What is SPM?
SPM is a web-based scenario development, modeling, and data organization tool developed to facilitate informed and collaborative planning among counties/subregions, local jurisdictions, other stakeholders, and the public. Built on open-source software platforms, SPM includes a suite of tools and analytical engines that help to quickly illustrate alternative plans and policies and to estimate their transportation, environmental, fiscal, public health, and community impacts. Moreover, SPM provides a common data framework within which local planning efforts can be easily integrated and synced with regional plans.
Background
Senate Bill (SB) 375, which was passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by the Governor in September 2008, requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to develop a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) for reducing carbon emissions. Under SB375, each MPO needs to provide the public with the necessary modeling information and tools for an informed assessment of the issues and policy choices in the development of SCS. Accordingly, in Spring 2011, SCAG developed the Local Sustainability Planning Tool (LSPT), a GIS-based sketch planning tool that allows users to create land use scenarios and analyze their impacts. Provided with preliminary scenarios of their planning areas, local planners were able to create, modify, and compare different land use scenarios and their subsequent impacts on vehicle ownership, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), mode use and GHG emissions. This allowed the local government participation in the development of the 2012 -2035 RTP/SCS to be far more fruitful than it otherwise would have been.
When SCAG initiated the 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) process, additional functional and analytical needs were identified to better foster the creation of a highly realistic and implementable SCS through a “bottom-up” approach. After the thorough review of scenario planning models and tools in practice, SCAG joined other major Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in California – Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) and San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG) – in the enhancement and customization of the open-source version of UrbanFootprint . In order to make the customized tool useful to subregions and local jurisdictions, SCAG formed a Working Group in 2013 that included representatives from all counties and subregions in the SCAG region to serve as an advisory group on functional and operational aspects of the model. The Working Group offered an invaluable source of support and guidance in the development and implementation of UrbanFootprint based SCAG Scenario Planning Model (SPM).
Primary Purpose And Current Use
The primary purpose of SPM is to enhance the Region’s ability to address complex issues and evolving challenges by providing better information about alternative future scenarios and by building an improved linkage between local and regional planning. Within SCAG’s integrated modeling and forecasting system, SPM serves as a conduit for the delivery of up-to-date and locally vetted data and plans to key SCAG models by: delivering locally vetted data and plans to key SCAG models to ensure that regional plans are consistent with local data and policy inputs; and providing directional and order-of-magnitude impacts of local land use and policy decisions that will assist in the development of regional plans and associated scenario analysis.
SPM was initially deployed as two separate web services – SPM Data Management (SPM-DM) and SPM Scenario Development and Analysis (SPM-SD). SPM-DM tool was released in late 2017 to all local jurisdictions in the SCAG region to support the 2020 Connect SoCal (or 2020-2045 RTP/SCS) process by providing a common platform to share, review, update and disseminate data between SCAG and local jurisdictions. SPM-DM was instrumental in the timely and efficient review of and decision on important plan datasets and had supported in building a local-regional database connection until it was sunsetted in 2022. SPM-SD tool incorporates multiple analytical modules that produce a variety of critical metrics to inform and envision possible futures under different demographic growth, land use, and transportation scenarios. SPM-SD has primarily been used for regional plan development and analysis activities and remains to play an important role in facilitating scenario creation and editing with advanced analytic capabilities.
SCAG develops and applies state-of-the-art models, integrated into a comprehensive modeling and forecasting framework (see the chart below) to develop growth projections, travel forecasts, and emissions estimates to support the Region’s various planning programs.
CONNECT SOCAL 2024 SUBCOMMITTEES
In September 2022, SCAG launched three subcommittees to look at emerging issues for the Connect SoCal 2024 plan.
The Resilience and Conservation subcommittee, and the Racial Equity and Regional Planning subcommittee concluded last month, and members of both committees unanimously approved a set of recommendations.
The Next Generation Infrastructure subcommittee will meet on Feb. 15 to review their key findings and finalize their own recommendations.
10 SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING SUPPORTIVE GRANT APPLICATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
In addition to Permanent Local Housing Allocation application assistance, SCAG is offering technical assistance for jurisdictions and Tribal Governments to prepare and submit applications for housing-supportive funding.
State Agency Meetings
On Nov. 8 and 9, SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise and SCAG Planning Director Sarah Jepson traveled to Sacramento for a series of meetings with executive leadership at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the California Office of Planning Research (OPR), the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).
REGIONAL EARLY ACTION PROGRAM (REAP) 2.0 PROGRAM UPDATE
Continuing development of the REAP 2.0 program, staff have been conducting outreach to identify priorities for transformative planning and implementation. This has included engaging representatives from disadvantaged and rural communities on their participation in the program. Most recently, staff hosted virtual workshops to provide information and collect feedback from tribal entities and the public.
REGIONAL EARLY ACTION PROGRAM (REAP) 2.0 PROGRAM UPDATE
Since the approval of the REAP 2.0 Program Framework by the Regional Council (RC) in July, staff has continued outreach efforts to develop specific programs using the framework as a guiding document.
33rd Annual Demographic Workshop Dates Announced
The 33rd Annual Demographic Workshop, co-hosted by SCAG and the University of Southern California, will be held virtually on the afternoons of Wednesday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 21. This year’s workshop will explore the demographic trends that have and have not bounced back following the COVID-19 pandemic, how different populations have experienced the rebound in different ways, and the impact of remote work and other emerging trends in our cities. More information will be available soon.
President Harnik Shares Region’s Housing and Transportation Priorities
SCAG President Jan Harnik had the pleasure of hosting a recent meeting with Senate Transportation Committee Chair Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) to discuss our region’s housing and transportation budget priorities, such as the Regional Council’s support for an augmentation to the Infill Infrastructure Grant program and using budget surplus dollars to fully fund the Active Transportation Program.
State Housing Funds Awarded to 29 SCAG Jurisdictions
The California Department of Housing and Community Development approved another 35 jurisdictions for Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds, bringing the total to 135 jurisdictions state-wide. Specifically, 29 of the 35 jurisdictions are located in the SCAG region and totaled another $49.4 million in homelessness and affordable housing funds for PLHA’s second round. Total SCAG awards for PLHA’s second round are $121.9 million for 54 jurisdictions.
REGISTER FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE & GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SCAG’s 57th Annual Regional Conference & General Assembly is just around the corner on May 5–6. Register today for access to high-quality presentations and panels, featuring engaging speakers and thought leaders, and unbeatable networking opportunities filled with collaborative, solution-oriented discussions on fostering change and addressing challenges in our communities.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE & GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NOW OPEN!
Join Southern California’s most influential elected officials and policymakers on May 5–6, 2022 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, CA. This two-day event will focus on solution-oriented discussions to address the most pressing problems facing communities, businesses, and families throughout the SCAG region. General admission tickets for the event are $350, but registrations done in advance by Thursday, March 31 using the code EARLYBIRD will receive $100 off the general admission price.
The February 2022 Executive Director’s Report covers the agency’s major activities, key programs, and accomplishments over the past month.
The January 2022 Executive Director’s Report covers the agency’s major activities, key programs, and accomplishments over the past month.
SCAG develops and applies state-of-the-art models, integrated into a comprehensive modeling and forecasting framework (see the chart below) to develop growth projections, travel forecasts, and emissions estimates to support the Region’s various planning programs.