SCAG
Streetsblog LA
Regional Agencies Taking Slow Walk Towards Sustainable Funding
In recent weeks, regional transportation agencies in Southern California have made some slow moves towards embracing a more sustainable transportation network throughout the Southland. Local "Metropolitan Planning Organization" the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is poised to pass a long term plan that would dramatically increase bicycle and pedestrian funding while its sister agency in San Diego passed the first regional funding plan complying with the state's ground breaking greenhouse gas emissions law SB 375 which mandates improvements in air quality with reductions in vehicles miles traveled.
November 9, 2011
How Los Angeles Advocates Are Rallying for Regional Funding Reform
Yesterday, Streetsblog looked at the funding differences in the long range planning in the San Diego County Region as compared to the "SCAG 6-County Mega-Region" that includes Los Angeles. But instead of looking at the success in San Diego and going "why not us," a group of advocates, notably Gloria Ohland and Beth Steckler at Move L.A. and Jessica Meaney at the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership, is fighting to secure billions for active transportation in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) long range transportation plan.
March 4, 2011
San Diego County Sets Aside $2.5 BILLION for Bicycles and Pedestrians
Earlier this week, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) allocated $2.58 billion of their thirty year plan for bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. If that seems like a big number, it is. While Los Angeles has been celebrating it's Bike Plan, and the Measure R set-aside that's going to help make it a reality, we should remember that the total funding set aside for the Bike Plan hovers around $50 million of Measure R funds plus whatever grants the city earns over the same time frame as San Diego County's multi-billion investment.
March 3, 2011
SCAG Opens “Bike-Ped Wiki”
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) launched what they're billing a "Bike-Ped Wiki" to help increase the number and quality of public comments for their upcoming Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Unlike some of the Wiki efforts we've seen in the past such as I Bike U, which has gone to the digital graveyard, and StreetsWiki, which is sort of available here, the "SCAG Wiki" is to help create the bicycle and pedestrian portion of the Plan.
October 8, 2010
CARB Adopts Aggressive Targets to Meet State Greenhouse Gas Laws
Last Thursday, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) voted unanimously to adopt ambitious targets for greenhouse gas reductions statewide by 2020 and 2035. Thursday's vote, hours after the Metro Board of Directors voted to endorse high standards for the Southland, will compel Municipal Planning Organizations (MPO's) to create development and transportation plans that will encourage Smart Growth and discourage catering to long commutes in single occupancy automobiles.
September 27, 2010
SCAG Takes a Pass on History, Moves Forward with Lower GHG Reductions
Last May, I had the chance to sit down with Michael Woo, the former Los Angeles City Councilman and Mayoral Candidate, urban planner, USC Professor and Climate Change activist. Woo expressed hope that the Southern California Association of Governments would set the bar for other regions when deciding how to follow new state laws by setting high targets for emissions reductions. The reductions are a state requirement after the passage of California's internationally lauded Smart Growth Law in 2008, SB 375.
September 3, 2010
SCAG Meeting Tomorrow Could Determine How SoCal Will Grow
(The SCAG Joint Policy Committees & Regional Council meets tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 2 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. If you want a seat, get there by 10:30 and feel free to bring a lunch. This isn't Metro or City Hall, you can eat in the hearing room The meeting is held at S.C.A.G. headquarters, 818 W. 7th Street, 12th Floor, Board Room, across the street from the Metro 7th Street Station.)
September 1, 2010
Councilman Smith Is Right: L.A. Should Fund Modes Based on Usage
In my Tuesday review of Monday's City Council debate on whether or not the city should use it's Measure R Local Return to fund bicycle and pedestrian projects, I mocked a statement by Councilman Greig Smith that because 10% of trips aren't by bike, the City shouldn't fund bicycle projects with 10% of Measure R funds. I argued that because the city doesn't do bike counts, it's not possible to know for sure how many trips are by bike, but since we're talking about bicycling and pedestrian spending together the argument is moot anyways. After all, everyone is a pedestrian.
April 22, 2010
SCAG and City of Los Angeles Thinking About Solutions to the Last Mile Problem
It's not often that we cover news out of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), but a recent study funded by the City of Los Angeles and SCAG on the "last mile" problem has led to a report sponsored by the city that is all about getting people out of their cars. The report was presented by LADOT Chief Rita Robinson and Planning General Manager Gail Goldberg at a meeting this morning, then again by SCAG to regional stakeholders this afternoon.
November 12, 2009
Metro Leaders Talk Freight, Funding at Boxer Hearing on Federal Policy
Barbara Boxer and John Kerry's Ear Rally Against Greenhouse Gas
September 5, 2008