Sustainable Communities Program

The Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) strengthens partnerships with local agencies and strategic partners responsible for land use and transportation decisions, offering technical assistance and financial resources to meet the diverse planning needs of local communities and support implementation of regional planning policies and strategies.  SCAG is currently providing technical assistance to 57 local agencies and has funded 110 projects, totaling over $21.6 million, since 2016. 

Following the adoption of Connect SoCal every four years, SCAG calls for applications through the SCP to provide local technical assistance in support of Connect SoCal implementation. SCAG develops funding categories that align with the goals and policies of Connect SoCal to support implementation of shared regional planning goals and meet the needs of local communities.  

contact

Andrés Carrasquillo 
Principal Regional Planner 
(213) 630-1401 
Carrasquillo@scag.ca.gov 

Sustainable Communities Program Goals

• Provide needed resources for local jurisdictions to advance the goals outlined in the four pillars of Connect SoCal 2024: mobility, communities, environment and economy. 

• Promote racial equity grounded in the recognition of the past and current harms of systemic racism and advance restorative justice. 

• Integrate the region’s development pattern and transportation network to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable more sustainable energy and water use

• Prioritize the most vulnerable populations and communities subject to climate hazards to help the people, places and infrastructure most at risk for climate change impacts. In doing so, recognize that disadvantaged communities are often overburdened. 

• Increase the region’s competitiveness for federal and state funds, including the California Active Transportation Program and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds. 

Active Transportation and Safety

SCAG anticipates releasing the 2024 Sustainable Communities Program Active Transportation and Safety call for applications in June 2024. The SCP Active Transportation and Safety call for applications will fund quick-build projects and plans that encourage active transportation (e.g., walking, biking and riding transit) and improve roadway safety to help achieve the mobility goals of Connect SoCal 2024. This program is funded by the State Active Transportation Program (ATP) and a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant (SS4A). The 2024 SCP Active Transportation and Safety program has an estimated $10.4 million available to fund projects in the region. 

Public Review

SCAG is seeking input on the Draft SCP Active Transportation and Safety Program Guidelines. Stakeholders who live or work in the SCAG six-county region (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties) are encouraged to:   

• Review the draft guidelines 
  • Attachment A - ATP Cycle 7 State Guidelines
  • Attachment B - ATP Quick Build Supplemental Guidance
• Submit feedback on the draft guidelines 

The public comment period opened on April 8, and closes at 5 p.m. on April 26. Feedback submitted during the comment period will be considered in the proposed final guidelines. Comments should be sent, as an email or attachment to an email, to:  

Rachel Om 
Senior Regional Planner 
Om@scag.ca.gov 

In addition to the overall SCP goals, the SCP Active Transportation and Safety call for applications will support projects that: 

• Improve mobility across the region, especially for children and older adults, and people walking, biking, riding transit/rail, and using other forms of active transportation 
• Strategically invest in communities most harmed by traffic injuries and fatalities, which include the historically disinvested communities that comprise the majority of the Regional High Injury Network 
• Support a more resilient transportation network, especially in anticipation of the large-scale events hosted by the region 

Schedule

contact

For questions regarding the 2024 SCP Active Transportation and Safety call for applications, contact Rachel Om, Senior Regional Planner, at (213) 630-1550 or Om@scag.ca.gov. 

Previous Call for Applications & Awarded Projects – Connect SoCal 2020

• Active Transportation and Safety 2020 (closed Dec. 11, 2020)
• Housing and Sustainable Development (closed Jan. 29, 2021)
• Smart Cities and Mobility Innovations (closed on April 23, 2021)
• Civic Engagement, Equity and Environmental Justice (closed on June 5, 2023)
• SCP Project List Per Regional Council Adoption