California Air Resource Board Accepts SCAG's Sustainable Communities Strategy
On May 7, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) accepted SCAG’s determination that the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) meets the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. CARB’s acceptance ensures transportation projects in the SCAG region remain eligible for all Senate Bill (SB) 1 funding programs.
While this approval marks a significant step forward, it also underscores challenges with the implementation of SB 375; this 2008 law directs CARB to set GHG targets for regions and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to develop a sustainable communities strategy (SCS) within regional transportation plans to meet those targets. The length and complexity of the SCS review process have highlighted the need to revisit and strengthen the SB 375 framework to better support implementation activities to achieve GHG reductions toward targets.
On May 21, CARB staff presented proposed scenarios for future targets at a public workshop on the GHG target-setting process. SCAG will submit a joint public comment letter reiterating previously expressed concerns—namely, the applicability of the scoping plan scenario to regional planning targets and the need for greater transparency and clarity around technical assumptions that inform both target-setting and SCS evaluation.
SCAG and fellow MPOs have urged CARB to maintain the current GHG reduction targets, citing persistent economic and demographic challenges as well as the inability to count progress made through the statewide electric vehicle transition. These issues make it increasingly difficult for MPOs to plan for meeting existing targets, despite sustained efforts and innovation in regional planning—and divert resources from implementation efforts to achieve targets.
CARB is expected to release a draft GHG target update report in fall 2025, followed by a final report and environmental assessment in spring 2026. The updated targets will apply to SCAG’s next SCS, slated for adoption in 2028.
Connect SoCal 2024 Implementation Strategies
SCAG staff presented a progress update on Connect SoCal 2024 Implementation Strategies at the SCAG Community, Economic, and Human Development Committee meeting on June 5.
Since adoption of Connect SoCal 2024, SCAG has made progress on 79 of the 93 Implementation Strategies, including progress on 52 actions and milestones that have occurred since the last semi-annual progress update in November 2024. Read the June staff report for specifics on Connect SoCal 2024 Implementation Strategies.
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