Executive Director’s Monthly Report, April 2025
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 Block Grant program (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program (CMAQ) SCAG online application opened for all eligible applicants on March 31. This application will be available through May 16 at 5 p.m.
The call for project nominations will make available an estimated $1.2 billion for eligible transportation projects in the SCAG region in federal fiscal year 2026-27 and federal fiscal year 2027-28.
SCAG hosted two general program workshops and co-hosted five additional county-level program workshops in March 2025 to support eligible applicants in learning about program requirements. Workshop materials are available for reference on the SCAG STBG/CMAQ webpage.
Applicants should coordinate with their county transportation commissions to ensure project applications align with county priorities. Award recommendations will be presented to the SCAG Regional Council by December 2025.
These Federal Highway Administration programs fund transportation projects and programs based on unique eligibility criteria. The STBG program supports transportation projects that preserve and improve conditions and performance of highways, bridges, and public roads; pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and transit capital projects. The CMAQ program supports transportation projects and programs that reduce congestion and improve air quality for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, or particulate matter (e.g., nonattainment areas) and for former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (e.g., maintenance areas).
For additional information on these programs and the call for projects, including application resources, please see the SCAG STBG/CMAQ webpage.
Regional Council Approves 2025 Active Transportation Program
In April, the Regional Council approved the 2025 Regional Active Transportation Program (ATP), comprising 15 projects totaling $35 million and 113 contingency projects totaling $972.2 million that support walking, bicycling, and other forms of active transportation in the region. SCAG partnered with the region’s six county transportation commissions to develop the program according to the statewide 2025 ATP Guidelines and 2025 ATP Regional Guidelines, the latter of which were adopted by the Regional Council in April 2024.
At its March 6, 2025, meeting, the SCAG Transportation Committee recommended the 2025 Regional ATP for Regional Council approval. SCAG staff will now submit the 2025 Regional ATP for adoption by the California Transportation Commission on June 26, 2025. More information about the 2025 Regional ATP is available in the April staff report.
Regional Council Adopts 2025 Federal Legislative Platform
In April, the Regional Council Adopted SCAG’s 2025 Federal Legislative Platform. The 2025 platform updates the adopted 2024 platform, streamlining language and aligning with the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities strategy, newly implemented laws, and other changes to the political landscape. SCAG’s 2025 Federal Legislative Platform is available online.
SCAG Receives Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to Expand Last Mile Freight Program
In April, the SCAG Executive/Administration Committee and Regional Council officially accepted a grant sub-award from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) to expand the SCAG Last Mile Freight Program (LMFP).
The South Coast AQMD received a $500 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As a grant sub-recipient, SCAG will administer a $50 million program for Class 4 and 5 battery-electric trucks under the LMFP. The program will offer a maximum rebate of $67,000 per vehicle. Program funding information will be released by June 2025.
SCAG’s LMFP has already awarded nearly $17 million to date through a partnership with the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, funding zero- and near-zero emissions trucks and supporting infrastructure. This additional CPRG funding builds upon SCAG’s success in advancing the region’s transition to a clean transportation system.
2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly Program Preview Now Available
The 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly’s program of panels, discussions, and activities will feature leading thinkers and practitioners in planning and related fields from Southern California and around the nation. Event panels are already taking shape:
- From Smart Cities to a Smart Region: Advancing Mobility Strategies and Technology Innovations – An exploration of a holistic, regional approach to smart cities to create efficiency and deliver better services.
- Fostering a Healthy Local Economy for All – A look at the economic recovery toward greater resilience in the context of new population trends.
- Strong Foundations: Housing Solutions in the Wake of Disaster – A showcase of innovative housing and community development success stories, recognizing the heightened urgency and changing market due to Southern California wildfires.
- Sustainable Infrastructure for Resilient Growth – A discussion of infrastructure’s role in sustainable growth, with a focus on utilities.
Space is filling up quickly. Visit the 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly website to learn more and register online.
Goods Movement and Clean Transportation Technology Discussion Featured at Regional Council
The April 3 Regional Council meeting featured a discussion with guest speakers on clean technologies in goods movement systems and infrastructure—one of Regional Council President Curt Hagman’s Presidential Priorities for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Representing the private and nonprofit sectors, Joost de Vries, chief executive officer of ZM Trucks and Matt Petersen, president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator discussed the importance and continued need for advancement of clean technologies in goods movement.
SCAG staff also shared progress on plans and programs that advance this priority, most recently with the Last Mile Freight Program and the Southern California Zero-Emission Truck Infrastructure Study. A video of the Regional Council meeting, including the discussion with guest speakers, will be available on the SCAG website.
SCAG Publishes ‘Mobility Hubs Design and Implementation Guide’
SCAG published the “Mobility Hub Design and Implementation Guide” to equip jurisdictions and potential partners with resources to conceptualize, design, and implement mobility hubs. The guide discusses how to locate and prioritize candidate mobility hub sites, design and optimize sites, secure funding, and explore partnership opportunities. The guide also includes four mobility hub site conceptual design examples in a variety of contexts in the region. To create a guide for practical applications throughout the region, SCAG solicited input from a broad range of stakeholders, including cities, counties, transit agencies, Caltrans, and potential private and nonprofit partners.
To further support mobility hubs implementation, SCAG plans to partner with a select number of local jurisdictions to develop more detailed mobility hub designs, supported via SCAG’s Regional Pilot Initiatives program. In addition, SCAG hosted a mobility hubs-focused Toolbox Tuesday training on March 18. Read more about the “Mobility Hubs Design and Implementation Guide” at SCAG News.
SCAG Conducting Second Wave of the SoCal Transportation Study
The SoCal Transportation Study is underway. As travel behaviors change and technologies evolve, transportation planners will use the results of this study to plan for future transportation improvements in our region. Survey respondents provide a picture of how local roads, highways, public transportation, and sidewalks are used today and how they can be improved to meet the evolving needs of communities.
Participants are selected via random sample methodology; those who complete the survey receive a gift card for their time. More than 3,000 randomly selected households are expected to participate in this essential study, providing valuable data to help shape a more efficient and sustainable transportation future. Households that were selected have until May 30 to complete the survey to receive incentives. To learn more about the SoCal Transportation Study, please visit the SCAG website.
Travel Safety Impact Assessment: Enhancing Transportation Safety Through Big Data Analytics
SCAG is advancing data-driven transportation safety through the Travel Safety Impact Assessment survey, a key initiative under SCAG’s Transportation Data Analysis Technical Assistance Program and part of the Regional Pilot Initiatives program. This Travel Safety Impact Assessment leverages big data analytics to study transportation safety challenges and identify solutions for jurisdictions across the region.
Jurisdictions selected through the survey process will benefit from a before-and-after safety assessment at no cost, receiving tailored recommendations based on results of advanced data analysis. By using Citian, a predictive safety modeling tool, SCAG will evaluate the effectiveness of nationally recognized safety interventions across various types of infrastructure.
Big data analytics plays a critical role in urban and regional planning by transforming large datasets into actionable insights. This approach enables policymakers to analyze traffic patterns, safety risks, infrastructure usage, transit ridership, and commuter behavior, helping them make informed decisions about transportation safety. By studying pedestrian and bicycle safety, the impact of infrastructure improvements, and broader safety trends, jurisdictions will gain valuable data-driven perspectives to guide future investments and policy development.
A “Best Practices Report,” to be released next fiscal year, will compile key findings and recommendations to support long-term safety improvements across the SCAG region. This initiative underscores SCAG’s commitment to leveraging innovative tools and big data to foster safer, more efficient transportation systems.
SCAG Hosts Sacramento Summit
On March 18 and 19, SCAG held its annual Sacramento Summit to convene a group of SCAG board officers, board members, staff, and partners in the state capital to advocate for the agency’s top legislative priorities. These priorities included dedicated funding for continued housing work in the region, extending the expenditure deadline for the REAP 2.0 program, and supporting the governor’s transportation budget commitments. Additionally, SCAG advocated for various funding priorities, including technical assistance to help communities establish climate resilience districts, a wildlife crossing study, and resources to support efficient goods and passenger movement during the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Sacramento Summit began with a panel session, where the SCAG delegation heard from various speakers via three panels. The first panel, titled “A Builder’s Perspective,” featured Matthew Hargrove, chief executive officer of the California Business Properties Association; Jeff Montejano, president of the Building Industry Association of Southern California; Mark Stivers, legislative director of the California Housing Partnership; and Kiana Valentine, executive director of Transportation California. These speakers offered perspectives on what laws and ideas are, and aren’t, working to address the state’s housing crisis.
Later, Robert Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, shared a business perspective on top issues being discussed in Sacramento. Finally, State Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Redlands) and Assembly Republican Floor Leader Heath Flora (R-Ripon) joined the group to offer perspectives on top legislative issues, such as public safety, cap-and-trade, a proposed $10 billion housing bond, and more.
Next, the group reconvened for the Alumni Dinner, joined by various members of the State Legislature who formerly served as SCAG Regional Council members. SCAG alumni who joined the dinner included Senator Steven Choi (R-Irvine), and assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and José Luis Solache (D-Lynwood). Additionally, Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) greeted the group. The following day, the group heard from California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin at breakfast before the delegation made its way to the capitol to attend 24 advocacy meetings with state elected officials or their staff.
During the Sacramento Summit, SCAG attendees met with various members of legislative leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), and Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). The SCAG delegation also met with California State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. Additionally, the group met with senators Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Redlands), as well as assemblymembers Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel), Corey Jackson (D-Riverside), Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey), Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth), Mike Fong (D-Alhambra), José Luis Solache (D-Lynwood), and Tri Ta (R-Westminster). Former SCAG Legislative/Communications and Membership Committee (LCMC) Chair Assemblymember Solache invited the delegation to join him on the Assembly floor.
SCAG Regional Council members in attendance included Regional Council President Curt Hagman (San Bernardino County), First Vice President Cindy Allen (Long Beach) and Second Vice President Ray Marquez (Chino Hills); LCMC Chair Patricia Lock Dawson (Riverside) and Vice Chair Margaret Finlay (Duarte); as well as Regional Council members Wendy Bucknum (Mission Viejo), Jenny Crosswhite (Santa Paula), Thomas Wong (Monterey Park), Ryan Balius (Anaheim), and Gil Rebollar (Brawley), Policy Committee Member Tanya Doby (Los Alamitos), and SCAG partner Rich Lambros, managing director of the Southern California Leadership Network.
SCAG Attends ACCESS D.C. With the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
SCAG’s Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer Javiera Cartagena traveled to Washington D.C. in March as a member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s ACCESS D.C. delegation. During the trip, Cartagena met with Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Thousand Oaks), who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to discuss SCAG’s priorities for the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.
SCAG Comments on State’s New Emissions Model for Transportation Conformity
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing a new emissions model, EMFAC202Y, to replace the latest EMFAC2021 model developed by CARB and approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). SCAG is required to use the latest EMFAC model to demonstrate regional transportation conformity for the Connect SoCal Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Community Strategy, the Federal Transportation Improvement Program, and their amendments to comply with federal Clean Air Act requirements.
Last month, SCAG and the eight San Joaquin Valley metropolitan planning organizations submitted a joint letter outlining anticipated transportation conformity challenges from the new EMFAC202Y model to avoid another “regional transportation conformity lockdown” caused by significant technical changes in the then-latest EMFAC2017 model from the previous EMFAC2014 model. The letter recommended CARB pause the finalization and submittal of the new model to the U.S. EPA, anticipated this summer, to allow additional time to evaluate and address its anticipated implications on regional transportation conformity. As an alternative, the letter proposes meaningful partnerships and collaboration that support realistic and solutions-driven pathways to anticipated regional transportation conformity challenges from the new EMFAC202Y model.
CARB staff hosted the final public workshop on the new EMFAC202Y model in March. SCAG staff continue to proactively monitor and evaluate the model.
SCAG Go Human Showcases Traffic Safety Interventions, Kit of Parts Lending Library at the 2025 LifeSavers Conference
SCAG staff deployed the Go Human Kit of Parts Lending Library at the 2025 Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety on March 9 and 10 at the Long Beach Convention Center. They presented in the workshop, “When Help Can’t Wait: Using Low-Cost Strategies to Improve Pedestrian Safety,” to discuss how the Kit of Parts is a model for low-cost, quick-build improvements for pedestrian and bicycle safety. The conference brought together transportation professionals from across the county to learn about the latest traffic safety research, best practices, and cutting-edge initiatives, exploring innovative technology and strategies to combat risky driving behaviors and save lives.
SCAG Attends California State University, San Bernardino’s Transportation Leadership Policy Forum
On March 14, SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise attended the 2025 Transportation Leadership Policy Forum hosted by the CSUSB Leonard Transportation Center, where he participated in the “Regional Leaders’ Perspectives on a Sustainable Inland Empire” panel. Ajise provided an overview of SCAG, discussing the intersection of housing, transportation, and long-term planning for sustainability, and spoke about the Inland Empire’s role at the forefront of the region’s growth and goods movement. The panel also featured Dr. Vanessa Thomas, dean of Applied Technology and Transportation at San Bernardino Valley College, and SCAG Policy Committee Member and Claremont Councilmember Ed Reece.
SCAG Attends Mobility 21 Reception for the California Transportation Commission
SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise and Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer Javiera Cartagena, joined Mobility 21 board members and regional transportation officials for a reception honoring the California Transportation Commission. Ajise provided remarks welcoming dignitaries, friends, and guests to the SCAG region, and highlighted the continued need to prioritize transportation projects that not only meet environmental, economic, and equity goals, but support each jurisdiction with their diverse transportation needs. SCAG Regional Council First Vice President Cindy Allen also attended the event.
Kome Ajise Moderates Panel at ITS America Policy Summit
SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise moderated a panel of experts at the ITS America 2025 Policy Summit on March 26. The panel, “Maintaining Consumer Privacy in a Connected Ecosystem,” discussed the transportation industry’s best practices for maintaining consumer data privacy. The panel also discussed the potential for a federal data privacy framework and other ways to shape policy and improve consumer education practices. As part of the conference, ITS America released a set of privacy principles to “commit to protecting consumer data privacy by protecting personal information; building trust through transparency and accountability; supporting ethical and responsible use of data; improving data governance; meeting and anticipating consumer education; and adapting to the evolving technological landscape.”
Also participating in the panel were Carlos Braceras, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation; Erik Dietz, executive director of PrePass Safety Alliance, which advocates for safe, secure, and seamless commercial operations throughout North America; Mina Sartipi, executive director of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga Research Institute; and Michelle Quadt, senior director of 5G Acceleration for Verizon Business.
Regional Council Members Recognized at 2025 BizFed Bizzi Awards
SCAG sponsored the 2025 BizFed Bizzi Awards on March 21, where Regional Council First Vice President Cindy Allen received an award for the Los Angeles County Supervisor District 4 Elected Official of the Year and Regional Council Member Thomas Wong received the Los Angeles County Supervisor District 1 Elected Official of the Year. SCAG Chief Operating Officer Darin Chidsey and Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer Javiera Cartagena also attended the event, which convenes business leaders, industry champions, and policymakers to celebrate the power of political advocacy and economic impact across Los Angeles County. SCAG values its long-standing partnership with the private sector and looks forward to working with BizFed to further improve the regional economy.
SBCTA/SCAG Delegates Meeting Presentation
SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise and Chief Planning Officer Sarah Jepson presented at the SBCTA/SCAG Delegates Meeting. Comprising SCAG Regional Council and policy committee members who sit on the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members received updates on SCAG’s housing program, Senate Bill 375 Reform, the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, and other legislation.
