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. 

2024 Sustainable Communities Program – Active Transportation & Safety

The 2024 Sustainable Communities Program – 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, planning policies, strategic investments and implementation strategies of Connect SoCal 2024. Details about project types and program goals can be found in the Program Guidelines approved by the SCAG Regional Council on June 6.   

The 2024 SCP – Active Transportation and Safety call for applications has an estimated $10.4 million available to fund active transportation projects in the region. The call for application will open this summer. 

2024 SCP – Active Transportation & Safety funding will achieve the following 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 Regional High Injury Network.
• Support a more resilient transportation network, especially in anticipation of the large-scale events hosted by the region.
• Support local efforts to increase competitiveness for state and federal funding.

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

Submit An Application

Applications for the 2024 SCP - Active Transportation and Safety call for applications will be submitted online. A link will be available once the call opens. 

Application Webinars and Staff Office Hours 

SCAG will host informational webinars for the 2024 SCP – Active Transportation & Safety call for applications. The webinars will feature information to help potential applicants learn how to prepare an application. 

The two sessions will cover the same information and will be recorded. The webinars are anticipated to take place during the first month when the call for applications opens. 

In addition to webinars, SCAG is offering office hours for applicants to ask questions and/or receive feedback on project ideas. Appointments are 30 minutes and available Mondays between 2 - 4 p.m. or Thursdays between 10 a.m. - noon starting on June 10: 

• Link to book on a Monday between 2 – 4 p.m. 
• Link to book on Thursdays between 10 a.m. - noon 

Schedule

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

*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. SCAG Regional Council consideration of funding awards is anticipated for April 3, 2025, followed by CTC action in June 2025.   

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