Executive Director’s Monthly Report, February 2026
County-Specific Annual Economic Reports Now Available
SCAG recently released county-specific reports for a deeper look at economic conditions across Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. Each report highlights local trends, key indicators, and emerging issues to help policymakers, planners, and stakeholders better understand county-level economic dynamics and plan for the year ahead.
The county-level reports expand on findings included in the “2025 Southern California Economic Update” presented at the SCAG Joint Policy Committee Meeting on Dec. 4, 2025. This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of the region’s economic performance and outlook, offering data-driven insights to support informed decision-making by Southern California’s local and regional policymakers.
Download county-specific reports by clicking the following links:
For additional details on the reports and SCAG’s Economic Roundtable, visit the Economic Insights & Data Resources webpage.
Regional Council Approves Programming Procedures for FHWA-Administered Federal Funding
On Feb. 5, the SCAG Regional Council approved programing procedures for programs that require metropolitan planning organization project selection through current federal transportation infrastructure law and are administered by the Federal Highway Administration. These programming procedures focus on post-award activity for the following SCAG-administered federal funding sources: Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG). Program revenues may also include other redirected funds apportioned to the SCAG region in the same proportion as the distribution of CRP, CMAQ, and STBG funding shares.
These procedures intend to prevent and minimize loss of federal funds to the SCAG region and to provide flexibility in delivering transportation projects. They also assist the region in managing obligation authority and meeting federal financial constraint requirements.
Regional Council Adopts Updated Public Participation Plan
At its Feb. 5 meeting, the SCAG Regional Council adopted an update to SCAG’s Public Participation Plan (PPP). The PPP outlines SCAG's commitments to representative, accessible, and effective public and stakeholder participation in the development of its plans, programs, and initiatives. The updated Public Participation Plan also defines audience categories, outlines methodology for conducting participation efforts, summarizes communication methods, and describes SCAG’s measures and processes for evaluating its participation efforts.
The proposed draft Public Participation Plan was approved for release by the Legislative/Communication and Membership Committee last September. The 45-day comment period ran from Sept. 22 through Nov. 7, 2025, and was noticed on the SCAG website, social media, newsletter, meeting announcements, and via in-person outreach. Comments received were reviewed, responded to, and incorporated into the document, where appropriate. Prior to the Regional Council vote, the updated PPP was recommended for adoption by the Executive/Administration Committee.
The adopted plan will be provided to the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration as required. The updated 2026 Public Participation Plan will be available on SCAG’s website.
Regional Council Hears Update on ‘Regional Housing Production Leadership’
The February Regional Council meeting featured a panel discussion about partnerships between SCAG and local and subregional partners to produce housing in Southern California. Lessons from the presentations also contribute to SCAG Regional Council President Cindy Allen’s “Presidential Priority” for the fiscal year to focus on housingproduction in the region.
SCAG’s role in housing work has changed in recent years to include supporting jurisdictions and partners across the region to increase housing production—a shift made possible by state funding from the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant program.
The REAP program represents a new approach to addressing the housing crisis, providing resources to pilot and test solutions at the local level and confront multiple barriers to housing production. SCAG received $47 million in REAP 1.0 and $231.5 million in REAP 2.0, which SCAG largely suballocated across Southern California to fund critical efforts to support housing growth.
The panel discussion featured SCAG partners Brielle Salazar, regional housing trust manager of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments; David Pollock, executive director of the Ventura County Council of Governments; and Doug Spondello, community development director of the city of Moorpark, who discussed how SCAG’s support through the REAP program facilitated their work to produce housing in the SCAG region. The presentation was followed by discussion among Regional Council members about the successes and challenges in accelerating housing production in their communities and opportunities for regional collaboration and leadership.
2026 SCAG Student Showcase Now Open for Submissions
The 2026 SCAG Student Showcase is now open for submissions.
The SCAG Student Showcase challenges students to create posters and StoryMaps that illustrate the possibilities of open data to tell compelling stories, create insights, and showcase plans and projects. Competition finalists receive unparalleled opportunities to demonstrate their expertise to a large, influential network of skilled practitioners and future colleagues. Winners receive cash prizes.
2026 SCAG Student Showcase finalists will receive complimentary event registration, hotel accommodation, and admission to SCAG’s 2026 Regional Conference and General Assembly in Palm Desert on May 7-8. At the conference, participants will present their posters and StoryMaps to elected officials and industry leaders from across Southern California.
Submissions are due March 12. Visit the 2026 SCAG Student Showcase website to learn more and register.
Scholarship Program Opening Soon
The annual 2026 SCAG Scholarship Program opens Feb. 9. The program, in partnership with the California Transportation Foundation, will award nine $4,000 scholarships for high school or community college students from the SCAG region. Students in any field of study are invited to apply, with preference given to applications that demonstrate a commitment to community planning, regional planning, urban planning, civil engineering, political science, public administration, sustainable development, or related fields.
SCAG Regional Council President Cindy Allen announced the members of the 2026 Scholarship Committee at the February Regional Council meeting. The committee includes one representative from each county, a Tribal representative, and two representatives from academia.
Applications are due electronically Friday, March 20. For more information, visit the SCAG Scholarship website.
Lasting Affordability Program Call Now Closed
The application period for the second notice of funds available for the Lasting Affordability Program opened on Nov. 17, 2025, and closed on Jan. 20. Through the second funding round, SCAG made $20 million in REAP 2.0 available to eligible organizations across the region to support established housing trust funds and catalyst funds that expand financing tools and lending products to create and preserve affordable housing across a range of housing types and income levels, including households at or below area median income.
To support applicants during the application period, SCAG hosted two virtual information sessions with an overview of program requirements, evaluation criteria, and the application process. In addition, SCAG also hosted one-on-one office hours to answer detailed questions and provide individualized technical assistance.
Award recommendations are expected to be presented to the SCAG Regional Council for consideration and approval in March 2026.
SCAG-Hosted Inland Empire Housing Workshop Explores Housing Solutions
SCAG, in partnership with Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, hosted the Inland Empire Housing Workshop on Jan. 14, gathering city and county staff, housing professionals, and community organizations to address the region’s most pressing housing challenges.
The workshop focused on real-world approaches to increasing housing supply, coordinating infrastructure, and reducing barriers to housing production. Attendees learned about regional data tools, state-level insights, and peer strategies designed to support local planning and implementation efforts.
Read more about the event on SCAG News.
SB 79-Required Mapping Work Underway
Senate Bill (SB) 79 (Wiener) establishes new statewide requirements to support transit-oriented development (TOD) by defining where certain land use streamlining and incentives may apply. The legislation directs each metropolitan planning organization in California to develop an official map of qualifying transit stops, TOD zones, and tier classifications based on service characteristics.
SCAG is tasked with developing the SB 79 map for the region’s qualifying urban transit counties in accordance with guidance from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. The map will provide a consistent, transparent regional data set to help local jurisdictions, transit agencies, state partners, and other stakeholders understand where SB 79 applies.
SCAG is currently engaging with the California Department of Housing and Community Development and other metropolitan planning organizations to secure final guidance critical to developing the SB 79 map. Upon securing final guidance, a preliminary SB 79 map will be developed and released in spring 2026. Updates will be shared on the SCAG website as they become available.
SCAG Hosts Toolbox Tuesday on Bus Lane Enforcement
On Jan. 20, SCAG hosted the “Clearing the Lane: New Tools for Reliable Bus Service” Toolbox Tuesday session. Public transit agencies across the country are under pressure to improve on-time performance, maximize existing resources, and enhance customer experience for bus riders. A persistent barrier to reliable bus service is the prevalence of parked cars that illegally block bus stops and dedicated bus lanes. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus are using AI-automated bus camera systems to issue parking citations to address this issue.
This session featured an overview of Santa Monica’s Automated Bus Lane Enforcement program and Metro’s Bus Lane Enforcement program, highlighting opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned for each initiative. A video of the session is available on YouTube. For more information and to view upcoming sessions, visit the Toolbox Tuesday website.
SCAG Begins ‘Future Leaders Initiative’ Program
SCAG launched the inaugural cohort of the Future Leaders Initiative with the program’s first meeting on Jan. 22. This six-month civic leadership pilot program is designed to help young adults across Southern California develop knowledge and skills related to how local and regional governments collaborate for long-term change. The program received a total of 244 applications across all counties in the SCAG region, showing a strong interest in civic engagement, planning, and community leadership among emerging leaders. The first cohort will complete the program in June.
To read more about the Future Leaders Initiative, visit SCAG News.
SCAG Hosts BizFed Anniversary Meeting
SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise and Regional Council President Cindy Allen hosted Los Angeles Business Federation (BizFed) for its Anniversary Board Meeting and Officer Installation at SCAG’s Downtown Los Angeles office on Jan. 20. SCAG has long partnered with BizFed to shape a stronger, more connected, and more resilient Southern California.
SCAG recognized and honored outgoing BizFed CEO Tracy Hernandez with a proclamation for her 19 years of leadership. SCAG Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer Javiera Cartagena was also sworn in as a 2026 BizFed board director.
Outreach Continues for LA28 Games Transportation Demand Management Planning
SCAG staff continued stakeholder engagement across the region around preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games by presenting the agency’s Games Mobility Program at several partner meetings. Meetings included San Diego Association of Governments Borders Committee, which focuses on binational, interregional, and tribal coordination, and the I-15 Economic Collaborative, which supports coordinated delivery of LA28 Games initiatives across Inland Empire cities. Staff also presented at California Trucking Association’s Annual Membership Conference alongside LA28 and Games Mobility Executives partners, participating in a panel on freight planning efforts to maintain reliable goods movement during the LA28 Games. SCAG staff will continue to broaden stakeholder engagement in 2026 to support development of cohesive, regionally aligned transportation demand management plans.
SCAG Presents to the Imperial County Transportation Commission’s General Assembly
On Jan. 22, the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) hosted its first General Assembly since 2019 at the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse in Imperial County. The event featured remarks from SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise, Caltrans District 11 Director Ann Fox, and ICTC Executive Director David Aguirre. Ajise highlighted SCAG’s ongoing efforts to support sustainable transportation planning and local project development, while Fox shared updates on state-led transportation projects in the county. Aguirre highlighted current and previously completed ICTC projects that support regional mobility.
Regional Council Members Martha Cardenas-Singh (Imperial County), Gil Rebollar (Brawley), and Mike Goodsell (Holtville) attended the event, along with former ICTC Executive Director Mark Baza and former Regional Council Member and Imperial County Supervisor Luis Plancarte.
The following day, SCAG Chief Operating Officer Darin Chidsey and Legislative Affairs and Government Relations Manager Kevin Gilhooley toured construction of the Downtown Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center hosted by ICTC Executive Director David Aguirre. This project will improve transportation access in Calexico’s downtown core, where thousands of transit riders cross the border daily. ICTC received multiple state and federal funding grants to implement the project, including $1 million for right-of-way acquisition from SCAG’s REAP 2.0 program. The project broke ground in February 2025 and is expected to be completed in spring 2026.
SCAG Attends NARC Conference of Regions
The National Association of Regional Councils hosted its annual “Conference of Regions” from Feb. 1-4 in Washington, D.C. The conference gathers metropolitan planning organizations from across the country to access information and facilitate discussion on current and potential impacts of federal action.
Representing SCAG were Executive Director Kome Ajise, Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer Javiera Cartagena, and the SCAG legislative team staff. In addition to participating in the conference, which provided valuable insights into ongoing federal surface transportation policy reauthorization, SCAG met with various offices of the SCAG Congressional delegation, including the offices of Senator Alex Padilla, Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), and Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), and Intergovernmental Relations staff from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
SCAG Attends Long Beach State of the Port
SCAG Chief Operating Officer Darin Chidsey and Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer Javiera Cartagena attended the 2026 Long Beach State of the Port to hear from newly appointed Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Officer Noel Hacegaba. Hacegaba reported that Long Beach was the busiest port in the nation in 2025, with a volume of cargo handled that reached 9.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units—a 3.1 percent increase from the previous year and the busiest year on record. SCAG Regional Council Member Suley Saro (Long Beach) and Policy Committee Member Megan Kerr (Long Beach) were also in attendance.
SCAG Presents to San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Board Directors
SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise and Chief Planning Officer Sarah Jepson presented at the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting on Jan. 7. Their presentation shared updates on current SCAG work and upcoming projects for 2026, including federal funding administration, REAP 2.0, and regional transportation demand management planning for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
SCAG RC District 46 Update at Moorpark City Council
SCAG Regional Council Member and Simi Valley Council Member Rocky Rhodes presented an overview of SCAG to the Moorpark City Council last month. Rhodes outlined his role as the representative from District 46, which encompasses the cities of Moorpark, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. He also highlighted SCAG programs, priorities, projects, as well as support and resources available to jurisdictions.
SCAG Presents at City of Sierra Madre City Council
SCAG Chief Planning Officer Sarah Jepson presented a comprehensive overview of SCAG’s work in the region to the Sierra Madre City Council on Jan. 27. Jepson highlighted SCAG’s goal of uniting the diverse cities and counties across the region around a common vision to improve quality of life in Southern California. The city council expressed interest in available grants and the suite of local technical assistance to support local planning efforts. SCAG looks forward to continued collaboration with Sierra Madre and hopes to return with further updates.
SCAG Hosts UCLA Planning Masters Students
On Jan. 23, SCAG hosted 30 students currently enrolled in urban planning and public policy courses at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. The students visited SCAG’s Downtown Los Angeles offices with Paavo Monkkonen, professor of urban planning and public policy, who previously served on SCAG’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment Subcommittee.
SCAG Chief Planning Officer Sarah Jepson presented an overview of regional planning and highlighted key initiatives at the core of the agency's work, including Connect SoCal, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, and other regional programs. This visit reflects SCAG's ongoing commitment to uplifting the next generation of planners and policymakers by creating opportunities for young people to learn, engage, and actively participate in planning for the future.
