Regional Planning: Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
SCAG’s 2016 Regional Transportation Plan & Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS)
The Issue/Challenge
SCAG’s final proposed 2016-40 RTP/SCS was adopted by the SCAG Regional Council on April 7, 2016. The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is a long-range transportation plan that is developed and updated by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) every four years. Using growth forecasts and economic trends that project out over a 20-year period, the RTP considers the role of transportation in the broader context of economic, environmental, and quality-of-life goals, identifying regional transportation strategies to address our mobility needs. In addition, for the first time, the 2016-40 RTP includes the newly required regional Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). The adopted RTP/SCS integrates land use, transportation, housing, and environmental planning strategies that will achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets as called for under Senate Bill 375 (SB 375), enacted in 2008. Specifically, the RTP/SCS provides a plan by which SCAG will achieve its regional GHG emissions reduction targets as set by the California Air Resources Board.
The Southern California Leadership Council’s Position
The Southern California Leadership Council was an active participant throughout SCAG’s process to develop its 2016-40 RTP/SCS. In March 2016, when SCAG released its final proposed 2016-40 RTP/SCS, the Leadership Council evaluated the plan and took a support position that reads as follows:
That the Southern California Leadership Council supports SCAG’s 2016 RTP/SCS and finds that this plan recognizes the critical importance of transportation and infrastructure to economic vitality, job creation, and the quality of life for all Southern Californians. The Leadership Council also finds that this RTP/SCS provides significant economic benefits; honors market forces, and provides local control & flexibility as it works to secure an integrated approach to land use, transportation, housing and environmental planning. Further, the Leadership Council appreciates that this RTP/SCS will achieve important GHG emission reduction targets and other identified benefits for our region.