Regional Planning Working Groups

Previous: Active Transportation Working Group, Safety Working Group, Go Human Steering Committee

SCAG is interested in working more closely with transportation safety and active transportation stakeholders on developing Regional Transportation Safety and Active Transportation strategies that can be incorporated into the region’s next long-range plan, Connect SoCal, the 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). The purposes of the Safe and Active Streets Working Group meetings are to:

• Explore methods to increase the value of the Connect SoCal active transportation and safety components for local jurisdictions and implementing agencies through enhancement of policies, analysis and presentation of the regional active transportation and safety plans.
• Share information on SCAG initiatives and funding programs, such as the Active Transportation (ATP) and the Go Human Safety & Encouragement Campaign.
• Discuss emerging issues and share innovations and best practices for increasing safe mobility across the region.
• Assist SCAG staff in developing transportation safety analyses and policies (e.g., existing conditions analysis; high injury corridor methodology and identification; safety target(s) and performance measures; strategies and actions).
• Provide SCAG staff with guidance on the development of the Regional Safety Strategy to be incorporated into Connect SoCal.
• Motivate information sharing and the identification of best practices related to transportation safety, planning, and programming at the local level.

In January 2021, SCAG’s Regional Council adopted Resolution No. 21-628-1 affirming that the SCAG region is experiencing a climate crisis and emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration to improve regional resilience and adaptation to climate hazards. The Sustainable and Resilient Communities Working Group is a forum to engage with stakeholders on SCAG’s climate adaptation and resilience projects, and to highlight ongoing climate adaptation work across the region. The Working Group will serve as a platform for SCAG to discuss topics and initiatives related to regional climate adaptation and resilience, such as:

• Senate Bill 379 compliance.
• SCAG’s Regional Resilience Framework.
• Development of a regional climate planning network.
• Best practices in climate adaptation/resilience planning.
• Strategies to balance conservation, development, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while cultivating livable communities.

Please contact adaptation@scag.ca.gov for any questions or comments regarding the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Working Group.

On July 2, 2020, SCAG’s Regional Council adopted Resolution 20‐623‐2, declaring systemic racism a human rights and public health crisis. The resolution affirmed SCAG’s commitment to working in partnership with others to close the gap of racial injustice and meaningfully advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and awareness. Less than a year later, on May 6, 2021, SCAG’s Regional Council adopted a Racial Equity Early Action Plan (EAP), which includes a total of 29 actions SCAG will take to advance racial equity across the region. One of the EAP actions is to form a Regional Planning Working Group dedicated to Equity. In June 2021, SCAG kicked off the Equity Working Group, which will meet on at least a quarterly basis.

The purpose of the Equity Working Group is to engage stakeholders on SCAG’s regional and local planning activities as well as share efforts across the region to eliminate racial bias and barriers in land-use and transportation planning. National best practices will also be highlighted. SCAG anticipates discussions will focus on equity-related plans, programs, projects, tools, resources, and best practices. Because equity is intersectional, the Equity Working Group will address multiple planning areas, including Environmental Justice (EJ), Public Health, and others.

Each Equity Working Group meeting will include discussion of regional policy and planning programs along with two standing sections that focus on showcasing local jurisdiction SB1000 Environmental Justice Elements and local examples of “Equity in Action” with panel discussions. Future meetings will focus on topics identified as priorities by working group participants.

Potential Topic Areas to Highlight & Discuss

• Equity Definitions
• Equity Goals
• Equity Frameworks
• Equity Indicators
• Equity Existing Conditions Analysis
• Equity Action Plans and Work Plans
• Equity Resources (checklists, guidelines, guidance)
• Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement
• Equity-Focused Project Prioritization or Funding Methodologies
• Intersectional Efforts (e.g., EJ/Equity; Public Health/Equity, Housing/Equity, etc.)
• SCAG’s EAP Progress and Implications

The Equity Working Group, which was formed from the previous EJ and Public Health Working Groups, will include EJ and Public Health stakeholders, community-based organizations, academic partners, and other government agencies and local jurisdiction staff.

A summary of topics covered by the EWG since June 2021 are available here: Equity Working Group History.

For more information, please contact Anita Au at environmentaljustice@scag.ca.gov.

The purpose of the Natural Lands meetings is to gather a breadth of additional stakeholder input into the development and ongoing success of SCAG’s conservation planning efforts. Meeting since 2014, the Natural and Farm Lands Working Group is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders representing federal and state conservation agencies, nonprofits such as land trusts, academic institutions, as well as CTCs, Counties and Cities. The working group was instrumental in refining the conservation strategies and policies in the Connect SoCal, 2020 RTP/SCS, Natural & Farm Lands Conservation Technical Report, and will continue to be engaged for the 2024 RTP/SCS update.

The Housing Working Group (HWG) is a newly formed group that will provide a forum to engage stakeholders on several housing-related priorities. While one of the immediate priorities of the HWG is to help develop supportive land use strategies for the Connect SoCal 2024 Plan, the HWG will also be engaged in the development of other regional programs and priorities. These include:

• Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) reform
• Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
• Housing element compliance
• Other housing policy goals identified by the working group

Input and discussions from the Housing Working Group will inform the development of SCAG’s housing program and resources provided to local jurisdictions, shape regional policies for consideration in Connect SoCal, and inform legislative proposals that SCAG staff bring forward for consideration of the Legislative/Communications and Memberships Committee, other SCAG Policy Committees and the Regional Council as appropriate.

Participation is open to all and city and county staff, housing planners, developers, advocacy and policy organizations, community-based organizations, philanthropy community members, housing-focused trade organizations, and labor representatives in the housing industry are encouraged to join.

If you have any questions, please reach out to housing@scag.ca.gov, for more information.