News

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.

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:

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.

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Go Human congratulates the City of Culver City on the approval of the

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Traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries are a critical and preventable public health and equity issue in the region. Approximately 1,500 people die, more than 5,200 are severely injured, and 136,000 are injured on roadways throughout the SCAG region every year.

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.

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.

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As 2019 comes to a close, we are taking time to reflect on a banner year for Go Human! Go Human has partnered with community members, nonprofit organizations, cities and local agencies throughout the region to create safer and healthier places thr

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Connect SoCal, SCAG’s 2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, is a long-range plan to help guide the region’s growth, and includes transportation improvements and land use ideas to shape the future of Southern California.

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On Friday, Nov. 22, Go Human partnered with the annual Glendora Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting Festival to put on the Roll to the Stroll in the City of Glendora to offer community members a unique experienc

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.”

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Meet on Beach was presented by Go Human and the SCAG in partnership with the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee; and produced by Community Arts Reso

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In partnership with the Glendora Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting Festival, join us on Glendora Avenue between Foothill Boulevard and Carroll Avenue for Roll to the Stroll to test out temporary safety improvements that help make Glendora Avenue safer and mo

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.

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.

On Nov. 7, SCAG’s Joint Policy Committees and Regional Council will consider releasing the Draft Connect SoCal plan, the 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, for public review and comment. Connect SoCal is a long-range visioning plan that seeks to meet the region’s air quality and greenhouse gas reduction goals, while balancing future mobility and housing needs with economic, environmental and public health goals, and SCAG is excited to be able to share this with the public.

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has been awarded a $1,000,000.00 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to fund continued work on its Go Human traffic safety program next year.

Southern California has some of the highest levels of injuries and fatalities involving people walking and biking in the country. In the six-county SCAG region (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties), more than four people die every day in traffic collisions, on average. People walking or riding bikes account for 27 percent of those deaths while only comprising 12 percent of all trips. SCAG data shows that 70% of all collision are on local roads.

Yesterday, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) transmitted the final Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Determination​ of 1,344,740 total units for the six-county SCAG region. This number reflects the number of housing units the region must plan for in the October 2021 – October 2029 planning period.

Specifically, the regional determination was comprised of the following four income categories:

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) offered its gratitude and congratulations to its First Vice President, Randon Lane, who has resigned to accept a presidential appointment in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, Lane announced his resignation as Mayor Pro-Tem of the City of Murrieta, as well as his appointed roles at SCAG, the League of California Cities and the Riverside Transit Agency, to accept a role within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Randon has shown extraordinary leadership on regional transportation issues throughout Southern California. His city and our region will miss him, but we know he will accomplish great things in Washington,” said SCAG President Bill Jahn.