Southern California Association of Governments

SCAG officials attended a press conference last week where U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $77.5 million in Low or No Emission Grant Program funds from the Federal Transit Administration for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (Metro) Zero-Emission Bus and Charging Infrastructure Project. "With funding made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're helping connect even more people across L.A. County with affordable, reliable public transportation," said Secretary Buttigieg. The funding will allow Metro to procure battery-electric buses, charging equipment, and supporting infrastructure to provide reliable zero-emission service along bus routes operating from Bus Division 7 in West Hollywood.

SCAG will receive $50 million to reduce pollution from goods movement—part of nearly $500 million in grants for Southern California included in $4.3 billion in investments announced this week by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). SCAG achieved the funding award through a collaborative application led by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, outlining a coordinated, large-scale regional effort for zero-emission vehicles and fueling infrastructure improvements to support the regional goods movement network. https://ow.ly/vhqC50SHy5R

SCAG joined the Long Beach community to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, a long-awaited centerpiece of a series of improvements to the port rail network. The new facility will double the size of the existing Pier B rail yard from 82 acres to 171 acres and more than triple the volume of on-dock rail cargo the Port of Long Beach can handle annually, from 1.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 4.7 million TEUs. Dignitaries present included congressmembers Robert Garcia and Grace Napolitano, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Stephanie Wiggins, and many others.

🚲🌴🚶🏻♀️ This summer, local content creator Michelle Moro (@Miche1ada on IG and TikTok) partnered with SCAG and Go Human to raise bicycle and pedestrian safety awareness in Southern California by sharing personal bicycling experiences and important safety tips. Watch the video to learn more about Go Human’s efforts to make Southern California communities safer and more livable. https://ow.ly/lkBe50SFrg2

The draft 2025 Federal Transportation Improvement Program and draft Connect SoCal 2024 Amendment 1 are available for public comment. The 2025 FTIP allocates $38.8 billion across 1,100 projects to improve safety, asset conditions, air quality, and accessibility, while Amendment 1 updates Connect SoCal 2024 to align with evolving regional transportation needs and regulatory standards. SCAG will hold two public hearings to gather input on July 23 and July 30. Comment before the end of the 30-day public review period on Aug. 12. Read more details and learn how to submit comments and register for a hearing: https://ow.ly/PGpe50SCzFa

For a century, fast population growth defined Southern California as a magnet for migrants. However, population growth has slowed in the past decade, consistent with national and global trends. Register for the 2024 Southern California Demographic Workshop, presented by SCAG and the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, with an online attendance option, on Sept. 24, to discuss how changing population growth affects regional planning—from accommodating development to improving quality of life and cultivating the economy. https://ow.ly/SMMQ50SBQ8a

Los Angeles Metro is expanding the Mobility Wallet Pilot Program, funded in part by a Regional Early Action Planning 2.0 grant from SCAG. The Mobility Wallet is part of the larger Universal Basic Mobility program, led by the city of Los Angeles to expand transportation options and provide a minimum level of mobility to all members of society regardless of age, ability, location and socioeconomic status. Read more about the Mobility Wallet at Mass Transit magazine: https://ow.ly/R3zj50Syowy

SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise today joined Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez in a celebratory press conference to announce the official launch of the Reconnecting MacArthur Park project. The MacArthur Park project will revitalize the heart of the Westlake neighborhood by reconnecting the two sides of the park and transforming the area into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and green community space. Thanks in part to local grant partners of the project, the council office successfully secured a combined $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation and SCAG to complete the planning stage of the Reconnecting MacArthur Park project. SCAG awarded $500,000 in funding for the Reconnecting MacArthur Park Project through the 2020 Sustainable Communities Program – Civic Engagement, Equity, and Environmental Justice call for applications to study the traffic impacts of closing a portion of Wilshire Boulevard where it runs through the middle of MacArthur Park. Kome personally congratulated Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and the entire team at Central City Neighborhood Partners for their work initiating this historic effort and vision for a more equitable and resilient future.

SCAG’s Sustainable Communities Program – Active Transportation and Safety call for applications is now open. Eligible applicants include community plans, area plans and quick-build projects that encourage active transportation (e.g., walking, biking, transit) and improve roadway safety. The application period closes Sept. 27. Program details and application assistance available at https://ow.ly/kvMc50SxiUZ

SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise and Chief Planning Officer Sarah Jepson visited the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) to provide updates to SCAG Regional Council and policy committee members. Topics of discussion included the Regional Early Action Planning program, transportation finances, the California State Transportation Agency Transit Task Force, and more. Thank you to all members and staff who attended. It was also Hawaiian shirt day—SCAG policy committee member Hon. Daniel Ramos (City of Adelanto) won the competition.