Transportation

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Active transportation refers to human powered transportation, and low speed electronic assist devices. Examples include but are not limited to bicycles, e-bicycles, tricycles, wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, scooters, e-scooters, skates and skateboards.

Active transportation is a critical component in meeting environmental, economic and equity goals, as well as supporting jurisdictions in addressing their diverse transportation needs.

contact

For more information on the Active Transportation Program, please contact:

Rachel Om
Senior Regional Planner, Mobility Planning and Goods Movement
om@scag.ca.gov
213-630-1550

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The Regional Pilot Initiatives (RPI) program is focused on demonstrating innovative, next-generation technologies and models of regional significance, specifically those at the intersection of innovation and transportation equity, to guide the region toward a more sustainable and prosperous future.  

SCAG will manage RPI projects with participation from local partners, and the projects will be funded by local Carbon Reduction Program funds. SCAG envisions RPI projects to build on existing studies and plans developed by SCAG.  

On July 6, 2023, the SCAG Regional Council approved SCAG’s RPI Framework.  

1. Big Data Research
2. Accelerating Active Transportation
3. Mobility Hubs
4. Mobility Wallets and Universal Basic Mobility

SCAG’s RPI Framework provides additional details on SCAG’s development of the RPI program. Next steps include partner identification, project scoping, and implementation.  

Contact us to learn more about the Regional Pilot Initiatives program.

• Big Data Research

Big Data Research

Transportation Data Analysis Technical Assistance (TA) Program 

Promotes Data-Driven Decision​ Making in Southern California  

SCAG is implementing the Transportation Data Analysis Technical Assistance Program, part of the Regional Pilot Initiatives (RPI) Program to demonstrate innovative models of regional significance. 

SCAG has an ongoing contract with big data vendor StreetLight InSight®, a self-serve transportation analytics web platform used to analyze and visualize multimodal travel patterns in the SCAG region. The purpose of this contract is to provide access for public agency staff and other stakeholders to analyze, evaluate, and understand emergent local and regional multimodal travel behavior and patterns using big data analytics.  

However, SCAG understands that many public agencies in the region that could benefit from these types of data analytics often lack in-house staff expertise or capacity to effectively operate platforms like StreetLight Insight. 

To address these barriers, build capacity, and foster a region-wide culture of data-driven decision making, SCAG is procuring a technical consultant to provide direct technical assistance to public agencies to refine, research, and answer key transportation and planning questions using big data analytics at no cost.  

Public agency partners will be selected via a Request for Questions process.  

ON-CALL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT

Public agencies can now access limited on-call hours with a consultant team to receive free, tailored technical assistance using big data analytics tools like StreetLight InSight.

How To Get Involved: 

1. Sign up for a StreetLight InSight License: ensure at least one staff member from your agency is registered by completing the SCAG request form.
2. Submit your Technical Assistance Request: once onboarded to the StreetLight InSight platform, email LIST@scag.ca.gov with a brief description of your transportation/travel behavior challenge, and 1-2 high-level research question(s). *Be sure to review the SCAG Request for Questions Guidelines for eligibility and question scope criteria.
3. SCAG staff will review submissions and connect agencies to the consultant team based on hours available and the scope/complexity of the question(s) submitted. 

Contact 

Please contact SCAG’s Local Information Services Team (LIST) at LIST@scag.ca.gov if you have any questions about this program.  

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Transportation Demand Management (TDM) is a set of strategies aimed at increasing the efficiency of the transportation system, reducing vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions through alternative modes of travel. TDM investments reduce congestion and shift trips from single occupancy vehicles to other modes through projects that often cost significantly less than roadway or transit capital expansion projects. TDM strategies and options add transportation choices that improve sustainability, public health and the quality of life by reducing congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gases. 

contact

For more information, please contact: 
Courtney Aguirre 
Planning Supervisor, Mobility Planning and Goods Movement
Aguirre@scag.ca.gov 
(213) 236-1990 

• Strategic Plan
• Training Resources

Strategic Plan

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In 2019, SCAG completed the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategic Plan, which outlined strategies to expand the effectiveness and use of TDM to achieve regional goals. The TDM Strategic Plan included many resources for local agencies to help with TDM programming, including an overview of new mobility and technology advances as well as an updated TDM toolbox to support relieving congestion and commuting pain points. The TDM Strategic Plan also outlined recommendations that SCAG has begun implementing. To begin implementing the Plan, SCAG has initiated two of the recommended strategies —TDM Trainings and TDM Data Standards — aimed at increasing TDM adoption and strengthening TDM programs. 

• Read the SCAG Transportation Demand Management Strategic Plan and Final Report. 
• Appendix 1: TDM Toolbox of Strategies

Training Resources

SCAG hosted a series of introductory TDM trainings in 2021 which provided information about TDM policies and programs that can be implemented in the region. 

SCAG hosted a second round of advanced TDM trainings in the spring of 2022. This series built upon the TDM 101 series and provided an in-depth discussion of specific topic areas with case studies, subject matter experts, and actionable materials for attendees to use.

Download and share the TDM Trainings Final Report. 

SCAG’s Aviation Program is responsible for developing the aviation element of the Connect SoCal Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, gathering data and conducting research on aviation trends and issues, collaborating with airports and partner agencies (e.g., the Federal Aviation Administration and the Caltrans Division of Aeronautics) on airport ground access and aviation systems planning, staffing the Aviation Technical Advisory Committee, and providing information and data to the Transportation Committee.

Big Data and the rapid proliferation of new technologies are poised to transform and disrupt traditional policy making and planning within our local communities and across the Southern California region as a whole. Through improvements in data collection, analysis, and technology, governments have the opportunity to be more efficient, innovative and transparent.

To ensure that public agencies in Southern California not only keep up with the pace of innovation, but lead the nation, SCAG organized the Open Data/Big Data – Smart and Connected SCAG Region Committee in 2017. The committee discussed issues related to data and technology and how SCAG could play a role in supporting local governments by providing resources and supporting data tools. Through a survey of local jurisdictions, SCAG found an overall lack of capacity across the region for instituting new technology and data solutions. Nearly 75 percent of respondents lacked the financial resources to support data and technology projects, and indicated that they did not have sufficient staff resources to implement these projects.

To address these needs, the Open Data/Big Data – Smart and Connected SCAG Region Committee issued a report of policy and strategy recommendations called the Future Communities Initiative. The Future Communities Initiative is an outgrowth of this report and includes the following activities:

• Development of a visionary Regional Data Platform, which will serve as a clearinghouse of demographic, economic, land-use and transportation data while providing technical resources for in-depth analysis locally and regionally. This GIS-based tool will allow member cities to easily update their General Plan data and share this information to their communities for input.
• Continuation of the Policy Lab which supports research and data analysis projects in partnership with university and partner agencies on selected subjects using SCAG’s data.
• Implementation of the Future Communities Pilot Program to support the deployment of new and smart technologies.
• The general hosting of workshops and events to showcase research, data tools and lessons learned.
• Additionally, SCAG continues to research future emerging trends and technologies to inform our region and member agencies, as well as support the Emerging Technologies Committee.

SCAG works with transit operators, the region’s transportation planning agencies, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop goals, objectives, plans, and policies to provide effective and sustainable transit options for the region.

A key component of this partnership is the Regional Transit Technical Advisory Committee (RTTAC), composed of representatives from Caltrans, the region’s county transportation commissions, and various transit operators. The RTTAC provides a forum for input on the development of the regional transportation plan, the Federal Transportation Improvement Program, and SCAG’s Overall Work Program. Formal relationships and interactions between the above agencies, including RTTAC participation, are governed by a set of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) updated in 2018. The MOUs describe the roles and responsibilities of each party in carrying out and supporting the metropolitan planning and programming processes and include provisions for data sharing and the coordinated development of transit performance targets. These MOUs were executed under 23 Code of Federal Regulation 450.310(b).

• Reports & Publications
• Adaptation and Resilience Planning
• Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Paratransit Demand Forecast Tool
• Mobility Hubs

Reports & Publications

• Transportation Trends Update April 2024
• Transportation Trends Update January 2024
• Transportation Trends Update July 2023
• Transit Ridership Update April 2023
• Transit Ridership Update January 2023
• "Transit Priority Best Practices" Report
• "SwissCal Conference on the Swiss Public Transportation Ecosystem"
• "Regional Dedicated Transit Lanes Study Final Report"  
• Regional Dedicated Lanes Interactive Map 
• Mobility as a Service Feasibility White Paper 
• Mobility as a Service StoryMap
• SCAG-UCLA "Falling Transit Ridership" Study 
• SoCal 511 

Adaptation and Resilience Planning

In fiscal year 2017-19, SCAG prepared resources for providers of public transportation in the region to respond to expected challenges resulting from global climate change. This work, funded by a Caltrans Statewide and Urban Transportation Planning Grant, assisted transit providers with incorporating climate change adaptation into their existing processes. 

SCAG produced a toolbox of resources to be used to identify critical assets and routes, integrate climate considerations into local and regional planning processes, and implement adaptation practices to improve transit system resilience while complying with state and federal regulations. This toolbox of resources was developed through a collaborative process with local agencies, through in-person workshops and panel reviews, to assist transit agencies in completing these activities with limited resources. 

11 Elements of the Final “Climate Resilience Toolbox” 

• Projected Changes in Climate in the SCAG Region 
• Assessing Vulnerability and Consequences: Getting Started 
• Integrating Climate Change into Transit Planning Processes 
• How to Obtain Detailed Climate Projection Data 
• Assessing Criticality 
• Sensitivity Matrix 
• Example Adaptation Measures 
• Tips for Selecting and Implementing Adaptation Measures 
• Climate Resilience Planning Template 
• Contingency Plan Template  
• Transit Resiliency Funding Opportunities 

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Paratransit Demand Forecast Tool

Federal statute establishes ADA complementary paratransit as a civil right, intended to serve as a “safety net” for persons with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route bus or rail service because of a disability.  

SCAG initiated a study in 2019 to develop a tool to assist the agency and transit providers with developing long term forecasts of demand for ADA paratransit services. The ADA Paratransit Demand Forecast Tool, the first of its kind in the region, will help to inform SCAG’s long-range planning for ADA Paratransit needs in Southern California.

It is intended to help measure the performance of plans in meeting the mobility needs of elderly and disabled residents, and to estimate the resources necessary to meet future needs. The tool can also be used to support the region’s ADA paratransit providers in their planning and budgeting activities. 

Download

ADA Paratransit Demand Forecast Tool
ADA Paratransit Demand Forecast Tool – User Guide

Workshop

The ADA Paratransit Demand Forecast Tool, outputs and associated data are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, whether expressed, implied, statutory, or otherwise including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Mobility Hubs

Mobility hubs are places where people connect with multiple modes of transportation safely, comfortably, and accessibly. Mobility hubs offer a range of transportation options (typically at least two) that seamlessly connect and interact with each other, providing the infrastructure foundation for multimodal trip planning with essential resources for a safe and convenient transfer between transportation modes.

Designing Mobility Hubs for Southern California

SCAG developed the Local Jurisdictional Guidance for Mobility Hubs, which includes high-level siting and planning guidance for our 191 member cities and six counties, covering urban, rural, and suburban land uses.

The planning guide will be a tool for local and regional stakeholders to assist in developing mobility hubs.

Vision for Mobility Hubs 

SCAG aims to support development of a network of regional mobility hubs that prioritizes people through universal accessibility, safety, and community integration. These hubs will seamlessly connect two or more modes of transportation: transit, bike, pedestrian, shared mobility services, carpooling and vanpooling, and on-demand services. 

Through a flexible and context-sensitive design approach that addresses climate challenges, SCAG’s vision for mobility hubs empowers individuals to move efficiently and sustainably, fostering vibrant, inclusive, and resilient communities. 

SCAG’s strategy is to focus targeted investments in a set of prioritized mobility hubs distributed across the region. 

SCAG’s Regional Council adopted Connect SoCal 2024 in April 2024, which included the region’s mobility hubs strategy.

SCAG’s strategy is to focus targeted investments in a set of prioritized mobility hubs distributed across the region and has included mobility hubs as one of our program areas for its Regional Pilot Initiative.

Mobility Hub Design and Implementation Guide

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The SCAG “Mobility Hub Design and Implementation Guide” highlights best practices for implementing mobility hubs and mobility hub networks in the SCAG region. This guide discusses how to locate and prioritize candidate mobility hub sites, design and optimize sites, secure funding, explore partnership opportunities, and more.  

The Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy identified mobility hubs as a regional strategic investment to increase multimodal connectivity, manage the existing transportation system, and improve the traveler experience.  

SCAG’s “Mobility Hub Design and Implementation Guide” provides a supportive framework for local implementation, equipping cities and local partners to conceptualize, design, and implement mobility hubs. 

To learn more about the potential of mobility hubs to create new multimodal transportation options for communities all over Southern California, read the “Mobility Hub Design and Implementation Guide.”

Resources

• Mobility Hubs Stakeholder Meeting (Dec. 10, 2024)
• Mobility Hubs Factsheet

Southern California Delivers The Goods

SCAG & Goods Movement

Goods movement is essential to support the economy and quality of life in the SCAG region. The regional goods movement system is a multimodal, coordinated network that includes deep-water marine ports, international border crossings, Class I rail lines, interstate highways, state routes and local connector roads, air cargo facilities, intermodal facilities, and distribution and warehousing clusters. 

Whether carrying imported goods from the region’s international land border crossings or the San Pedro Bay Ports to regional distribution centers, supplying materials for local manufacturers, or delivering consumer goods to SCAG residents, the movement of freight provides the goods needed to sustain regional industries and consumers on a daily basis.

Southern California is a world leader in commerce and a major exchange point for international culture as businesses from across the globe trade via the region’s port, airport, and border crossing facilities. Goods movement is so woven into the fabric of life in Southern California that it is easy to take for granted that it will continue to deliver benefits without significant coordinated planning by local, regional, state, and national stakeholders. However, goods movement in Southern California faces serious challenges that will require considerable collaboration and investment to remain a cornerstone of the regional and national economy.

As the region’s metropolitan planning organization (MPO), SCAG seeks to optimize the goods movement network (FreightWorks) through increases in economic efficiency, congestion mitigation, safety and air quality improvements, and enhancements to system security.
 

Related Links & Resources

Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC)
CAGTC was established to bring national attention to the need to significantly expand U.S. freight transportation capabilities and to work toward solutions for this growing national challenge.​

FAST Act Freight Provisons
The FAST Act includes a number of provisions to improve the condition and performance of the national freight network and support investment in freight-related surface transportation projects.

California Freight Advisory Committee (CFAC)
The CFAC meets quarterly to participate in the development of the California Freight Mobility Plan, serve as a forum for the discussion of freight-related topics, to help coordinate regional freight priorities with other organizations, and to advise the State on freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs.

National Freight Advsory Committee (NFAC)
​The National Freight Advisory Committee was created to help the U.S. Department of Transportation promote a safe, economically efficient, and environmentally sustainably freight transportation system

Southern California’s mobility network is supported by two main passenger rail operators Metrolink and Amtrak. 

SCAG’s passenger rail program provides support and analysis for the region’s passenger rail planning efforts, including the Metrolink Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program, the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor, and Southern California sections of the California High-Speed Rail project. SCAG continues to promote the integration of passenger rail, transit-oriented development, and economic development strategies to support implementation of the Connect SoCal Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy and regional goals for mobility, sustainability, and economic growth. 

Staff Contact

Priscilla Freduah-Agyemang 
(213) 236-1973 
agyemang@scag.ca.gov

• Related Resources & Links
• Integrated Passenger and Freight Rail Forecast Study
• Los Angeles-San Bernardino Inter-County Transit and Rail Study

Related Resources & Links

• California Department of Transportation State Rail Plan 

California High-Speed Rail Authority Reports 

• California High-Speed Rail 2024 Business Plan 
• 2023 California State Rail Plan 
• California High-Speed Rail 2022 Business Plan 

Integrated Passenger and Freight Rail Forecast Study

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The SCAG region includes the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach comprising the largest port complex in the Western Hemisphere driving substantial volumes of imports and exports. The region also includes the two largest Class I railroads in North America, BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad Corporation, which facilitate the movement of goods for local and national consumption. Both the rail and port systems are supported by extensive intermodal facilities, freight corridors and access roads, that connect with the largest industrial warehouse and distribution cluster in the United States. At the same time, the SCAG region provides an extensive commuter passenger rail system.

The SCAG Integrated Passenger and Freight Rail Forecast Study served as an initial approach for the region to assess freight and passenger rail in a comprehensive manner. The study evaluated existing and future rail volumes, identified infrastructure needs and prepared a strategic vision for implementation strategies in the region. The study was developed during the COVID- 19 pandemic and considered current assumptions about rail shipments and passenger service levels. The study provides recommendations on service expansion and capital improvements and serves as a resource to position the region for rail-related funding opportunities, aligning with core principles of SCAG’s Goods Movement Resolution.  

• Download the Integrated Passenger and Freight Rail Forecast Study report.
• Integrated Passenger and Freight Rail Factsheet

Los Angeles-San Bernardino Inter-County Transit and Rail Study

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SCAG, in cooperation with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), conducted a transit and rail planning study for the corridor connecting the eastern San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County with the western San Bernardino Valley in San Bernardino County. 

Several significant transportation improvements have been, or are currently being, planned in this corridor, including Metro A Line light rail transit, Metrolink San Bernardino Line commuter rail, hybrid rail, express bus, bus rapid transit, and Interstate 10 high-occupancy vehicle lanes and ExpressLanes. The study sought to develop a coordinated transit and rail strategy that best serves the transportation needs of the residents, workers, and businesses that rely on this corridor. 

Study Objectives

• Understand the market for transit and rail travel in the corridor, including travel to and from Ontario International Airport (ONT).
• Estimate the potential benefits and costs associated with different transit and rail improvement options for the corridor. 
• Recommend a path forward for cost-effective transit and rail improvements, focusing on coordinating plans for the Metro A Line, Metrolink, and access to ONT. 

Downloads

• Los Angeles and San Bernardino Inter-County Transit and Rail Connection Study Final Report
• News Release: October 11, 2018, San Bernardino-LA County Transit Corridor Requires Multiple Solutions Working Together, Legislators and Transportation Experts Told 
• Project Fact Sheet: (English) | (Spanish)
• Frequently Asked Questions: (English) | (Spanish)

Study Area

The study corridor area includes portions of the cities of Claremont, La Verne, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, and Upland and focuses on the Metro A Line Foothill Extension, the Metrolink San Bernardino Line, and the San Bernardino (I-10) freeway. 

SCAG’s Corridor Planning program supports planning new corridors to service the future mobility needs of the region and to identify improvements to existing corridors to maintain them as vital elements of the transportation system for years to come.

The state of California, SCAG, and local governments are committed to transportation safety for all people in our region. Each year, metropolitan planning organizations, such as SCAG, work with the state to assess fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads and develop annual safety targets to comply with federal requirements.

The Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Transportation Finance Program seeks to optimize the region’s transportation systems by planning for the long-term financial needs of the region. SCAG is working to address funding shortfalls by researching and promoting innovative financing techniques, and developing strategies for the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), so that the greatest amount of transportation dollars are available to the region. In doing so, all forms of potential funding for transportation are analyzed and evaluated by SCAG.

In Southern California, there are several Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) architectures that may be applicable to an ITS project. SCAG has developed a Southern California Regional ITS Architecture that addresses multi-county issues: those projects, programs, and services that require connectivity across county boundaries or are deployed at a multi-county level. Secondly, each County has developed a Regional ITS Architecture to provide a framework for local deployment of ITS applications.  A third “layer” is also in place at the state level: the California ITS Architecture and System Plan addresses those services that are rolled out or managed at a state level or are interregional in nature.

SCAG’s Southern California Regional ITS Architecture provides a framework for ITS planning that promotes interoperability and communication across jurisdictional boundaries. Projects developed under a regional framework extend the usefulness of any single project by making information easily accessible for operators and users of the system. The Southern California Regional ITS Architecture is intended to provide a resource for project sponsors and transportation providers that coordinates cross-county planning efforts in the SCAG region and facilitates project development (planning, design, implementation, etc.).

Regional ITS projects, or transportation projects (both highway and transit) with ITS elements, that want to be eligible for Federal transportation funding are required to be consistent with the Southern California Regional ITS Architecture pursuant to 23 CFR 940.9 and 940.11. In addition, such projects must comply with system engineering requirements and applicable Federal standards that have been adopted for the implementation of ITS.

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SCAG is conducting the “2024-2025 SoCal Transportation Study” to better understand the transportation needs of Southern California residents. Thousands of residents in the region will receive invitations to participate in this voluntary transportation study.  

Participation in the study is essential to generate insights about how the region can maintain and enhance mobility, accessibility, and connectivity for its growing population amidst emerging travel choices and evolving travel patterns. The information collected will be instrumental in planning and prioritizing future transportation improvements.  

Resource Systems Group, Inc. (RSG), an independent research firm, is administering this study on behalf of SCAG. Residents are invited to participate using an app called rMove™ on their smartphones, online, or by phone.     

The study involves questions about general household information as well as travel details for a one-week period. Information collected in this study will be treated as confidential. We are committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and security of your personal information. Contact information will be kept separate from the responses and destroyed once the study concludes. For more information, please refer to the full privacy policy.

Participate 

Smartphone App  

Download the smartphone app rMove and log in with your access code to participate in the study. Just go about your life. rMove will log your travel and ask questions about your trips for one week.   

Participants may download the rMove app from the Android Google Play or Apple App Store.

Online   

Take the study online and log in with your access code to participate.  

TAKE THE STUDY

Phone   

Call toll-free to complete the study in English, Español (Spanish), 繁體中文 (Traditional Chinese), Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) and 한국어 (Korean).  

1-833-313-9555.   

The call center is managed by WestGroup.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What is This Study All About?

We want to learn how, when, where, and why people travel in and outside the region. We invite you to log your travel to help us understand regional transportation patterns. By participating, you help us plan for future transportation improvements that benefit our community.   

Why Should I Participate?

Your participation is essential to representing households like yours in regional transportation plans.   

How Was I Selected to Participate?

Households were selected by mailing address randomly from Southern California to ensure a comprehensive representation of the community. 

Who is sponsoring this study?  

This study is sponsored by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), with additional support from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro).

What information of mine is being collected?  

RSG will collect and use certain personal information from your study: travel information, demographics, household composition, contact information, and computer settings. We will not disclose or share personal information we collect from you except as required by law or described in the project-specific documentation and our privacy policy.  

Who should sign up?   

Please have only one household member complete the initial registration for the study. If your household opts to use the app, please have all household members download the app and use the participation code provided in our email. For the one-day study, please answer your entire household either online or by phone.   

How much time does it take to participate?  

Registering for the study takes about 10 minutes. After registering, you’ll receive instructions on how to log your trips and complete the questionnaire. For households using the rMove smartphone app, logging trips takes about five to ten minutes per day over seven days. For households reporting trips online or by phone, it takes about ten minutes per household member for one day of reporting

What do I get for participating?  

Once all members of your household have reported their trips and completed their questionnaires, you will receive a gift card. Once your household is registered, all household members need to participate in the study to be eligible for gift cards. If your household participates using the rMove smartphone app, each participating adult will receive a gift card (e.g., a household with two adults receives two gift cards). Households that report their trips online or by phone will receive a single gift card per household.  

Who can participate? Can my neighbor or friend participate?  

Participation is limited to selected households that received a mailed invitation to ensure the validity of the data collected.  

What is a trip?  

A trip is defined as any time you travel more than 100 feet and conduct an activity at a different address, including activities such as arriving at school or work, getting coffee on the way to work, walking to the bus stop, stopping for gas or recharging vehicle, walking your dog, or using a drive-through.  

What if I don’t travel much?  

Any amount of travel, even if you don’t make any trips, is valuable. Remember that short trips, such as walking the dog, count too.  

What if my transportation habits during the study aren’t my “typical” habits?  

No problem! We encourage your participation regardless of whether your transportation habits during the study align with your routine. 

I was invited to use the study smartphone app rMove. How does it work?  

After you download rMove and sign up for the study, the app will log your trips for one week while you go about your daily life. Each day, you’ll be asked to complete a short daily questionnaire about your transportation habits as well as a trip diary about each trip you make.   

How do I participate with rMove?  

Before your assigned trip reporting start date, you’ll receive an email with instructions to download and activate the rMove app. Once installed and running properly, rMove will log your trips. Shortly after you complete a trip, rMove will generate a trip diary record, prompting you to provide details such as how and why you made the trip. You’ll also receive a few questions in the app each morning about the previous day’s trips. You can answer these questions at your convenience throughout the day, but please refrain from responding while driving for safety reasons!  

Why is the study using smartphones to collect my information?  

The rMove app allows for more detailed trip information collection than a traditional travel diary. For example, the app collects each trip path, which helps understand congestion and route choices. Additionally, respondents may find it easier to use rMove than remembering trip details. Rest assured all data collected on your smartphone is strictly confidential along with the information collected in the study. This study’s privacy policy is available online.       

How are my results used?  

Your responses, combined with those of other participants throughout Southern California, contribute to a comprehensive understanding of travel behaviors in your community and throughout Southern California. This collective insight assists transportation planners in assessing how changes to transportation infrastructure and policy impact factors such as commute time and accessibility to essential activities.  

How is my personal privacy protected?  

We are committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and security of your personal information. Our Privacy Policy is intended to help you understand how we collect and safeguard your information. For more information, view the study’s full privacy documentation.     

What if I never received my access code?  

Please check your email junk or spam folder in case the email was routed there. If you don’t find it, please contact us for further assistance. 

Why do you need to know my demographics, like race and income?  

Understanding the diverse demographics of Southern California residents ensures that our study captures a true representation of the region’s population. Travel patterns often correlate with demographic factors and geographic locations where residents live or work. Demographic information provides valuable insights for future transportation planning and improvements.  

Why do you need to know about my children’s travel?  

Children’s trips to and from school account for a significant portion of overall travel activity for household routines, including the travel patterns of their parents or caregivers, through school-related trips and the planning of other errands, such as grocery shopping. By understanding the timing and methods of children’s school commutes, transportation planners can better assess household travel behaviors and improve transportation planning to ensure the safety and efficiency of school-related trips.  

Why isn’t the app recording my trips?  

If you encounter issues with rMove app trip recording, please try restarting your smartphone. Restarting typically resets your location settings and resolves tracking issues with the app.  

Can I remove a household member if they no longer want to participate?  

Unfortunately, once the initial sign-up questionnaire is complete, we cannot remove participating household members. Because this is a household-level transportation study, accurate trip data requires participation from all related adult household members. 

If I drive for my job (delivery, bus, rideshare driver, etc.), do I have to track all my trips?  

While the rMove app generates a trip diary record for every trip made, we understand that continuous tracking during work hours can be impractical. You can turn off the app tracking during these busy work hours and turn it back on during your normal personal trips. To disable location settings, Go to Settings, find rMove within apps, and disable location.   

What if I or someone in my household will be out of town/state during some of my travel period?  

If your household participates using the rMove smartphone app and you or someone in your household will be in town for at least one of your assigned trip reporting dates, we encourage you to participate in the week-long study. If you or someone in your household will be out of town or out of the state for the entire trip reporting period, please contact us to arrange for a new trip reporting period.  

Why don’t I have any studies to answer even though I’m making trips?  

Your trip diary records should populate when you open the rMove app. If you do not see any trip diary records to answer despite making trips, please restart your smartphone. If the issue persists after restarting your smartphone, please contact us for assistance.   

When do I get my gift card?  

Please allow two to three weeks for gift card processing after you have completed the study.  

What do I do if I haven’t received my gift card after two to three weeks?  

If you chose a digital gift card and haven’t received it, please check your email junk or spam folder. Please contact us for assistance if you are unable to locate your digital gift card.  If you chose a physical mailed card, please contact us for assistance with your mailing address. We will ensure it is sent to you promptly.    

Contacts

Submit A Support Request  

Need assistance? E-mail us at help@SoCalTransportationStudy.com. 

Please include your participation access code if you know it.  

Call Toll-Free  

• 833-313-9555 
• Hours: 
  • Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST 
  • Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. PST 
• You may also leave a message with the best time and number for us to return your call.  

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Project Overview

The Planning for Main Streets project is a regional effort led by SCAG to reimagine state highway corridors that double as community main streets. The project focuses on four corridors—State Route (SR) 1, SR 18, SR 86, and SR 39 in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, and Imperial counties—and aims to transform these roads into people-centered places that balance transportation needs with community well-being. Through this initiative, SCAG and its partners will address transportation inequities, improve safety and mobility for all users, and align infrastructure with everyday needs of residents, workers, and visitors.

This project includes planning, design, and community engagement to create safer, more accessible, and vibrant streetscapes. By collaborating with local jurisdictions, community organizations, and the public, the project will identify feasible improvements and implementation strategies that promote equity, health, and sustainability in the region.

Project Goals

The goals of the project are to:

• Improve safety and accessibility for all modes of transportation.

• Enhance quality of life in equity-priority communities.

• Align state highway design with local community needs.

• Foster local support and ownership of project outcomes.

• Develop grant-ready design concepts to support future funding opportunities.

Study Work

Over the two-year study period (2025-2027), SCAG and its partners will be working on:

Understanding the Corridors
The project begins with a comprehensive review of existing conditions on each  corridor,  assessing traffic patterns, sidewalk and bike facility availability, transit access, crash data, and environmental conditions. The team will also review relevant planning documents to ensure alignment with local and state goals.

Community Engagement
Engagement will include walk audits, surveys, workshops, and pop-up events using tools like the Go Human Kit of Parts. Community advisory committees and technical advisory committees will guide each phase, ensuring that the designs reflect local values and priorities.

Design and Evaluation
Draft design concepts will be developed for each corridor, taking into account community input and technical feasibility. Designs will propose new street configurations that better serve pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders while accommodating vehicle travel. The concepts will be refined through workshops and evaluated using clear criteria related to safety, mobility, equity, and sustainability.

Final Recommendations and Reporting
The final stage will involve preparing grant-ready materials, fact sheets, and a comprehensive report for each corridor. These will include detailed conceptual designs, cost estimates, and potential funding sources. The final concepts will be presented to local governing bodies and SCAG committees for feedback and approval, setting the stage for future implementation.

Study Corridors

• State Route 1 From Lomita to Long Beach
• State Route 18 in San Bernardino 
• State Route 39 from Stanton to Westminster 
• State Route 86 (Main St/1st St/ Brawley Ave) in Brawley 

State Route 86 (Main St/1st St/Brawley Ave) in Brawley

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Study Area: State Route 86 from Las Flores Drive to Legion Road in Brawley, approximately two miles. 

SR 86 is a gateway to Brawley’s Main Street, the city’s downtown core, lined with many businesses. Residents use this road to travel between their homes and surrounding communities. The Brawley Circulator and Imperial Valley Transit operate in areas adjacent to the corridor.

City Partners 

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Transportation Agency Partners

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State Route 1 From Lomita to Long Beach

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Study Area: State Route 1 from Pennsylvania Avenue in the city of Lomita to Harbor Avenue/I-710 ramps in city of Long Beach, approximately 6.5 miles.

State Route (SR) 1 is one of the busiest corridors in Los Angeles County due to its proximity to I-710, SR 103, I-110, and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which all generate high vehicular and freight traffic in the area. Multiple transit services, such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Beach Transit, Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and Torrance Transit, operate along the study corridor. SR 1 also links the downtown areas of Lomita, Harbor City, and Wilmington and runs through the industrial zones of Wilmington and Long Beach as well as a variety of residential areas and businesses. 

City Partners

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Transportation Agency Partners 

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State Route 39 from Stanton to Westminster 

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Study Area: State Route 39 from Starr Street in Stanton to Hazard Avenue in Westminster, approximately 4.5 miles. 

State Route (SR) 39 is a major corridor in Orange County with high traffic volumes due to its multiple strip malls, office parks, and intersection with SR 22. The corridor is also served by several Orange County Transportation Authority bus routes. 

City Partners

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Transportation Agency Partners

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State Route 18 in San Bernardino 

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Study Area: State Route 18 from Arrowhead Road to 30th Street in San Bernardino, approximately two miles. 

State Route (SR) 18 is a gateway to two major recreation destinations, Lake Arrowhead and San Bernardino National Forest, which draw many visitors. The corridor is used every day by local community members traveling to and from their homes, schools at Parkdale Drive, businesses along 40th Street, and SR 210. 

City Partners

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Transportation Agency Partners

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Get Involved

Community engagement begins fall 2025. There are several opportunities to provide input:

Surveys

Check back in fall 2025 to provide feedback on the challenges you have and opportunities you envision for traveling in the study’s corridors. 

Los Angeles County (SR 1)

• Community Walk Audit

  • Location: TBD 

  • Date estimated: fall 2025

• Community Workshop

  • Location: TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

• Pop-up Event

  • Location: TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

San Bernardino County (SR 18)

• Community Walk Audit

  • Location: TBD 

  • Date estimated: fall 2025

• Community Workshop

  • Location: TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

• Pop-up Event

  • Location: TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

Orange County (SR 39)

• Community Walk Audit

  • Location: TBD 

  • Date estimated: fall 2025

• Community Workshop

  • Location: TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

• Pop-up Event

  • Location: TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

Imperial County (SR 86)

• Community Walk Audit

  • Location TBD 

  • Date estimated: fall 2025

• Community Workshop

  • Location TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

• Pop-up Event

  • Location TBD

  • Date estimated: winter/spring 2026

Project Timeline 

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Resources

Check out the study’s resources when completed. 

• Project Fact Sheet – Coming soon (September 2025)

• Frequently Asked Questions – Coming soon (September 2025)

• Planning for Main Streets Study Literature Review – Coming soon (fall 2025)

• “Planning for Main Streets Study Existing Conditions Report” – Coming soon (fall 2025)

Contact

For more information on the study, please contact us here.