Draft Connect SoCal – Regional Transportation Plan/ Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) Amendment #1 and 2021 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) Consistency Amendment 21-05

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has prepared the Draft Connect SoCal Amendment #1 in compliance with applicable federal and state requirements, including those set forth in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), Senate Bill 375 and metropolitan planning regulations. The RTP/SCS is a long-range visioning plan that is developed and updated by SCAG every four years. The plan is periodically amended. The draft Connect SoCal Amendment #1 is available for public review and comment as of July 1, 2021.

Included as part of this public review of the Draft 2020 Connect SoCal – RTP/SCS Amendment #1 is the 2021 FTIP Consistency Amendment #21-05. Federal requirements stipulate that the FTIP must be consistent with the RTP. The2021 FTIP Consistency Amendment #21-05 fulfills this requirement.

On September 3, 2020, SCAG’s Regional Council unanimously voted to approve and fully adopt Connect SoCal (2020–2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy), and Addendum #1 to the Connect SoCal Program Environmental Impact Report. Following the plan’s adoption, SCAG received several requests from County Transportation Commissions (CTCs) to amend the plan to reflect additions or changes to project scopes, costs, and/or schedules for a number of critical transportation projects that are ready to move forward towards the implementation phase. Over the course of the past few months, SCAG worked closely with the CTCs to develop Amendment #1 to Connect SoCal – 2020 RTP/SCS and a concurrent 2020 FTIP consistency amendment #21-05. SCAG’s Regional Council is scheduled to consider approval of the Final 2020 Connect SoCal - RTP/SCS Amendment #1 and FTIP Consistency Amendment #21-05 in Fall 2021.

SCAG’s Draft Connect SoCal Amendment #1 along with the 2021 FTIP Consistency Amendment #21-05 can be accessed on the following webpages starting on July 1, 2021:

• Draft Connect SoCal Amendment #1: https://scag.ca.gov/post/draft-amendment-1
• 2021 FTIP Consistency Amendment #21‐05: https://scag.ca.gov/2021-proposed-amendments

The 30‐day public review and comment period for the draft documents begins on July 1, 2021, and concludes on July 31, 2021. Written comments for the Draft Connect SoCal Amendment #1 and 2021 FTIP Consistency Amendment #21‐05 will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on July 31. 2021.

Public Hearing

SCAG will hold a public hearing regarding the Draft Connect SoCal Amendment #1 and 2021 FTIP Consistency Amendment #21-05 on Thursday, July 15, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Given recent public health directives limiting public gatherings due to the threat of COVID-19 and in compliance with the Governor’s recent Executive Order N29-20, the meeting will be held telephonically and electronically.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive public input and comments regarding the Draft Connect SoCal Amendment #1 and FTIP Amendment #21-05, which SCAG will use to facilitate changes to the Plan and FTIP Amendment #21-05 where appropriate. Upon completion of the public review period, SCAG staff will document the comments received through this process, provide responses to all comments, and finalize the Amendment 1 for potential adoption in Fall 2021. SCAG encourages interested parties to submit written comments and/or written information prior to the public hearing. Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on July 31, 2021, and may be submitted by U.S. mail or emailed to: lo@scag.ca.gov

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Meeting ID: 976 2198 7982

SCAG, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, is committed to providing special accommodations and translation services to those who are interested in participating in the public hearing. We ask that you provide your request for special accommodations or translation services at least 72 hours prior to the hearing so that SCAG has sufficient time to make arrangements. Please contact Nancy Lo at lo@scag.ca.gov.