Traffic Safety Webinars
- Webinar #1: Accessing and Using Data to Evaluate Traffic Safety
Tuesday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
This webinar focused on data that practitioners and the general public can use to enhance safety in their communities, with an emphasis on pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. Viewers learned about UC Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), as well as SCAG’s efforts to measure pedestrian and bicycle activity throughout the region. Participants also learned how to use data to prioritize safety interventions.
Moderator
- Riley O’Brien, Estolano Advisors
Speakers
- SangHyouk Oum, Applications Program Manager, UC Berkeley Safetrec
- Hannah Keyes, Associate Regional Planner – Active Transportation and Special Programs, SCAG
- Dr. Do Kim, Professor, Department of Urban Regional Planning, CalPoly Pomona
- Madeline Brozen, Deputy Director, Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, UCLA
- Webinar #2: Implementing Traffic Safety: The Southern California Context
Tuesday, September 17, 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
This webinar focused on best practices for implementing traffic safety improvements in the SCAG region. Representatives from community-based organizations discussed their challenges and successes in enhancing safety in Southern California’s unique cultural and geographic landscapes. Participants learned how safety improvements relate to climate resiliency, how to engage hard-to-reach populations in planning processes, and the unique safety needs of older populations.
Moderator
- Winnie Fong, Estolano Advisors
Speakers
- Rebecca Zaragoza, Senior Policy Advocate, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
- Kevin Shin, Co-Chair, Walk Bike Long Beach
- John Yi, Executive Director, Los Angeles Walks
- Webinar #3: Educate and Encourage through SCAG’s Go Human Campaign
Wednesday, September 18, 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
This webinar focused on learning about the nuts and bolts of partnering with SCAG on a Go Human campaign, including demonstration events and advertising campaign. Representatives from local cities and public agencies joined the discussion by sharing best practices and experience from their Go Human campaign, including continued engagement after the demonstration events, how these events help position jurisdictions to pursue funding for permanent improvements, and more.
Moderator
- Angela Babcock, Stratiscope
Speakers
- Julia Lippe-Klein, Associate Regional Planner, SCAG
- Alexis Lantz, Policy Analyst, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
- Melanie Mullis, Principal Transportation-Mobility, City of Ontario
- Eric Ceja, Principal Planner, City of Palmdale
- Webinar #4: Overview of Statewide Policy and Legislation Impacting Traffic Safety
Thursday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
This webinar focused on an overview of past state legislation that allows local jurisdictions to implement and enforce traffic safety measures, as well as an update on the 2019 state legislative session of safety and transportation-related bills that passed the Legislature and are headed to the Governor to sign and veto. Topics included, but not limited to, policies and legislation affecting bicyclist and pedestrian safety, transportation funding, zero traffic fatalities, climate resiliency, and more.
Moderator
- Erika Rincon, Estolano Advisors
Speakers
- David Azevedo, Associate State Director, AARP
- Linda Khamoushian, Senior Policy Advocate, CalBike
- Chanell Fletcher, Executive Director, ClimatePlan
2024 Southern California Demographic Workshop Program Announced
Register today to join SCAG for the 2024 Southern California Demographic Workshop on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the SCAG offices in downtown Los Angeles. Online attendance is also available.
The program will gather local leaders, elected officials, and demographic experts to discuss how changing population growth affects regional planning—from accommodating development to improving quality of life and cultivating the economy.
2024 Southern California Demographics Workshop Registration Open, Keynote Announced
Registration is now open for the 2024 Southern California Demographic Workshop, “Navigating the New Growth Reality,” presented by SCAG and the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. This 35th annual event will be held on Sept. 24 at SCAG’s main office in Downtown Los Angeles and will also be available to attend online.
Final State Budget Secures $480 Million for REAP 2.0 Program; Restores More Funding
The California State Legislature has approved the Budget Act of 2024, taking a major step forward in addressing the housing crisis by restoring funding to the Regional Early Action Planning Grants (REAP 2.0) program and other funding programs crucial to Southern California’s collective goals.
Regional Early Action Planning Program Update
On May 30, the legislative leadership in the State Assembly and State Senate announced the Joint Legislative Budget Plan. Thanks to the collective advocacy efforts of SCAG and its partners, the Joint Legislative Budget Plan restores funding for several programs cut under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January Budget proposal and May Revision.
General Assembly Elects 2024-25 Board Officers
The General Assembly approved the nominations for the SCAG 2024-25 Board Officers as recommended by the Regional Council: Hon. Curt Hagman (County of San Bernardino) will serve as 2024-25 Regional Council president; Hon. Cindy Allen (City of Long Beach) will serve as Regional Council first vice president; and Hon. Ray Marquez (City of Chino Hills) will serve as Regional Council second vice president. Leadership also recognized Hon.
Connect SoCal 2024 Approved
The formal adoption of Connect SoCal 202
Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program of 2021 (REAP 2.0) Advocacy Updates
Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget announced on Jan. 16 includes $300 million in cuts to the Regional Early Action Planning program of 2021 (REAP 2.0) that will result in approximately $123 million in cuts from SCAG’s $246 million REAP 2.0 program.
Proposed State Budget Would Cut Funding for Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program
The proposed budget announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Jan. 16 includes $1.2 billion in cuts to funding for housing programs, including $300 million for the Regional Early Action Planning program of 2021 (REAP 2.0).
Connect SoCal 2024 Public Comment Update
As part of the public comment period for the draft Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, SCAG hosted 15 briefings with elected officials in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. In all, 229 local elected officials, city and county staff and stakeholders participated in the briefings, where SCAG leadership shared details of the draft Connect SoCal 2024 and discussed implementing the plan’s vision for a more resilient and equitable future.
SCAG Adopts Carbon Reduction Program Guidelines
The SCAG Executive/Administration Committee approved guidelines for the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) on Dec. 6, 2023. SCAG will be initiating a combined solicitation for project nominations for the CRP along with the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program—all FHWA funding programs—in Jan. 2024. Eligible entities should begin discussing potential nominations with their respective county transportation commission as soon as possible.
Draft Connect SoCal 2024 and Draft Program Environmental Impact Report Now Available for Public Comment
The SCAG Regional Council voted on Nov. 2, 2023, to release both the draft Connect SoCal 2024, the region’s 2024-2050 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) and the accompanying Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for public review and comment through Jan. 12, 2024. The comment period for the draft Connect SoCal 2024 plan begins on Nov. 23, while the comment period for the draft PEIR begins on Nov. 9.
Economic Summit Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for SCAG’s 14th annual Southern California Economic Summit on Dec. 7 at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles. Mark your calendars and register now to join leaders in business, planning and public policy to assess the state of the region’s economy.
Demographic Workshop Program Preview
Registration is open for the 34th annual Demographic Workshop, “The Seismic Generational Shift,” hosted by SCAG and the USC Price School of Public Policy on Sept. 20. This event will take place at the SCAG Main Office in downtown Los Angeles, with an online broadcast for virtual viewing.
SCAG Awarded $237 Million for REAP 2.0
The Department of Housing and Community Development has officially approved SCAG’s full funding application, awarding SCAG with more than $237 million in REAP 2.0 funds.
Update on the RHNA Reform Process and Schedule
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is crafting recommendations to reform the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process, which will be provided in a report to the California State Legislature by Dec. 31.
SCAG Leads Annual Regional Conference & General Assembly
SCAG kicked off the 2023 Regional Conference & General Assembly today in Palm Desert with a message from outgoing Regional Council President Jan Harnik and a video review of SCAG’s accomplishments from 2022-23.
SCAG Kicks Off Public Outreach Initiatives for Connect SoCal 2024
Every four years, SCAG updates its visionary plan for the future of the region, Connect SoCal. This process is now underway, and we want to hear from our stakeholders.
Please join us at a public workshop or pop-up event to learn more about the plan, ask questions and provide input. The purpose of these events is to gather input from each community to establish planning priorities for the next 20 to 30 years.