News

More than 900 local and regional leaders gathered in Palm Desert this week to celebrate SCAG's 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly. This 60th annual event marks a milestone in regional collaboration while tackling challenges facing one of the nation’s most complex and diverse metropolitan areas. 

2025 Student Showcase winners were announced on May 2 at SCAG's 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly in Palm Desert, California. SCAG Regional Council President Cindy Allen presented awards to Princeton Brooke from the University of Southern California and [winner TK] in the Audience Award category as well as Laura Messier from the University of Southern California and Manasi Vartak from the University of California, Los Angeles in the Jury Award category.

2024-25 SCAG Regional Council President Curt Hagman shared the “2024-25 President’s Report” while closing out his term at the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly. The “2024-25 President’s Report” provides a detailed account of SCAG’s accomplishments since Hagman stepped into the role of Regional Council president in May 2024. SCAG also screened a video highlighting President Hagman’s leadership of the SCAG Regional Council at the event. 

SCAG recognized seven innovative projects across the six-county region at the 2025 Sustainability Awards ceremony as part of the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly on May 1 in Palm Desert. 

SCAG announced the awardees of the 2025 SCAG Scholarship Program at the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly on May 2 in Palm Desert. This 15th annual SCAG Scholarship Program provides support and inspiration for the next generation of public servants. SCAG received a record 165 applications from throughout the SCAG region.   

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General Assembly Elects 2025-26 Board Officers

The General Assembly voted to approve the nominations for the SCAG 2025-26 Regi

SCAG recently received the “Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document” award from the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) for the Program Environmental Impact Report for the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS).

The inaugural Regional Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Forum will take place on Wednesday, May 7, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Working together with the Games Mobility Executive (GME) partners—which includes the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Caltrans, and Metrolink—SCAG is leading the TDM Subcommittee to coordinate TDM initiatives across the region for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.   

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Join SCAG for the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly

SCAG published the final report for the Sustainable Communities Program – Smart Cities and Mobility Innovations funding cycle. This call for projects funded curb data collection and inventory, technology assessment and adoption, parking management, and permitting process evaluation. These resources supported local jurisdictions in improving the efficiency and performance of the transportation system by implementing curb space management measures that encouraged shared modes, effectively managed parking, and supported commerce and the growth of housing and employment in job centers.

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Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Call for Project Nominations Now Open

The federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fiscal year 2027-28 Surface Transportation

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SCAG has officially opened the call for project nominations for the federal fiscal year 2026-2027 and federal fiscal year 2027-2028

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Mobility hubs—facilities

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Surface Transportation Block Grant and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Guidelines Now Available 

On March 6, the SCAG Regional Council approved the federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fi

The FFY 2026-27 and FFY 2027-28 STBG/CMAQ Program Guidelines were officially approved by the SCAG Regional Council on March 6. The Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program supports projects that improve highways, bridges, roads, pedestrian infrastructure, and transit capital. The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program supports projects that reduce congestion and improve air quality, particularly in nonattainment areas. The updated guidelines will govern the upcoming call for project nominations for an estimated $1.2 billion in federal transportation funding available for eligible projects in the SCAG region.

Public Review and Comment Period

On March 6, 2025, SCAG released its Draft Fiscal Year 2025-26 Draft Overall Work Program (OWP) for public comment. The public comment period closed on April 7. 

The OWP outlines work for SCAG to accomplish during the next fiscal year, discussing needs of the region as well as the planning priorities and programs to address those needs. In addition to providing a management tool for SCAG staff and Regional Council members, the OWP creates visibility for regional coordination with local and subregional stakeholders and complies with federal and state requirements. 

First Quarter, 2025

SCAG’s Economic Roundtable met on Feb. 20 for its first quarterly meeting in 2025 to review trends, data, and current events impacting the region’s economy. The new U.S. presidential administration and the Southern California wildfires dominated the discussion as the impacts of these events on the region’s economy are still unfolding.  

The following overarching themes emerged from the conversation: 

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) received various program and project modifications to the 2025 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), summarized as proposed Amendment #25-03, from the county transportation commissions representing Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Various and Ventura counties. The public review period starts on Feb. 24 and will conclude at 5 p.m. on March 5.  

A copy of the project listing is located on the SCAG FTIP website.  

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Join SCAG for the