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Current Policy Initiatives and Future

Research NeedsHuasha Liu

Director, Land Use and Environmental Planning

November 4, 2010

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION of GOVERNMENTSwww.scag.ca.gov

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1) SCAG Organization and Region Overview

2) Regional Challenges 3) Completed, Current, and Ongoing

Research Activities 4) Future Potential Research Initiatives 5) Funding Opportunities 6) How to Conduct Research with SCAG

Topics

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1) SCAG Organization and Region Overview

190 cities19 million residents7.2 million jobs

Largest Metropolitan Planning Organization

SCAG REGION

Southern CaliforniaAssociation of Governments

17th largest economyin the world

Shares the characteristics of many nations

Federal and State Government Mandates to Develop Regional Plans:

Transportation Planning

-Regional Transportation Plan

-Federal Transportation Improvement

Program -Goods Movement

Land Use Planning -Regional Housing

Needs Assessment-SB 375: Sustainable

Communities Strategy-Compass Blueprint

Environmental Planning

-RTP Program EIR-Air Quality Planning

Program-Intergovernmental Review

What is SCAG’s role in the Region?

We do not have the authority to: RegulateTaxImplement

We do have the authority to: Plan

Program

Study/Research

Monitor

Coordinate

Highlight of Services to Local Jurisdictions

• SCAG GIS Services– Software training and data assistance for

cities and counties to support local planning• Compass Blueprint Program

– 84 Demonstration Projects Completed– $7.4 million awarded since 2005 – $5 million will be awarded per year from this

year forward• Green Cities Recognition Awards

– New incentive program promoting GHG reduction

– $2 million per year in cash awards from this year forward

SCAG

LOCAL COMMUNITY

FEDERAL STATE

SubregionsGeneral PublicPlanning Orgs.

Transportation Orgs.

Transportation CommissionsAir Quality Management Districts

Highway (FHWA)Transit (FTA)

Aviation (FAA)Railroad (FRA)

Environment (EPA)Housing (HUD)

Transportation(DOT/CTC/BT&H)Air Quality (CARB)Councils of Government(CALCOG)Housing (BT&H)

Requires Close Collaboration with Partner Agencies in the Region

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2) Regional Challenges

Anticipated growth of 4 million people and 2.4 million jobs to the region by 2035

Like adding two cities the size of Chicago between

2000 & 2035

Economy/Jobs Traffic CongestionAging Population & Economic ImpactsAir QualityEnergy and ResourcesUrban SprawlPublic HealthHousing AffordabilityShrinking Federal & State Funding

Regional Challenges

0-20 yrs 21-64 yrs 65+ yrs

5.9 million

31%

2.0 million

11%

2010

6.6 million

29%

12.6 million

55%

3.8 million

17%

20350-20 yrs 21-64 yrs 65+

yrs

11.2 million59%

Percentages do not add to 100% due to roundingSource: SCAG, Local Input/General Plan Growth Forecast, March 2010

Huge Shift in the Age of Population in SCAG Region

Household Type 1960 2000 2005 2040HH with Children 48% 33% 32% 27%HH without Children 52% 67% 68% 73% Single-Person HH 13% 26% 31% 34%

Source: Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, Presidential Professor & Director of Metropolitan Research, University of Utah.

“Traditional” Households on the Wane in the U.S.

3) Completed, Current, and Ongoing Research Activities

Examples of Completed Research

• Transportation System Research– Metro Gold Line Corridor Study (UCLA)– Port and Modal Elasticity Study Phase II (Consultant)

• Socio-Economic Analysis– Wage and Job Dynamics (Cal Lutheran University)

• Model/Tool Development– Envision Tomorrow scenario builder (Consultant)

Examples of Current Research

• Transportation System Research– Congestion pricing analysis (Consultant)

• Environmental Planning Research– Climate & Economic Development Project (Consultant)

• Model/Tool Development– Activity-based transportation model (UCSB/ASU/UT)– Land use model (UC Davis, University of Calgary)– Sustainability tool (Consultant)– California Land Opportunity Tracking System (UCLA)

Ongoing Research• Socio-Economic Analysis– Regional demographic trends (In-house)– Aging/ethnic diversity (In-house)– City level population projections (In-house)– Spatial distribution of population and employment (In-

house)– County level population and employment balance (In-

house)• Model/Tool Development– Parcel data development, improvement, and

dissemination (In-house)

4) Future Potential Research Initiatives

• Travel Behavior Analysis– Specifically for elderly people, minority groups, and women– Regional mode choice analysis– Inter-regional travel analysis– Household Travel Survey (HTS) data analysis

• Transportation System Research– Transit accessibility analysis– Aviation demand forecast– Seaport and airport truck demand– Non-motorized travel demand analysis– Transportation finance analysis

• Model/Tool Development– Dynamic Traffic Assignment and its link to emission model– Travel Demand Management impact analysis tool – Heavy-duty truck model

Transportation Planning Related Research

• Economic Analysis – Subcenter identification– Regional economic growth strategy

• Model/Tool Development– Econometric forecast model– Small area land use, employment, demographic

database

Land Use Planning Related Research

Environmental Planning Research

• Environmental Justice• Air quality and emissions model• Impact Analysis of Potential Land

Use/Transportation Scenarios• Model/Tool Development– Greenhouse gas emission / Carbon calculator

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5) Funding Opportunities

HUD Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program

• Supports multi-jurisdictional regional efforts that integrate housing, economic development, transportation, resource planning, and sustainability

• $100 million available through competitive application process

• Grant was awarded in October 2010– California was allocated $5.5 million or 5.5% of the total available

funds– California’s population represents 12% of the national total

California’s Strategic Growth Council

– The Council is a cabinet level committee that is coordinating the activities of state agencies to meet the goals of AB 32 and improve California’s• Air and water quality• Natural resource protection• Housing affordability• Infrastructure systems• Public health

• Planning Grant Program– $66 million total over three grant cycles– First cycle is $22 million– Funding has three focus areas• Local Sustainable Planning (minimum 25% of funds)• Regional SB 375 Planning (minimum 25% of funds)• Regional Planning Activities (minimum 10% of funds)

– 20% funding set aside for projects that target Economically Disadvantaged Communities (EDCs)

– Schedule• Awards will be announced on November 10th

California’s Strategic Growth Council

• Urban Greening Grant Program – $64 million over three funding cycles– First cycle is $21.3 million– Grant Program can fund projects or plans• Project proposals can be submitted by cities, counties, or

non profits• Proposals for plans can be submitted by cities, counties,

nonprofits, COGs, MPOs, JPAs, or special districts.– Schedule• Funds will be awarded November 2010

California’s Strategic Growth Council

SCAG’s University Partnership Program

• Funding opportunity for regional research– $250,000 will soon be available for academic research

related to SCAG’s policy objectives• Establishes a committee of regional academics – Helps SCAG receive academic input on projects– Identifies mutual interests for development of possible

joint projects• Timeframe– Grant program will be initiated in early 2011

US Department of Energy’s (DOE)Clean Cities Program

• The Clean Cities Program helps local organizations establish government-industry partnerships to reduce petroleum consumption– Facilitates information exchange and technology

transfer– Provides tools to local coalitions• Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Data Center:

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/

California Energy Commission• Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Program (AB 118)

– $100 Million Annual Budget• The program will support projects that meet any of the following

criteria:– Produce alternative and renewable low-carbon fuels in California – Decrease, on a full fuel cycle basis, the overall impact and carbon footprint of

alternative and renewable fuels and increase sustainability– Expand fuel infrastructure, fueling stations, and equipment– Improve light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle technologies– Retrofit medium- and heavy-duty on-road and non-road vehicle fleets– Expand infrastructure connected with existing fleets, public transit, and

transportation corridors– Establish workforce training programs, conduct public education and

promotion, and create technology centers

– Eligible recipients include: • Public agencies• Private businesses• Public-private partnerships• Vehicle and technology consortia• Workforce training partnerships and collaboratives• Fleet owners• Consumers• Recreational boaters• Academic institutions

– Schedule• Proposals are due November 30th, 2010

California Energy Commission (Con’t)

Additional Grant Resources

• Websites: • bpn.gov (Central Contractor Registration) • CFDA.gov (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) • fedpubseminars.com (Federal Publications Seminar) • Fdncenter.org (Foundation Finder) • Grants.gov • Gsa.gov (General Services Administration) • Recovery.gov • USAspending.gov • Whitehouse.gov (Office of Management and Budget- OMB) • Professional Training & Organizations: • Federal Publications Seminar (fedpubseminars.com) • Grant Writing USA (GrantwritingUSA.com)• Management Concepts (managementconcepts.com)• Grants Professional Organization (www.grantprofessionals.org)• National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) (www.ncura.edu)• National Grants Management Association (NGMA) (www.ngma.org)• Society of Research Administrators (SRA) (www.srainternational.org)

6) How to Conduct Research with SCAG

How to Conduct Research with SCAG

• SCAG procedure: – Register as a vendor

(http://www.scag.ca.gov/business/index.htm)– Review RFPs and submit proposal

For more informationplease contact

Huasha LiuDirector, Land Use and Environmental

Planningliu@scag.ca.gov

www.scag.ca.gov