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Mobility hubs—facilities

First Quarter, 2025

SCAG’s Economic Roundtable met on Feb. 20 for its first quarterly meeting in 2025 to review trends, data, and current events impacting the region’s economy. The new U.S. presidential administration and the Southern California wildfires dominated the discussion as the impacts of these events on the region’s economy are still unfolding.  

The following overarching themes emerged from the conversation: 

The FFY 2026-27 and FFY 2027-28 STBG/CMAQ Program Guidelines were officially approved by the SCAG Regional Council on March 6. The Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program supports projects that improve highways, bridges, roads, pedestrian infrastructure, and transit capital. The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program supports projects that reduce congestion and improve air quality, particularly in nonattainment areas. The updated guidelines will govern the upcoming call for project nominations for an estimated $1.2 billion in federal transportation funding available for eligible projects in the SCAG region.

As Southern California addresses the destruction caused by wildfires around the region, SCAG is committed to supporting local agencies in the collective work of recovery and resilience.  

Every level of government, from local to federal, has mobilized to ease the recovery work of communities affected by the wildfires. SCAG’s Legislative Affairs team has been monitoring these developments to inform local agencies in Southern California about the recovery effort, compiling the following list of recovery actions at the federal, state, and city level:

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Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Guidelines Now Available 

On March 6, the SCAG Regional Council approved the federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fi

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) received various program and project modifications to the 2025 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), summarized as proposed Amendment #25-03, from the county transportation commissions representing Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Various and Ventura counties. The public review period starts on Feb. 24 and will conclude at 5 p.m. on March 5.  

A copy of the project listing is located on the SCAG FTIP website.  

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Joint Policy Committee Holds Panel Discussion on Regional Resilience

As Southern California grapples with the destruction caused by January wildfires, SCAG is committed to supporting local agencies in the collective work of recovery and resilience.

The 2025 SCAG Student Showcase is now open for submissions. Apply online by March 13 at 10 a.m.  

The Student Showcase challenges students to create posters and StoryMaps that tell a story, provide insight, showcase plans and projects, engage stakeholders, and illustrate the possibilities of open data at the regional level. By submitting, Student Showcase participants compete to receive cash prizes.  

The fires in Southern California that erupted earlier this month continue to threaten communities in the region—but recovery work is already aimed at reducing the disruption and displacement of residents and businesses affected by the fires. 

The SCAG Regional Rail Station Area Housing Analysis supported efforts across the region to accelerate housing production at all income levels, at or near regional rail stations (e.g., Metrolink). More specifically, the analysis stimulated residential development in select station areas with the most development potential by systematically identifying opportunity areas, coordinating with local jurisdictions, and implementing actions that will drive the production of housing and housing-supportive infrastructure. 

The Other-to-Residential Toolkit is a unique tool that guides pl

SCAG partnered with the California Community Foundation, the Irv

The Housing Policy Leadership Academy (HPLA) offered a 10-month educational and training program across eight cohorts to explore how different policy solutions shape the physical and social landscape, to influence the capacity to produce housing for all, and to study how to proactively accelerate housing production. The online training course gathered local leaders in monthly sessions to explore the relationship between policy, planning, and housing development. The HPLA program was funded by the state’s Regional Early Action Planning grant program of 2019 and supports the region’s efforts to accelerate housing production and meet Regional Housing Needs Assessment goals. 

Project Amount: $815,823 

The Southern California Association of Governments is in receipt of the 2021 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) Amendment #21-06 for Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. The Public Review period starts on July 6, 2021 and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. on July 15, 2021.

A copy of the Project Listing is located on the SCAG FTIP website Proposed Amendment link at /2021-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.

On Tuesday, Aug. 24, SCAG held a public hearing on the SoCal Greenprint to provide stakeholders and the public with an opportunity to provide feedback and learn more about the project before development of the tool continues.

SoCal Greenprint Public Hearing Presentation - Aug. 24, 2021

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) President Clint Lorimore today praised Congress for its passage of a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, the impact of which will be felt for generations to come as regions such as ours address pressing challenges in transportation, energy, broadband access and the environment.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed by the House on Friday night and expected to be signed soon by President Biden, includes a five-year reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation programs as well as $550 billion in new spending.

We’re looking for your feedback!  

This month, SCAG’s Go Human program is preparing to kick off a new round of Mini-Grant funding to support community-led projects that help people move safely in their neighborhoods. Mini-Grants provide up to $10,000 in funding for awardees to carry out safety and engagement strategies.

More than 700 local leaders from throughout Southern California will gather in Palm Desert this week for a two-day conference on topics such as bridging the digital divide, the housing crisis and how local governments can work together to address challenges and solutions facing the region. The Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2022 Regional Conference & General Assembly returns to the desert after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.