News

On Thursday, SCAG’s Regional Council voted to advance a draft RHNA Allocation Methodology introduced by City of Riverside representative Mayor Rusty Bailey, directing staff to make refinements to the allocation methodology before sending to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In comments, the board adopted this alternative approach to shift housing needs closer to jobs centers and high quality transit, and sought to avoid contributing to greater sprawl and traffic congestion.

PRESS RELEASE

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) on Thursday approved a modified methodology for distributing a state-mandated 1.34 million housing units in the six-county region over an eight-year period.

The plan goes further in promoting greater housing development near jobs and transit availability than did earlier methodology proposals. The modified plan now goes to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for its approval, which could be finalized by January or February.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) released a draft of Connect SoCal, its 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, for public review and comment on Nov. 14. Connect SoCal, the 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, presents a long–range vision that balances future mobility and housing needs with economic, environmental and public health goals. It will help guide the region’s growth, and includes transportation improvements and land use ideas to shape the future of Southern California.

Southern California’s top economists on Thursday offered a largely promising outlook for the region, forecasting continued strong growth across key industry sectors into 2020 and the foreseeable future.

“If I could summarize in three words: Things are good,” Wallace Walrod, chief economic advisor for the Orange County Business Council, told the 10th Annual Southern California Economic Summit. “I don’t have a crystal ball to predict when the next recession will occur, but nothing in the numbers would suggest that happening soon.”

Sarah Jepson has been appointed Planning Director for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization representing six counties, 191 cities and nearly 19 million residents.

Prior to her appointment as Acting Planning Director in April, Jepson has been a key contributor in the Planning Division as Manager of Active Transportation and Special Programs Department, a group she was hired to form in November 2013 to advance the region’s sustainability plan. In that role, she was responsible for overseeing long-range planning and policy development in the areas of active transportation, public health, energy and water.

SCAG recently completed the public input period for the Draft Connect SoCal plan, the 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy. The draft plan was released for public comment and review starting on Nov. 14.

During the 10-week comment period SCAG held three public hearings, a webinar and a tele-town hall, welcoming anyone to learn more and provide comments regarding the draft plan. SCAG also hosted a series of 21 briefings for local elected officials throughout the region. These meetings were designed to inform elected officials, stakeholders and interested citizens on the key investments and strategies in the draft plan and solicit feedback.

Following a cooperative and comprehensive planning process with SCAG’s stakeholders, a large-scale outreach campaign throughout the six-county region to educate and solicit feedback, and a 60-day public comment period, SCAG received 107 separate communications (both oral and written) containing over 1,800 comments on the draft Connect SoCal Plan.

During this time of rapidly changing information on the Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19), SCAG is implementing some precautionary changes to the way we do business in the coming week and possibly longer. Our top priority is the health and safety of our staff, board and partners, and we are taking every measure to help decrease the spread of COVID-19.

As the outbreak evolves into a global health concern, we are preparing for a potential need to transition to working and operating remotely. All SCAG staff will be teleworking from Monday to Wednesday of next week (March 16-18), which will allow us to pilot our practices and make adjustments as needed. We are fully equipped to continue to carry on our operations in a remote work environment.

Things to know:

After careful consideration of the growing public health concerns regarding Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19), we have made the decision to cancel the Regional Conference and General Assembly, scheduled for May 6-8 in Palm Desert. We feel this is the best decision to help decrease the spread of virus across the Southern California region and protect the health and safety of our staff, board and partners.

For more than 50 years, the Regional Conference and General Assembly has been an opportunity to unite the region around a common goal. The theme of this year’s conference – Collaboration, Community and Connection – seems as important now as we try to find new ways to work together during this unprecedented global situation.

Is SCAG open to the public?

SCAG’s regular business activities are continuing as normal; however, SCAG offices, including headquarters and regional offices, are closed at this time until further notice. SCAG staff can be reached by phone and email.

Is SCAG hosting stakeholder meetings?

Meetings will be facilitated by telephone and video via Skype and Zoom. Please visit our website at scag.ca.gov​ for details about current and upcoming meetings, including call-in information.

SCAG will not be hosting external meetings at this time. Current bookings will be honored unless circumstances change.

Is SCAG’s General Assembly and Regional Conference cancelled?

Following a cooperative and comprehensive planning process with stakeholders, SCAG has made available the Proposed Final Connect SoCal and its Proposed Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). SCAG received over 107 separate communications (both oral and written) on the draft, which staff reviewed and addressed in the Proposed Final Connect SoCal, as appropriate. SCAG thanks everyone who provided feedback on a sustainable vision for Southern California. The Proposed Final Connect SoCal and PEIR will be considered for adoption at the next Joint Meeting of the Policy Committees and Regional Council.

The Regional Council of Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) adopted a resolution Thursday to submit its proposed final Connect SoCal plan to the federal government, a critical step in meeting the mobility needs of a region expected to add 1.6 million people in the next 25 years.

The resolution allows for submittal of the $638.6 billion regional transportation plan as soon as possible to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) so they may review it for conformity purposes by June 1. Fully implemented, the 2020‐2045 Regional Transportation Plan would reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and improve the region’ long‐term economic viability.

Six exemplary and innovative planning projects are being honored as winners of the 2020 Sustainability Awards by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

Winners of this year’s 13th annual awards include four municipalities and two transportation agencies in the six-county SCAG region. The Sustainability Awards recognize excellence in coordinating land use and transportation to improve mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability. Due to the cancellation of SCAG’s 2020 Regional Conference and General Assembly, the Sustainability Award winners will not be honored at a formal ceremony.

Over the course of Connect SoCal’s four-year planning cycle, SCAG has benefited greatly from listening to the many needs and concerns of our stakeholders. This invaluable feedback and insight has created the foundation of a truly collaborative and comprehensive vision for the region.

Southern California faces “severe and long-lasting” economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, with Great Depression-level unemployment, supply chain interruptions and significant drops in taxable sales, according to an analysis from the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization.

Building an inclusive and equitable recovery strategy that addresses the health, social and economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic tops Rex Richardson’s policy priorities as the newly installed President of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

More than 500 attendees gathered online Thursday to get an inside take on COVID-19’s impact on housing, the economy and how Southern Californians live their lives.

Part 2 of the 31st Annual Southern California Demographic Workshop, held virtually by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, brought together some of the region’s leading researchers, demographers and policy analysts to talk about the immediate and long-term effects of the global pandemic on the six-county region.

The Regional Council today voted to approve the Scholarship Committee recommendations for the 2020 SCAG Scholarship Program Awards. This year, SCAG received 93 applications from high school and community college students from across the region. Ten outstanding students were selected for scholarships, representing all six of SCAG’s member counties. The scholarship recipients include: Aaliyah Felix (El Centro), Ashley Anderson (Covina), Doyup Kwon (Torrance), Chloe Niebla (Westminster), Mirabella Smith (Canyon Lake), Ysabella Sardillo (Apple Valley), Kimiko Stafford (Thousand Oaks), Emily Hardesty (Long Beach), and Andrea Hansen (Chino Hills).

The Regional Council of Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) adopted a resolution Thursday to meaningfully advance justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and work in partnership with others to close the gap of racial injustice.

In a parallel move, the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization approved a partnership with the California Community Foundation and other nonprofits, and will provide $1 million in funding to promote community-driven equitable economic and housing strategies throughout the six-county region.

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SCAG’s Go Human campaign is proud to announce that we have awarded 28 Local Community Engagement and Safety Mini-Grants (Mini-Grants) to fund projects that build street-level community resiliency an