Sustainability

SCAG’s Sustainability Program works actively with Southern California communities and stakeholders to create a dynamic regional growth vision based on the principles of mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability. The program’s work focuses on implementing the region’s Sustainable Communities Strategy, the state-mandated plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks through integrated transportation, land use, housing and environmental planning.

Related Links & Resources

Air Resources Board
The mission of the Air Resources Board (ARB) is to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants while considering the effects on the state’s economy.

Cal-Adapt
Cal-Adapt provides access to data and information that has been, and continues to be, produced by the state’s scientific and research community on how climate change might affect California at the local level.

California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency.

California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) brings together the state’s recycling and waste management programs and continues a tradition of environmental stewardship.

California Department of Water Resources
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for managing and protecting California’s water.

California Green Building Standards Code
California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), Title 24, Part 11.

Natural Resources Agency
The mission of the Natural Resources Agency is to restore, protect and manage the state’s natural, historical and cultural resources using creative solutions based on science, collaboration and respect for all the communities and interests.

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.

2024 Sustainable Communities Program – Active Transportation & Safety

SCAG’s 2024 Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) – Active Transportation and Safety provides funding to projects that support active transportation modes (e.g., walking, biking, and transit), improve roadway safety, and achieve the mobility goals, planning policies, strategic investments, and implementation strategies of the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy. The SCP – Active Transportation and Safety funding round awarded $8.2 million in the following project categories:

Community/Areawide Plans: Active transportation-related plans that benefit disadvantaged communities, per the state’s Active Transportation Program guidelines.
Quick-Build Projects: Interim capital improvement projects that require minor construction activity and use durable, low- to medium-cost materials to pilot and iterate through active transportation and roadway safety project designs with community feedback.

On Dec. 5, the SCAG Regional Council approved the 2024 SCP – Active Transportation and Safety Project List and Contingency List. Projects were recommended for funding based on application score, geographic equity, and funding eligibility as described in the call guidelines.

This program is funded by the state’s Active Transportation Program, a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, and SCAG matching state funds.

Award Recipients

Community/Areawide Plans 

Los Angeles County

Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, CSUDH Travel Demand Management Plan: LA 28 and Beyond ($266,670)

Orange County

Orange County Transportation Authority, Move OC: A Vibrant Path to Active Transportation ($400,000)

Quick-Build Projects 

Los Angeles County

City of Burbank, Safer Downtown Burbank Mobility Network Improvement Project ($900,000)
City of Covina, Covina Town Center Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety and Connectivity (Gap Closure) Quick-Build Roadway Project ($790,000)
Los Angeles County, Norwalk Boulevard Vision Zero Quick-Build Pedestrian Safety Project ($803,000)
City of Monrovia, Monrovia Active Community Travel Vinculum Phase II ($900,000)
City of Montebello, Montebello CycleSafe Bridge Project ($362,500)
City of Pico Rivera, Pio Pico Bikeway Connector Project ($900,000)
City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Neighborhood Greenways Project ($875,552)

Orange County

City of Westminster, City-wide Safe Routes to Schools Quick-Build Project ($445,000)

Riverside County

City of Banning, Banning Two-Way Cycle Track Safety Project ($895,000)

San Bernardino County

City of Victorville, La Paz Dr. / Seneca Rd. Traffic Circle ($503,700)

Ventura County

City of Port Hueneme, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons Citywide ($70,150)

Quick-Build Projects Contingency List 

Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County, East Los Angeles Pedestrian Enhancements Project ($1,525,000*)
Los Angeles County, West Carson Pedestrian Safety Project ($1,175,000*)
City of Montebello, Madison Avenue Neighborway ($442,400)
City of Pico Rivera, Walkable Uptown Pico Rivera ($900,000)

San Bernardino County

City of San Bernardino, City of San Bernardino Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons Installation Project ($399,000)

*The Los Angeles County applications were submitted to the state’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 7 statewide component but were not selected for funding. If either of these projects are selected for funding through the contingency list process, they will be subject to the maximum $900,000 award outlined in the 2024 Sustainable Community Program  – Active Transportation and Safety Guidelines. 

2024 SCP – Active Transportation and Safety Goals

Improve mobility across the region, especially for children and older adults, and people walking, biking, riding public transit, and using other forms of active transportation.
Strategically invest in communities most harmed by traffic injuries and fatalities, including the historically underserved communities comprising the majority of the SCAG Regional High Injury Network.
Support a more resilient transportation network, especially in anticipation of forthcoming large-scale events hosted by the region.
Support local efforts to increase competitiveness for state and federal funding.

Application Webinars and Staff Office Hours

SCAG hosted two informational webinars for the 2024 SCP – Active Transportation and Safety call for applications. The webinars featured information to help potential applicants learn how to prepare an application. Both sessions covered the same information.

Application Workshop Presentation

In addition to webinars, SCAG offered office hours for applicants to ask questions and/or receive feedback on project ideas.

Call for Applications Schedule

The following schedule outlines key dates for the SCP – Active Transportation and Safety call for applications. Future dates are subject to change, so please visit this page for the latest updates.

Key Milestones	Anticipated Date
SCAG Regional Council adopts SCP – Active Transportation and Safety Guidelines	June 6, 2024
Call for applications opens	July 8, 2024
Application workshops	July 25 and Aug. 7, 2024
Call for applications closes	Sept. 27, 2024
SCAG requests Regional Council approval of 2024 SCP – Active Transportation and Safety  projects*	Dec. 5, 2024
2024 Award Announcements*	June 26-27, 2025

*Projects selected to receive Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding are subject to approval by the SCAG Regional Council and California Transportation Commission (CTC) as part of the adoption of the complete 2025 Regional ATP.  In addition, projects receiving ATP funding will be subject to the programming and allocation process, requirements, and schedule of the CTC.

Applicant Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions were asked during office hours and the two workshops hosted by SCAG in July and August 2024.

General Program Questions

Who is an eligible applicant?

Please see page 4 of the 2024 SCP – Active Transportation and Safety guidelines.

Can we apply for funding to supplement an existing project?

The 2024 SCP – Active Transportation and Safety grant is primarily a technical assistance program where a consultant is procured through the SCAG procurement process; therefore, grant funds are not directly available to awardees except for quick-build implementation.

Who should the letters of support be addressed to?

Please address letters of support to Rachel Om, senior regional planner.

How many awardees will be selected?

The number of awardees will be determined by the amount of funding requested, but approximately 10 quick-build projects and two to three plans are anticipated to receive funding.

What is the availability of funding available between plans and quick build projects?

Per the Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 7 guidelines, up to $700,000 will be awarded for plans, and per SCAG’s Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant application, a minimum of $5.6 million will be awarded for quick-build projects.

Is there a limit to the number of applications submitted per entity?

There is no limit to the number of applications submitted. The online application will ask the applicant to prioritize their applications.

How much time do projects have for completion?

Plans and quick-build projects funded by ATP Cycle 7 funds have three years for completion. Quick-build projects funded by SS4A funds have five years for completion but are encouraged to complete projects in three years to align with the near-term implementation intent of quick-build projects.

Community/Areawide Plans Questions

Would the SCP grant cover comprehensive updates to an active transportation plan or local road safety plan (LRSP) or only apply to cities that don’t currently have a plan in place?

Updating an active transportation plan or LRSP (with a focus on active transportation) is an eligible scope of work for a community/areawide plan.

Does the ATP have any guidance or restrictions on the level of design (e.g., conceptual 30 percent, versus full 100 percent design) that can be completed as part of developing a plan?

Caltrans hosted an ATP Project Study Report (PSR)-Equivalency Workshop where they indicate that plans cannot go beyond 30% conceptual design. The Caltrans ATP webpage includes additional resources, including the project study report (PSR) equivalency workshop slides and PSR guidelines.

Quick-Build Project Questions

Is an applicant required to have an existing active transportation-related plan to apply for a quick-build project?

No.

Is [element] an eligible quick-build element?

A quick-build element requires minimal construction (no excavation) to install, move, and remove. Caltrans’ Quick-Build Supplemental Guidance provides examples of quick-build elements.

Does the SCAG-procured consultant prepare and sign the design plans?

Yes, a licensed professional engineer will prepare and sign the design plans.

Does a quick-build project have to be along one corridor with one quick-build element, or can a quick-build project be a combination of elements across a community?

A quick-build project may be along one corridor or across multiple segments or intersections in a community. Quick-build projects with multiple elements, such as high-visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, and signage, are encouraged to increase the potential impact of the safety improvements.

Although a quick-build project is not required to be in a disadvantaged community, are quick-build projects in disadvantaged communities preferred?

Quick-build projects located in or adjacent to a disadvantaged community will be more competitive per the evaluation criteria, which allocates up to 10 points for a project’s relation to a disadvantaged community. While five points are based on the project’s geographic proximity to a disadvantaged community, the other five points are based on the project’s benefit to a disadvantaged community. Therefore, if a project is not physically located in or adjacent to a disadvantaged community, the project can still receive up to five points if the applicant were to compellingly describe how the project would benefit a disadvantaged community (i.e., if members from disadvantaged communities access the project area).

If an applicant would like to pair the quick-build implementation with a resurfacing project, could the jurisdiction implement the quick-build project through a contractor from the resurfacing on-call/bench?

Contractor procurement must comply with the bidding requirements as outlined in the Local Assistance Procedures Manual and applicable regulations (e.g., 2 CFR 200, State Contracting Manual, etc.) and determine if the jurisdiction’s procurement process to establish the on-call bench is in compliance. The jurisdiction’s procurement staff should be able to provide guidance or confirm this.

For ATP-funded quick-build projects, which local agency staff time is reimbursable for quick-build implementation?

Chapter 5.3, Reimbursable Project Costs, and Chapter 16, Administer Construction Contracts, (with focus on Chapter 16.1) of the Local Assistance Procedures Manual provides guidance for these items.