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January 19, 2024
RE: Protect Dedicated Regional Early Action Planning Grants (REAP2.0), Active Transportation Program (ATP), and Infill Infrastructure Grants (IIG) Program Funding
Dear President Pro Tempore Atkins, Speaker Rivas, and Budget Chairs Skinner and Gabriel:
On behalf of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), I urge the Legislature to protect investments made to the Regional Early Action Planning Grants (REAP 2.0), Active Transportation Program (ATP), and the Infill Infrastructure Grants (IIG) programs as you deliberate on the FY 2024-25 State Budget.
SCAG encompasses six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura), 191 cities, six county transportation commissions, 16 tribal governments, and five air quality districts in an area covering more than 38,000 square mile s. Established as an association of local governments and agencies that voluntarily convenes as a forum to address regional issues, we have long recognized the need for regional engagement on policies such as housing and transportation to reduce conflicts and competition for resources between public agencies within our region. We work together to meet challenges that extend beyond local jurisdictional boundaries.
As you set your priorities for the FY 2024 -25 state budget and begin negotiations following the release of the Governor’s January b udget proposal, SCAG urges you to maintain your strong support for The Honorable Toni G. Atkins
Senate President Pro Tempore
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker California State Assembly
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0029
The Honorable Nancy Skinner
Chair, Senate Committee on
Budget and Fiscal Review
State Capitol, Room 5094
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Jesse Gabriel
Chair, Assembly Committee on
Budget
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0046
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investments in transportation infrastructure and housing programs as enacted in previous budgets. While we recognize the incredible budget challenge the Legislature now faces, transportation and housing programs must be protected if we are to meet our ambitious housing and climate goals. Given SCAG, and other metropolitan planning organization’s (MPO) demonstrated ability to efficiently leverage state and federal funding through our position as regional collaborators and conveners, MPOs are a crucial part o f the solutions to meeting our state’s climate, housing, and transportation needs.
The following investments are critical to the work SCAG has conducted to deliver a safer, faster, cleaner, and more equitable transportation future while increasing housing supply.
1. Regional Early Action Planning Grants (REAP 2.0) – Protect Existing Funding Levels
REAP 2.0 is a $600 million program intended to accelerate progress toward California’s housing and climate goals through strengthened partnerships between regional, local, county, and tribal governments. REAP 2.0 is the only program specifically and exclusively designed to implement the region’s Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) required by SB 375 (2008) . For this reason, regions were empowered to develop programs that accelerate infill housing, support efforts for Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH ) and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
In his January budget, the Governor proposes a $300 million reversion of REAP 2.0. This proposal would be devastating to SCAG and our member cities, counties, partner transportation agencies , and tribal governments. In July 2023, SCAG ’s full REAP 2.0 application was approved by HCD, formally committing $246 million to SCAG. Since that time, SCAG has sub -allocated $192 million primarily through competitive programs to more than 100 transformative, local projects in the SCAG region that implement the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) plan and the greenhouse gas (GH G) reducing strategies contained within Connect SoCal, the Regional Transportation Plan/ Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) for the Southern California region. Thousands of hours and upwards of $15 million have already been expended by SCAG and its partners to deeply engage with communities, develop competitive proposals, and initiate projects to meet aggressive implementation timelines.
Innovative projects awarded through the REAP 2.0 program support as many as 10,000 new housing units on surplus LA Metro transit lands, more than 1,150 affordable housing units in the Coachella Valley, a low -to-zero-interest loan program to expedite access ory dwelling units in Orange County, infrastructure improvements to support nearly 5,000 newly-zoned housing units in Rialto, and a long-term loan program to promote hundreds of infill homes in Ventura County , among others. A list of projects funded has be en included for your reference.
These projects play a critical role in increasing housing supply in the near term while also piloting innovative solutions that can be scaled across the region. With more than a Page | 3 of 4
million housing sites identified through tireless work on housing elements, REAP 2.0 was designed to remove the systemic barriers for developers to build units where needed and planned. Reducing or delaying funding will compromise the program’s integrity and have severe, negative impacts on cities and counties across Southern California and the entire state. We ask that you reject the Governor’s proposal to halve REAP 2.0 and protect this crucial program.
2. Active Transportation Program (ATP) - Protect Funding Levels Established in FY 2024
The ATP was created in 2013 to encourage walking and biking because increased use of active modes of transportation is a key strategy in meeting the state’s environmental, economic, and equity goals. Specifically, funding from the ATP may be used to develop bike and pedestrian infrastructure, increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users, build safe routes to schools, or develop active transportation plans. Through the first six funding cycles, the SCAG region has received funding for 722 projects totaling $1.4 billion.
ATP is also a crucial funding source to implement the infrastructure needed to achieve California’s roadway safety goals. The State of California is working toward a goal of “Toward Zero Deaths.” The state’s goal is to reduce the number and rate of fatali ties by three percent per year and to reduce the number and rate of severe injuries by 1.5 percent per year, reaching the ultimate vision of eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. Vehicle speed is one of the most significant factors i nfluencing the severity of a collision between a person driving and a person walking or bicycling .
Given that nearly all infrastructure projects funded through ATP are safety countermeasures and strategies effective at reducing vehicular speeds and increasing the visibility of vulnerable roadway users, this program is vital to meeting the state’s Toward Zero Death goal.
While the ATP has successfully funded projects across the state, the program is incredibly oversubscribed and cannot meet the state’s needs. In the most recent funding cycle, Cycle 6, the SCAG region received 147 applications, totaling $853 million in ATP requests, for just $93 million in available funds for the Southern California regional portion of the ATP.
Despite its need and demand, the Governor’s January budget proposes to reduce the ATP by $200 million. We urge the Legislature to protect the commitm ents made to ATP, including the protection of all ATP funds in Cycle 7, which is expected to open in March of this year.
3. Infill Infrastructure Grants (IIG) Program - Protect Funding Levels Established in FY 2024
The IIG is an important public -private partnership that provides funding for essential infrastructure that supports infill housing development in climate -friendly, transit - accessible locations. Since its creation, the program has been an important funding source to revitalize the infrastructure within already highly urbanized areas to handle more Page | 4 of 4
intensive development, including higher -density affordable and mixed -income housing.
Developers and local governments partner apply for grant funding for the development or rehabilitation of parks or open space, water, sewer, or other utility service improvements, transit linkages, transit shelters, traffic mitigation features, sidewalks, and streetscape improvements or other infrastructure needs that facilitate infill housing.
In his January budget, the Governor proposes a $200 million reversion to the General Fund from this program.
The IIG provides cities and counties with funding for the infrastructure needed to achieve their RHNA goals. This grant program prioritizes infill housing projects while focusing growth near transit, which is crucial for implementing the land -use strategies in Connect SoCal and necessary to achieve our GHG reduction targets. Therefore, we urge the Legislature to protect the commitments made to the IIG program.
Thank you for considering SCAG’s perspective on the REAP 2.0, ATP, and IIG programs. SCAG looks forward to achieving our shared goals together and working constructively with the legislature and the Newsom Administration throughout the budget process. Please contact Mr.
Kevin Gilhooley, Legislative Affairs Manager, at (213) 236 -1878 with any questions about this letter.
Sincerely,
Kome Ajise
Executive Director
SCAG REAP 2.0 Project List Rev. January 17, 2024
County Program Project Awarded
Budget
Imperial CTC Program Calexico Inte rmodal Transportation Center $1, 000,000 Imperial RUSH City of Calipatria De lta Street Pump Station (Capital) $1,500,000 Imperial SRP 2 Regional Housing El ement Implementation Assistance Program $274,133 Los Angeles Call 4 Mixed Use Devel opment for Underutilized Commercial Zones $427,350 Los Angeles CTC Program Developi ng Neighborhood Mobility Hub Pilot Projects in Disadvantaged Communities in the South Bay
$404,250
Los Angeles CTC Program Countywide Signal Priority Cloud Based Solution $4,004,028 Los Angeles CTC Program Connectin g Communities with Stress Free Connections $5,250,000 Los Angeles CTC Program First Last Mile Revolution: Transforming Metro Connections to Housing $1,050,000 Los Angeles CTC Program Tra ffic Reduction Study $1,000,000 Los Angeles CTC Program Enhanced G oSGV E‐Bike Share Program $2,625 ,469 Los Angeles CTC Program North Ho llywood Transit Center $15,000,000 Los Angeles CTC Program Mobility Wallets Pilot 2.0: Challenge and Low Income Pilot $4,023,750 Los Angeles CTC Program Urban W ilderness Access Feasibility Plan $ 372,000 Los Angeles CTC Program Metro Bi ke Share In‐Fill Expansion $7,550, 000 Los Angeles HIPP Scaling up Housing Development on City‐Owned Land $2,900,000 Los Angeles HIPP Inclusion ary Housing Program $250,000 Los Angeles HIPP City of San Ferna ndo (Zoning Code and San Fernando Corridors Specific Plan Update) Housing Infill
$791,818
Los Angeles HIPP Fox Hills Specific Plan $505,000
Los Angeles HIPP Missing Middle Housing Program $57,000 Los Angeles NOFA Environmental Rem ediation Housing Acceleration Fund $5,000,000 Los Angeles NOFA LACAHSA Strateg ic Plan and Program Design $660,00 0 Los Angeles NOFA Gateway Cities A ffordable Housing Trust Predevelopment Loan Program $5,000,000 Los Angeles NOFA Catalytic Development Fund $5,000,000
Los Angeles NOFA Housing On Merit' s (HOM) Affordable Housing Catalyst Fund $700,000 Los Angeles NOFA Feasibility Study f or Community Land Trust Creation within the City of West Hollywood
$150,000
Los Angeles NOFA San Gabriel Valle y Regional Housing Trust Revolving Loan Fund $5,000,000
SCAG REAP 2.0 Project List Rev. January 17, 2024
County Program Project Awarded
Budget
Los Angeles NOFA Montebello Trans formative Corridors Project $190, 000 Los Angeles RUSH One San Pedro Redevelopment Infrastructure (Capi tal) $4,000,000 Los Angeles RUSH Project Powerhous e ‐ Supporting Affordable Housing Development in the City of Los Angeles (Capital)
$3,682,203
Los Angeles RUSH New Downtown Resi dential Infrastructure Study and Plans (Planning) $800,000 Los Angeles RUSH Torrance Housin g Corridor Utility Infrastructure Study (Planning) $100,000 Los Angeles SRP 2 Housing Element Implementation $1,911,870 Los Angeles SRP 2 Fair Sha re Growth Strategy $2,374,000 Los Angeles SRP 2 Community Pla n (Land Use) Updates $1,910,000 Los Angeles SRP 2 Design for Housing and Mobility $940,000 Los Angeles SRP 2 Regional Sewer Model $1,466,000
Los Angeles SRP 2 Transit Oriented Development Zones Plan Update & Environmental Analysis $268,476 Los Angeles SRP 2 Gateway Cities A ffordable Housing Trust Management $385,000 Los Angeles SRP 2 COG Technical A ssistance Team (Gateway Cities Council of Governments) $813,619 Los Angeles SRP 2 City of San Fern ando (Zoning Code and San Fernando Corridors Specific Plan Update) $313,182 Los Angeles SRP 2 City of Santa Cl arita (Development of Objective Design and Development Standards) $250,000 Los Angeles SRP 2 Housing Incubator $1,474,700
Los Angeles SRP 2 South Bay Regional Housing Trust $251,475 Los Angeles SRP 2 Commerc ial Redevelopment into Housing: Extension and Expansion $343,281 Los Angeles SRP 2 WSCCOG Regional H ousing Trust Implementation Plan $198,213 Los Angeles SRP 2 Housing Element Implementation On‐Call Technical Assistance $132,142 Orange Call 4 Transformative Enga gement for Zoning Code Update $46 9,700 Orange Call 4 EIR ‐ Downtown Specific Plan Update $200,000 Orange CTC Program Fullerton Park and Ride Transit Oriented Development Site Design Concepts $500,000 Orange CTC Program Active Transpor tation Outreach and Engagement Support $400,000 Orange CTC Program Orange Co unty Cyclic Counts 2024‐2025 $400,000 Orange CTC Program Bikeways Connectivity Study $500,000 Orange CTC Program First Street Multimodal Boulevard Design $4,300 ,000 Orange CTC Program Orange County Mobility Hubs Pilot Concept of Operations $300,000 Orange CTC Program McFadden Avenue Transit Signal Priority Pilot $ 3,690,000 Orange CTC Program Reconnecting Communities Through Complete Stre ets $550,000 Orange CTC Program Harbor Boulevar d Cloud‐Based Transit Signal Priority Stage 1 $400,000 Orange CTC Program Next Safe Trave ls Education Program (STEP) 2.0 $1,250,000
SCAG REAP 2.0 Project List Rev. January 17, 2024
County Program Project Awarded
Budget
Orange CTC Program Harbor Boulevar d Cloud‐Based Transit Signal Priority Stage 2 $1,000,000 Orange NOFA Orange County Affordab le Housing Trust Affordable ADU Loan Program $4,000,000 Orange SRP 2 OCS Bench and Housing‐ related Technical Assistance $1 ,325,000 Orange SRP 2 Technology Tools to s upport AFFH, VMT reduction, and Infill Development $1,415,000 Orange SRP 2 Missing Middle Pre‐Reviewed Plans $210,000 Riverside CTC Program Coachella R ail Station Feasibility Study and Integrated Land Use and Transit Network $2,005,000 Riverside CTC Program RCTC Core Ca pacity Innovative Transit Study $3,000,000 Riverside CTC Program Vehicle Miles Traveled Study $2,005,000 Riverside CTC Program RTA (Riversi de Transit Authoity) GoMicro Microtransit Pilot Program Extension $2,378,635 Riverside CTC Program CV Link Co mmunity Connectors Analysis $1,700 ,000 Riverside HIPP Missing Middle Prototype Plans for Infill Housing Sites $500,000 Riverside NOFA Murrieta Housing Au thority Revolving Loan Program $ 4,100,000 Riverside NOFA We Lift: the Coache lla Valley Housing Catalyst Fund $5,000,000 Riverside NOFA Downtown Infill Tax Incement Financing Program for Housing Supportive Infrastructure
$200,000
Riverside RUSH Cabazon infrastructure Plan (Planning) $997,500 Riverside RUSH Downtown and Palm D r. Corridor Infill Development Sewer Area Study (Planning) $500,000 Riverside RUSH Flood Control Infra structure for Housing Need (Capital) $8,000,000 Riverside RUSH Stormwater Drai nage Project (Capital) $6,108,797 Riverside SRP 2 Promoting Affordab le Housing in High Opportunity Areas Across Riverside County $670,603 Riverside SRP 2 Jurisdictional Technical Assistance $2,298,951 Riverside SRP 2 Pedley Town Cent er Plan ‐ Implementation $478,894 San Bernardino CTC Program San Bernardino County VMT Mitigation B ank $3,045,000 San Bernardino CTC Program Countyw ide Multi‐Modal Complete Streets Program $6,519,868 San Bernardino HIPP SBCTA/SBCSS a nd Other Public Land‐to‐Residential Project‐‐Inventory, Analysis & Toolkit for Workforce and Teacher Housing
$720,000
San Bernardino HIPP Catalytic Hous ing Initiative for Downtown Rialto $193,875 San Bernardino NOFA San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust $5,000,0 00 San Bernardino RUSH Water Supply We ll City 3A for Regional Housing Project (Capital) $2,500,000 San Bernardino RUSH City of Upland Affordable Housing Utilities Planning (Planning) $303,500
SCAG REAP 2.0 Project List Rev. January 17, 2024
County Program Project Awarded
Budget
San Bernardino RUSH Bloomington S wer Extension (Capital) $6,508,00 0 San Bernardino SRP 2 Accelerating H ousing Element Implementation $ 2,298,951 Ventura Call 4 Ventura County Farm workers Housing Study and Action Plan $499,991 Ventura CTC Program Countywide Paratransit Integration Study $300 ,000 Ventura CTC Program Countywide Transit Stops Inventory & Accessab ility Assessment / Capital Improvements Grant Program
$1,500,000
Ventura CTC Program Conmmunity Tra ffic Calming & Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program $300,000 Ventura CTC Program Santa Paula Br anch Line Active Transportation ‐ Master Plan Update and Valiate Connections to Serve New Housing and Reduce VMT
$1,677,000
Ventura HIPP Unlocking Land for Housing $756,500
Ventura HIPP City of Moorpark ‐ Downtown Specific Plan $250,000 Ventura HIPP Transit Oriented Deve lopment (TOD)/High Quality Transit Corridor (HQTC) Program $1,075,807 Ventura NOFA Ventura County Housin g Trust Fund Revolving Long‐Term Loan Program for Infill Affordable Housing Developments Project
$5,000,000
Ventura SRP 2 AFFH Technical Assistance $370,127
Ventura SRP 2 Continuation of OCCOG‐VCOG ADU Program $45,000