News

Southern California faces “severe and long-lasting” economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, with Great Depression-level unemployment, supply chain interruptions and significant drops in taxable sales, according to an analysis from the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization.

Six exemplary and innovative planning projects are being honored as winners of the 2020 Sustainability Awards by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

Winners of this year’s 13th annual awards include four municipalities and two transportation agencies in the six-county SCAG region. The Sustainability Awards recognize excellence in coordinating land use and transportation to improve mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability. Due to the cancellation of SCAG’s 2020 Regional Conference and General Assembly, the Sustainability Award winners will not be honored at a formal ceremony.

Over the course of Connect SoCal’s four-year planning cycle, SCAG has benefited greatly from listening to the many needs and concerns of our stakeholders. This invaluable feedback and insight has created the foundation of a truly collaborative and comprehensive vision for the region.

The Regional Council of Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) adopted a resolution Thursday to submit its proposed final Connect SoCal plan to the federal government, a critical step in meeting the mobility needs of a region expected to add 1.6 million people in the next 25 years.

The resolution allows for submittal of the $638.6 billion regional transportation plan as soon as possible to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) so they may review it for conformity purposes by June 1. Fully implemented, the 2020‐2045 Regional Transportation Plan would reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and improve the region’ long‐term economic viability.

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At SCAG, we’ve been thinking about how community engagement is changing under the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

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To prioritize public health in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and its partner county transportation commissions will be shifting its outreach efforts for the fifth cycle of fu

Following a cooperative and comprehensive planning process with stakeholders, SCAG has made available the Proposed Final Connect SoCal and its Proposed Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). SCAG received over 107 separate communications (both oral and written) on the draft, which staff reviewed and addressed in the Proposed Final Connect SoCal, as appropriate. SCAG thanks everyone who provided feedback on a sustainable vision for Southern California. The Proposed Final Connect SoCal and PEIR will be considered for adoption at the next Joint Meeting of the Policy Committees and Regional Council.

Is SCAG open to the public?

SCAG’s regular business activities are continuing as normal; however, SCAG offices, including headquarters and regional offices, are closed at this time until further notice. SCAG staff can be reached by phone and email.

Is SCAG hosting stakeholder meetings?

Meetings will be facilitated by telephone and video via Skype and Zoom. Please visit our website at scag.ca.gov​ for details about current and upcoming meetings, including call-in information.

SCAG will not be hosting external meetings at this time. Current bookings will be honored unless circumstances change.

Is SCAG’s General Assembly and Regional Conference cancelled?

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​To protect public health and slow the rate of transmission of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Go Human events taking place through April 25 will be postponed or canceled.

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.”