in much-needed funds for 22 projects across the SCAG region. Next year SCAG will work with the commission to program an additional $343 million for the region in the MPO Component of this program.

SCAG-region projects included in the funding approval:

With 2022 coming to an end, we extend a sincere thank you on behalf of everyone at SCAG. As we continue to work together to achieve our unified goals, the region is looking toward a brighter future because of our collaboration.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY & PUBLIC HEARINGS

The Draft Amendment 3 to the Connect SoCal 2020 (2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy “2020 RTP/SCS” or “Connect SoCal 2020”) and the Draft 2023 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) Consistency Amendment #23-03 including the associated transportation conformity analysis are available for public review and comment. Information on how to provide public comment is contained in this notice.

Applications for the 2023 SCAG Scholarship Program are now open. The program offers a $4,000 scholarship award for seven high school seniors or community college students from the SCAG region (and potentially two additional scholarship awards that are not tied to a specific county but may be awarded at the Regional Council’s discretion). Recipients may also have the opportunity to meet with elected officials and practicing planners to learn more about careers in public service.  

To apply to the SCAG Scholarship Program, students must submit:  

Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday afternoon awards of more than $1.3 billion in state funding to transit and rail capital projects in Southern California, providing a major boost to regional efforts to significantly improve transportation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, congestion and vehicle miles traveled. 

CalSTA’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) is awarding approximately $2.5 billion to 16 existing projects throughout the state, including $1.3 billion for seven projects in the six-county SCAG region.  

Public Review and Comment Period

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On March 2, 2023, SCAG released its Fiscal Year 2023-24 Draft Overall Work Program.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) on Thursday urged significant investment in infrastructure, technology and systems to support the region’s role as a global supply chain hub and an economic engine that directly or indirectly accounts for more than one-third of all jobs in the six counties.

A resolution adopted by SCAG’s Regional Council called on local, state and federal partners to continue investing in a “safe, secure, clean and efficient multi-modal transportation system, including both highways and rail, to support the movement of goods across the region.”

On Friday, March 10 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced $66 million in outreach grants to fund projects to expand participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).  SCAG will be awarded $500,000 of the ACP Outreach Grant Program funds to utilize in helping bridge the digital divide through implementing innovative strategies to reach historically underserved and unserved communities across jurisdictions. This grant is aligned with SCAG’s resolution to assist in helping close the gap in digital equity.  

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Southern California Association of Governments, pursuant to the authority vested in it by Section 87306 of the Government Code, proposes amendment to its Conflict of Interest Code. A comment period has been established commencing on April 4, 2023 and closing on May 19, 2023. All inquiries should be directed to the contact listed below.

The folllowing is a brief round up of activity from the April 6 SCAG Regional Council meeting.

Digital Action Plan

The Regional Council approved the Digital Action Plan, which outlines SCAG’s actions to provide digital accessibility and foster an equitable, prosperous and resilient region for all residents.  

The Draft Connect SoCal 2020 Amendment #3 and 2023 FTIP Consistency Amendment #23-03 were previously released for a 30-day public review and comment period in Winter 2023.

As a precautionary measure, the revisions are shared for another 15-day public review. This 15-day public review period also provides an opportunity for county transportation commissions to program Surface Transportation Block Grant Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funds to projects in the 2023 FTIP Consistency Amendment #23-03 and have those funds approved prior to June 30, 2023.

Seven innovative projects across the six-county region will be honored by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) at the 2023 Sustainability Awards ceremonies at SCAG’s Regional Conference and General Assembly May 4 in Palm Desert. The awards recognize excellence and innovation in planning, land use and transportation to improve mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability.   

Nearly 1,000 local and regional leaders are gathering today and tomorrow in Palm Desert for the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2023 Regional Conference & General Assembly, one of the largest events of its kind in the United States. As the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, SCAG represents six counties, 191 cities and a population of nearly 19 million.  

The Southern California Association of Governments is in receipt of the 2023 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) Amendment #23-08 for Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. The Public Review period starts on May 12, 2023 and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. on May 22, 2023.

A copy of the Project Listing is located on the SCAG FTIP website Proposed Amendment link at /2023-proposed-amendments.

Please note that some of the changes or project additions may be for projects funded with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 funds. This public involvement opportunity is provided to meet the public involvement requirements for the program of projects.