Executive Director’s Monthly Report, December 2025
SCAG Publishes Annual Economic Report and Presents Analysis to Joint Policy Committee
The “2025 Southern California Economic Update” took place during the SCAG Joint Policy Committee Meeting on Dec. 4. This annual presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the region’s economic performance and outlook, with analysis to support informed decision making by Southern California’s local and regional policymakers.
Members of SCAG’s Economic Roundtable shared analysis of the region, the economy in each of the six counties in the SCAG region, and the economic impact of the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Following the presentations, former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti moderated a conversation with policy committee members.
Video of the presentations and discussion, as well as the "2025 SCAG Economic Update Report," are available online. Full technical reports with individual county-level analysis will be published in the coming weeks.
Regional Council Approves $1.25 Billion in STBG/CMAQ Funding Awards
At its Dec. 4 meeting, SCAG’s Regional Council approved $1.25 billion in Federal Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for 132 projects throughout the region. These projects were nominated by eligible project sponsors through their respective county transportation commissions and evaluated according to the criteria outlined in the STBG/CMAQ Program Guidelines. Administering the STBG/CMAQ programs is new to SCAG, which became responsible in July 2023 due to federal corrective action. SCAG’s role improves regional coordination for these federal funding programs and increases representation for local jurisdictions underrepresented in previous cycles. Through the project selection process, SCAG maintains alignment with the Connect SoCal Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy.
Following Regional Council approval, project sponsors may proceed to program projects into the Federal Transportation Improvement Program and begin the obligation process. For more information on the STBG/CMAQ funding process, including registration for SCAG office hours to discuss application-specific feedback, visit SCAG’s STBG/CMAQ website.
Second Call for Projects Released under the REAP 2.0 Lasting Affordability Program
Round 2 of SCAG’s Lasting Affordability Program recently opened. An additional $20 million is available to fund existing housing trusts and catalyst funds to use in an existing finance tool, including lending and grant programs or other programs that create supply, choice, and lasting affordability through a mix of housing types and price ranges, including households at or below area median income. Funding will be awarded using the evaluation criteria in the application, with the maximum award of $5 million per applicant. Partial awards can be considered at SCAG’s discretion.
SCAG is accepting applications submitted through Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. For more information, including key dates, eligibility, application resources, and how to connect with the project team, visit the webpage for SCAG’s Programs Accelerating Transformative Housing.
Resolution of Conformity Lockdown Triggered by California's Clean Air Act Waivers Revocation
As reported previously, California’s Clean Air Act waivers were federally revoked as of June 12. As a result, California and the SCAG region entered a “conformity lockdown”—meaning there will be no new regional transportation conformity determinations on the Connect SoCal Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy or the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP).
On Nov. 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the latest planning assumptions and updates to the emissions estimation model that was developed by the California Air Resources Board. This has fully lifted the statewide conformity lockdown, including the SCAG region.
SCAG can now continue with the current schedule for conformity analysis for the 2027 FTIP and Connect SoCal 2024 consistency amendment and advance project schedules, particularly any needed for the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
SCAG Launches Last Mile Freight Program Phase II
SCAG, in partnership with South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Committee, launched the Last Mile Freight Program (LMFP) Battery-Electric Rebates on Oct. 31. This rebate program is the second phase of SCAG’s LMFP, which supports cleaner, zero-emission freight movement across Southern California.
Funding for the rebate program comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provided through the South Coast AQMD’s INVEST CLEAN initiative, which includes $500 million in Climate Pollution Reduction Grant funding to support zero-emission infrastructure, vehicles, and equipment for air quality benefits across the region. SCAG will award rebates to help last-mile delivery fleet owners and operators purchase or convert Class 4 and 5 battery-electric trucks operating in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
More information about eligibility is available on SCAG’s LFMP web page. The application deadline is Jan. 30, 2026, and SCAG expects to announce awards in February 2026.
SCAG Joins Grand Opening Events for CV Link, Meets with Coachella Valley Partners
On Nov. 10, SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise attended an event in the city of La Quinta to celebrate the completion of nearly 40 miles of the CV Link project, which is a multimodal, fully separated, bicycle and pedestrian access throughfare stretching across the Coachella Valley. SCAG contributed to CV Link by helping secure funding from the state’s Active Transportation Program over several cycles.
La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans, Riverside County Supervisor and Coachella Valley Association of Governments Chair V. Manuel Perez, and Coachella Valley Water District Boardmember Peter Nelson highlighted the significance of the project and recognized numerous funding partners and collaborators who contributed to realizing the project.
While in the Coachella Valley, Ajise also met with Sunline Executive Director Mona Babauta. Sunline Transit is an innovator and leader in the public transit fleet space, with 32 hydrogen fuel cell buses and facilities to fuel and maintain these vehicles. Sunline is on track to have an entirely zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.
Ajise toured the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) CV Sync Traffic Management Center with CVAG Executive Director Tom Kirk, Regional Council Past President Jan Harnik (Palm Desert), and CVAG staff. CVAG is a proactive partner with local jurisdictions through CVAG’s Executive Board to strategically deploy traffic signal synchronization along the Old Highway 111 corridor throughout Coachella Valley.
The day wrapped up with another event to celebrate the CV Link Grand Opening at the Bump and Grind trailhead in Palm Desert. Ajise was joined by former SCAG Regional Council Member and current Riverside County Auditor Controller Ben Benoit, President and CEO of Visit Greater Palm Springs Scott White, and Palm Desert Mayor and SCAG Regional Council Past President Jan Harnik to highlight the importance of the project’s completion and regional significance.
Wilshire Center Active Transportation Quick-Build Project Celebrates Completion
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) celebrated the completion of a quick-build infrastructure project on Nov. 13 at Hobart Elementary School, which calms vehicle speeds to improve pedestrian safety during student pick-up and drop-off. The project also converts Serrano Avenue into a one-way northbound street, with a dedicated drop-off and pick-up lane at Hobart Elementary.
SCAG provided funding for this project through the Sustainable Communities Program – Active Transportation and Safety in 2021, which was funded by Cycle 5 of the state’s Active Transportation Program. In addition to the now-completed quick build demonstration project to improve safety for people walking and biking in the Wilshire Center/Koreatown neighborhood and provide insight for future projects, LADOT is also working on an active transportation network plan that prioritizes sections of roadway for improvements.
SCAG Participates in Orange County Small Scale Housing Symposium
SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise moderated two panels at Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento’s Small Scale Housing Symposium on Nov. 5. This event brought together manufacturers, nonprofits, developers, municipal landowners, and funders to explore innovative housing solutions for Orange County. Panel discussions looked at successful housing projects from other counties, explored funding opportunities, and connected local jurisdictions to resources to explore small-scale and modular housing solutions.
SCAG Presents Games Mobility Framework to SBCAG
On Nov. 20, SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise presented to the Santa Barbara Association of Governments Board on SCAG’s efforts to support preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The presentation highlighted challenges for the region’s transportation system, which during the LA28 Games must support travel for nearly 19 million people and maintain regional goods movement activity to serve the nation. Ajise also outlined SCAG’s Games Mobility Program Framework, approved by the Regional Council last September, which guides SCAG’s advancement of the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy through work to prepare for the LA28 Games. The presentation exemplifies how SCAG shares information and partners with other metropolitan planning organizations on matters that cross regional boundaries.
SCAG Releases Goods Movement Communities Opportunities Toolkit
Southern California’s goods movement industry powers the local and national economies by supporting jobs, trade, and access to markets. At the same time, its impacts—traffic, safety risks, and pollution— are concentrated in communities located near industrial facilities and freight corridors. As part of the SoCal Goods Movement Communities Opportunities Assessment, SCAG has released a new toolkit that offers practical guidance to help communities address these challenges and leverage opportunities.
For example, the toolkit includes strategies to strengthen workforce pathways, approaches for addressing public health concerns, and resources to enhance communication and identify funding opportunities for community-driven solutions. This toolkit supports communities most affected by goods movement that are also positioned to share in its economic benefits, safeguard public health, and foster resilience for the future. Through these efforts, SCAG seeks to advance a more equitable and sustainable goods movement system that delivers benefits across the region.
SCAG Receives $1.6 Million in Grants for Traffic Safety Programs
SCAG has been awarded $1.6 million in grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The funding is for transportation safety improvements, including expansion of a web-based transportation safety data and analytical tool that utilizes traffic safety data to analyze, model, and predict traffic safety performance and risks, as well as continued work on its regional traffic safety and community engagement program, Go Human.
Southern California has some of the highest rates of injuries and fatalities in the United States among pedestrians and bicyclists. An average of five people die, and 20 people are seriously injured every day in traffic collisions in the six-county SCAG region. Pedestrians and bicyclists account for more than 34 percent of regional traffic deaths annually, despite comprising less than 10 percent of all trips.
For more information on SCAG’s Go Human program, visit the SCAG website.
SCAG Leaders Tour High Desert
On Nov. 24, a delegation including SCAG Regional Council First Vice President Ray Marquez (Chino Hills); Regional Council Members Daniel Ramos (Adelanto), Helen Tran (San Bernardino), and John Dutrey (Montclair); Policy Committee Member Gabriel Reyes (Adelanto); and Executive Director Kome Ajise and Deputy Executive Director Darin Chidsey visited Regional Council District 65 to learn about projects in the High Desert and potential for future collaboration.
Starting at the Town of Apple Valley, Policy Committee Member Art Bishop, Mayor Scott Nassif, and Mayor Pro Tem Curt Emick welcomed the delegation. The group learned about the town’s history and the Brightline West Victor Valley Station, which will be constructed in the Town of Apple Valley. Attendees then toured the town’s industrial zone and visited the site of the future Victor Valley Station.
The delegation was welcomed at Victorville City Hall by Mayor Elizabeth “Liz” Becerra and Deputy City Manager Scott Webb. The group received a presentation about the city’s economic development, the use of technology to improve public safety, and homelessness policies. Next, the delegation visited Victorville’s Wellness Center, a care facility helping sheltered and unsheltered individuals with wraparound services, including an onsite medical clinic, recuperative care, interim housing, and more.
At Hesperia City Hall, SCAG met with Mayor Allison Lee, Councilmember Chris Ochoa, and City Manager Rachel Molina. The delegation learned about the city’s population growth, infrastructure, and about the Silverwood Lake Housing Development, an almost 10,000-acre community, preserving 4,900 acres for open space and parks, 166 miles of trail paths, and with 15,000 homes in the pipeline. The tour ended with a visit to the Silverwood Lake Welcome Center.
New Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón Speaks at LCMC
Senate Pro Tem Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) addressed the November meeting of the Legislative/Communications and Membership Committee to provide an update on the State Senate’s priorities impacting the SCAG region and the state. As the newly elected Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Limón discussed priorities related to the state’s budget and the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention program, while highlighting the significance of the cap-and-invest extension in continuing to combat greenhouse gas emissions in Southern California.
SCAG Featured at WTS-LA Annual Scholarships & Awards Gala
SCAG was proud to be a part of the WTS-LA Annual Scholarships & Awards Gala on Nov. 6. SCAG Regional Council President Cindy Allen (Long Beach) and Executive Director Kome Ajise presented the WTS-LA/SCAG Community College Scholarship to Aimee Rodriguez Lopez of Long Beach City College. As the recipient of the chapter's Ray LaHood Award last year, Ajise also delivered the keynote address, where he celebrated the contributions of women to the region's transportation and planning fields.
SCAG Joins California Transit Association 60th Annual Fall Conference and Expo
SCAG staff attended the California Transit Association 60th Annual Fall Conference and Expo, Nov. 5–7. Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Lincoln Room Strategies Chief Executive Director Lynda Tran, and CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin were all featured speakers, and Governor Gavin Newsom and former Governor Jerry Brown also appeared via video remarks.
SCAG staff moderated a panel on “Rebuilding a Resilient Transit System,” which explored how climate change is reshaping transit operations and planning across California. Panelists Britt Card from the city of Pasadena Transit and Liseth Guizar from the city of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus shared how their agencies responded to the Eaton and Palisades fires in January—collaborating across city departments, activating emergency response centers, and transporting residents to evacuation sites. Dan Phu from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) highlighted ongoing work along the LOSSAN corridor, where OCTA and partner agencies are addressing erosion, bluff instability, and other climate impacts. OCTA has led several studies that have helped secure funding from federal and state sources to address challenges.
SCAG Continues Partnership with CoMotion LA
SCAG participated in conversations with transportation leaders at the annual CoMotion LA conference, Nov. 12-13, in downtown Los Angeles.
On Nov. 12, SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise was on a panel titled “Digital Intelligence at Work: Transforming Cities, Transit, and Supply Chains.” The panel discussed how digital technology is transforming the transportation of people and goods. Joining Kome on stage were Mitch Bierman, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman; Mike Potter, AppWay; Artie Mandell, Port of Los Angeles; Francisco Ramirez, and Red Hat.
SCAG Chief Planning Officer Sarah Jepson was a panelist in a presentation titled "Beyond Boundaries: Expanding Regional Mobility & Access” on Nov. 13. This discussion explored how agencies and private partners are rethinking commuter rail, rapid bus services, and integrated mobility systems to provide reliable access to jobs and healthcare. The panel also included Dani Simons of Alstom Americas and Darren Kettle of Metrolink, who spoke to the resilience needed to prepare for upcoming mega-events in Southern California, like the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
SCAG Presents at Mpact 2025 Conference in Portland
On Oct. 28, SCAG staff presented at the Mpact 2025 Conference in Portland, Oregon, at a session focused on “Mobility Hubs: Your Community’s Nexus.” The session highlighted SCAG’s "Mobility Hub Local Design and Implementation Guide" and featured Mountain Line Transit Authority (Flagstaff, Arizona), with Cambridge Systematics moderating.
The 90‑minute workshop combined agency presentations with a design charrette focused on mobility hub concepts for Santa Monica and Flagstaff. Conference attendees explored how mobility hubs could be adapted to rural, suburban, and urban contexts, and identified design features to integrate into existing transit stations and surrounding communities. The round‑table format encouraged small group dialogue, with participants applying transportation strategies to develop site‑specific recommendations.
SCAG Executive Director Presents to CSULB Graduate Class
SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise was a guest lecturer in a Cal State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Urban Executive Management class on Nov. 19. The class is part of CSULB’s Master of Public Administration program taught by Professor Marshall Goodman, who is also a former SCAG Regional Council member. During the presentation, Professor Goodman returned a book that Ajise loaned to him during his time at SCAG: "Homelessness Is a Housing Problem; Homelessness in America," by Gregg Colburn and Clayton Page Aldern.
The lecture highlighted SCAG programs for students and early career planning professionals, including the Future Leaders Initiative and Junior Planner Program.
