SCAG Receives $237 Million in REAP 2.0 Funding, Allocates $80 Million to Innovative Transporation Projects
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) formally awarded SCAG $237 million in REAP 2.0 grants earlier this week to accelerate progress toward state housing goals and climate commitments through a strengthened partnership between the state, its regions and local entities.
SCAG, recognizing the importance of inclusive and collaborative planning, has committed to sub-allocating a significant portion of the REAP 2.0 funds to eligible entities in the SCAG region. Through multiple calls for applications, SCAG aims to empower local communities, cities, and counties to propose innovative and transformative projects that prioritize affordable housing, sustainable transportation, and resilient infrastructure. This strategic approach ensures that the benefits of the grant reach the diverse communities within the SCAG region, fostering a more equitable and prosperous future for all.
SCAG to issue $80 million to support innovative Southern California transportation projects in first allocation of $237 million state grant.
To kickstart the allocation of funds, SCAG launched the County Transportation Commission Partnership Program as the first Call for Applications within the REAP 2.0 grant program. This program provided a platform for the county transportation commissions in the SCAG region to submit proposals for innovative projects that align with the grant’s objectives. Through this targeted approach, SCAG leveraged the expertise and local knowledge of these commissions to effectively address transportation challenges, promote sustainability and enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. Through this effort, SCAG and its partners are poised to make significant strides in realizing a more vibrant and connected future for Southern California.
“We applaud the innovative thinking, collaboration and hard work that has gone into securing funding for these 33 projects under the County Transportation Commission Partnership Program. With the support of SCAG and the state, these local initiatives will positively impact quality of life by increasing economic and career opportunities, and reducing vehicle emissions across our region,” said Art Brown, President of SCAG and Mayor of Buena Park.
The following projects have been approved for funding and organized by County Transportation Commission:
Imperial County
Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center ($1,000,000) The project will construct a new intermodal transportation center in downtown Calexico, California to consolidate public and private transportation providers in one facility to improve mobility and safety of passengers, increase transit ridership, accommodate zero-emission transit vehicles, reduce vehicle emissions, and enhance the Downtown Business District.
Los Angeles County
North Hollywood Transit Center ($15,000,000) The project will result in an expanded North Hollywood Transit Center that increases and improves multi-modal transportation options for area residents and transit riders. The new Transit Center design improves the third busiest station in the Metro system and will accommodate increased transit demand from future bus rapid transit services and a planned mixed-use development project.
Enhanced GoSGV E-Bike Share Program ($2,625,469) The program expands the San Gabriel Valley’s innovative regional electric bike share program that is focused on replacing driving trips. The program expansion will focus on extending the program’s engagement, subsidies, and resources to disadvantaged communities.
Traffic Reduction Study ($1,000,000) The study will develop a plan for a congestion pricing pilot in Los Angeles County that improves roadway travel, reinvests in high-quality transportation alternatives and includes assistance programs to address equity and fairness concerns.
First Last Mile Revolution: Transforming Metro Connections to Housing ($1,050,000) The project will fund designs for improved transit and active transportation connections to 10 priority Metro stations to create safe, connected, and reliable transportation to access jobs, schools, and opportunities.
Connecting Communities with Stress Free Connections ($5,250,000) The project will deliver safety and connectivity investments in Mid City West, South LA, and Central LA by designing and constructing 10 innovative Toucan traffic signals that prioritize crossings for people walking and biking. This project will connect more than 20 miles of streets that currently are bisected by high-stress intersections without safe crossing points.
Metro Bike Share In-fill Expansion ($7,550,000) The project installs new Metro Bike Share stations in Metro-defined Equity Focus Communities to fill in a service gap between the currently disconnected Metro Bike service areas on the Westside and Downtown/Central Los Angeles.
Mobility Wallets Pilot 2.0: Challenge and Low-Income ($4,023,750) The project will use an integrated wallet of shared transportation to incentivize non-drive-alone trips and provide access to opportunity (including housing) through mobility.
Urban Wilderness Access Feasibility Plan ($372,000) The plan will create a comprehensive park access strategy to increase access and improve circulation to Griffith Park and surrounding parklands in the Hollywood Hills with a specific focus on improving access for disadvantaged communities.
Countywide Signal Priority Cloud Based Solution ($4,004,028) The project will deploy innovative cloud-based transit signal priority improving transit service for riders throughout Los Angeles County.
Developing Neighborhood Mobility Hub Pilot Projects in Disadvantaged Communities in the South Bay ($404,250) The project develops an implementation plan for Neighborhood Mobility Hub Pilot Projects in South Bay disadvantaged and senior communities. The planned Neighborhood Mobility Hubs will serve as a place where individuals can access micro-transit, as well as shared mobility options that may include e-bikes, neighborhood electric vehicles or other personal mobility options.
Orange County
Next Safe Travels Education Program (STEP) 2.0 ($1,250,000) The project will deliver Safe Route to School education to encourage safe active transportation behavior for students and families and will involve engaging with the community to conduct walk audits and develop conceptual recommendations and cost estimates to install active transportation safety improvements around schools.
Harbor Boulevard Cloud-Based Transit Signal Priority Stage 1 ($400,000) The project will improve reliability and speed for transit riders by advancing transit signal priority improvements for the highest ridership bus routes in Orange County, OC Bus Route 43 and Bravo! 543 Rapid Bus.
Reconnecting Communities through Complete Streets ($550,000) The project will reconnect communities in Orange County by improving pedestrian and bicycle connections at ten interchanges selected based on equity and crash data.
McFadden Avenue Transit Signal Priority Pilot ($3,690,000) The project will complement planned bicycle improvements for McFadden Avenue by providing funding to design and install innovative transit improvements including transit signal priority and real time arrival signage, which in turn will improve service on one of the highest ridership bus routes in Orange County, Route 66.
First Street Multimodal Boulevard Design ($4,300,000) The project will complete planning and design work to advance bicycle, pedestrian, and transit improvements such as protected bike lanes, transit signal priority, and bus stops shelters on a four-mile stretch of First Street in Santa Ana.
Orange County Mobility Hubs Pilot Concept of Operations ($300,000) The project will develop a concept design and operation plan for installing a network of mobility hubs in Orange County. The Mobility hub network will provide the community with access to multiple travel options and amenities.
Bikeways Connectivity Study ($500,000) The planning study builds on the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Master Plan for Arterial Highways Complete Streets Assessment report to utilize advanced data analytics and robust community engagement to identify opportunities in Orange County for additional bicycle lane connections and routes.
Orange County Cyclic Counts 2024-2025 ($400,000) The project involves robust active transportation data collection for all of Orange County including detailed information on volumes, contraflow riding, sidewalk riding, and electric/non-electric bicycles. This project will significantly expand the Orange County Transportation Authority’s active transportation database that is shared with agencies throughout Orange County.
Active Transportation Outreach and Engagement Support ($400,000) The Orange County Transportation Authority will deliver a range of education, engagement, and encouragement activities aimed at fostering a better environment for residents to use bicycling and walking as a means of transportation. Work will include fun engagement events such as bicycle rodeos and distributing quality bike safety equipment to residents.
Fullerton Park and Ride Transit Oriented Development Site Design Concepts ($500,000) The project will develop a comprehensive solution for developing a mixed-use residential building with affordable housing and multimodal transportation options at the Fullerton Park-and-Ride Facility.
Harbor Boulevard Cloud-Based Transit Signal Priority Stage II ($1,000,000) The project will complete the second phase of work initiated by the Harbor Boulevard Cloud-Based Transit Signal Priority Stage 1 project bringing improved reliability and speed for transit riders on Orange County’s busiest bus routes, OC Bus Route 43 and Bravo! 543 Rapid Bus.
Riverside County
Riverside Transit Agency GoMicro Microtransit Pilot Program Extension ($2,378,635) This project funds the GoMicro Microtransit Pilot Program that serves the Hemet-San Jacinto area with on-demand shared ride service. RTA will prepare a Best Practices Summary to serve as a foundational document to implement similar on-demand transit service in other areas of the SCAG region.
Vehicle Miles Traveled Study ($2,005,000) The study will provide local jurisdictions in the Coachella Valley with a framework to utilize vehicle miles traveled as the primary transportation evaluation metric by establishing screening criteria, analysis methodologies, calculation tools, and mitigation strategies.
Riverside County Transportation Commission Core Capacity Innovative Transit Study ($3,000,000) The study will evaluate transit potential along Interstate 15, Interstate 215 and along the San Jacinto Branch rail line in western Riverside County. The long-term vision of the study is a fully integrated transportation network that allows for multimodal access while leveraging advanced technology.
Coachella Rail Station Feasibility Study and Integrated Land Use and Transit Network ($2,005,000) The study will create a vision and implementation plan for the multimodal transit-supportive rail station district in the City of Coachella, including a land use-focused development strategy, infrastructure investments, active transportation projects, and placemaking amenities to increase housing and jobs in a walkable and transit-accessible environment.
Coachella Valley (CV) Link Community Connectors Analysis ($1,700,000) The project builds upon CV Link, a $118 Million multimodal transportation facility that connects various cities, tribal nations, and unincorporated areas in the region, by developing design plans for connector routes to this important regional active transportation route.
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County Vehicle Miles Traveled Mitigation Bank ($3,045,000) The project will establish a new and innovative San Bernardino County Vehicle Miles Traveled Mitigation Bank; using proceeds from the Vehicle Miles Traveled Bank, the San Bernardino County Housing Trust will be able to target funding to affordable housing and supportive infrastructure projects located in disadvantaged communities.
Countywide Multi-Modal Complete Streets Program ($6,519,868) The project will fund portions of several multi-modal projects in the cities of Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Twentynine Palms, and Upland. These projects will lay the groundwork for developing efficient mobility hubs and addressing infrastructure needs related to affordable housing development.
Ventura County
Santa Paula Branch Line Active Transportation – Master Plan Update and Validate Connections to Serve New Housing and Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled ($1,677,000) The project advances the Santa Paula Branch Line Trail Master Plan which will improve active transportation connections to housing, transit, and job centers in the Santa Clara River Valley.
Community Traffic Calming & Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program ($300,000) The project will establish a Community Traffic Calming Program in Ventura County. The program will target areas with excessive vehicle speeds, identify concepts for permanent infrastructure improvements, and develop and implement a comprehensive traffic calming program incorporating the SCAG Go Human toolkit.
Countywide Transit Stops Inventory & Accessibility Assessment / Capital Improvements Grant Program ($1,500,000) This project will conduct an inventory of all bus stops and train stations in Ventura County and establish a competitive grant program for transit agencies and municipalities to request funding for capital improvements at transit stops and stations. Capital improvements that result from this project can be paired with future affordable housing investments within Ventura County to foster inclusive development and boost accessibility and mobility for historically disadvantaged communities.
Countywide Paratransit Integration Study ($300,000) The project will evaluate and provide recommendations for consolidation of all demand-response (paratransit and dial-a-ride) operations into a new countywide agency with a single dispatch center. By improving paratransit service, Ventura County will be able to more effectively and efficiently serve more locations enabling residents to maintain their mobility and independence while remaining connected to their community.