News
News and Media
Everyday, our region’s counties and cities are taking actions to make this the best place to work, live, and play. We will share our member city and county milestones here, along with our own regional news and blog posts.
Ready, Set, Trails! The Sacramento Regional Trail Network Takes Off on National Bike to Work Day
City and county leaders gather to celebrate trails
May 23, 2022: Leaders from across the region celebrated the adoption of the Sacramento Regional Trail Network on National Bike to Work Day, showcasing the potential of trails to connect communities across city and county boundaries.
WATCH: How Fresno DRIVE Is Bringing Vibrancy and Opportunity Back to the Region
Former Fresno mayor, Ashley Swearengin, shares her side of the city’s revival journey
Fresno is the fifth-largest city in California and is home to 1.88 million acres of farmland producing 350 different crops, including almonds, grapes, pistachios, and peaches, to name a few. Located in the heart of California, this area rich in agricultural resources has struggled with poverty, a lack of quality jobs, and huge inequities for the people who call the city home.
To Look to the Future, West Sacramento Looks Underground
A city’s journey through redevelopment and revitalization
West Sacramento incorporated as a city in 1987. Those who have been around since then will note the evolution of a place coming into its own. Careful planning has led to today’s success and serves as a glimmer of what the future holds.
Community-Based Planning Is Changing Regional Engagement Dynamics
Megaregion partners share how communities are designing their own solutions
Learn about SACOG’s Engage, Empower, Implement (EEI) program, and how similar programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and San Joaquin regions have been successful in developing a pipeline of projects designed by the community, for the community.
Prohousing Designation Offers Key to Affordable Housing Funding
City of Sacramento earns the first designation in California
The City of Sacramento and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) recently celebrated the city becoming the first jurisdiction in the state to receive a Prohousing Designation.
Placerville Strikes Gold with Housing Overlay Zones
City welcomes first affordable housing developments in over twenty years
Placerville is a small city propelled by tourism, shops, and restaurants. People come from around the state to experience a piece of gold rush history. Now, plans are in motion to build more workforce housing for the community members who help keep the industries thriving. The city’s thoughtful planning has paid off with three new affordable housing projects that are making progress.
WATCH: Christopher Coes, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Hilary Norton, California Transportation Commission, Discuss Funding Opportunities
How can the region be competitive when applying for state and federal funding?
On February 17, 2022, Christopher Coes, principal deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), and Hilary Norton, California Transportation Commission (CTC) chair, spoke to the SACOG Board of Directors about upcoming opportunities to receive competitive state and federal transportation funding.
SACOG Board of Directors Adopt Racial Equity Statement of Change and Commitment
On February 17, 2022, the SACOG Board of Directors adopted the SACOG Racial Equity Statement of Change and Commitment. The statement sets the foundation for the agency’s racial equity work in the years ahead and kicks off the development of a racial equity action plan which the SACOG Racial Equity and Inclusion (REI) working group will have a prominent role in guiding and shaping over the coming months.
The key elements of this statement are:
Sacramento Region Wins $76 Million for Transit Focused Affordable Housing
Three cities awarded Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities grants
The Sacramento region received a combined boost of $76 million for three affordable housing projects that enhance alternative transportation options.
SACOG Honors Blueprint Legacy in the 2024 Long-Range Transportation Plan
How the Blueprint transformed transportation and land-use planning for good
The creation of the Sacramento Region Blueprint was a revolutionary undertaking and compelled a critical assessment of the relationship between transportation and land use in the region.
Watch: Rick Cole, Executive Director for the Congress for the New Urbanism
On how a shared regional vision leads to cities that work for everyone
The SACOG Board of Directors heard a presentation from Rick Cole, executive director of Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) about the importance of the built environment in achieving regional goals.
SACOG Announces Christina Lokke as Director of Legislative and External Affairs
Lokke to lead new team to advance funding opportunities for the region
SACOG is proud to announce the promotion of Christina Lokke to the role of director of legislative and external affairs.
Rancho Cordova Mills Crossing Project Will Turn Neglected Lot into Lively Transit-Oriented Hub
How housing, transit, and community space will transform area along Folsom Boulevard
Progress is the name of the game in Rancho Cordova, where plans for the bustling 10-acre Mills Crossing project are moving forward. The city-owned lot, located next to a light rail station, is one of the best transit-oriented development opportunities within the city.
A New Dawn for Sunrise Mall Is On the Horizon
Citrus Heights' plan to catalyze redevelopment, housing, transit, and boost its economy
When the Sunrise Mall was first built in 1972 it was thought of as the place to be in Citrus Heights. But as time went on, the economic engine that was the mall began to experience the effects of e-commerce, rising competition with other shopping centers, and changing consumer preferences that resulted in a decline of the mall’s success.
Tactical Urbanism Hits Local Davis Street
Cyclists of all ages try out two-way bike lane and intersection that improves access to schools and event center
For a week in November 2021, the City of Davis tested the impact of a two-way bike lane and intersection changes on 14th Street and Oak Avenue to make it safer for residents.
SACOG Swears in Board Leadership for 2022
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Board of Directors has elected City of Sacramento councilmember Rick Jennings as the 2022 board chair and Sacramento County supervisor Patrick Kennedy as board vice chair.
Yolo County Pledges $2 Million for Food Hub in Esparto
Regional model links institutional buyers and small growers to bridge gaps in the farm-to-fork economy
At their meeting on September 7, 2021, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved an investment of $2 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to jump-start an expanded food hub in the town of Esparto.
What the New Federal Infrastructure Bill Means for the Sacramento Region
Five key takeaways and a webinar to learn more
Updated November 15, 2021: President Biden signed into law the first half of his domestic agenda, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – a $1.2 trillion bill that increases funding for existing infrastructure such as highways, transit, and active transportation programs led by SACOG, as well as adding onetime funding and new programs that will benefit communities across the region.
Racial Equity Seen as Key to Improving Mobility, Safety, and Health
National expert Charles T. Brown paints a picture of the experiences of people of color
November 16, 2021: The demographic makeup of our region is changing. People of color are now the majority in the Sacramento region and the state, which puts Sacramento ahead of national 2050 predictions, Noli Brazil, a UC Davis professor and demographer, shared to the Sacramento Bee.
A Look at the Sacramento Region’s 2020 Census Results
An overview of the population and demographic shifts in the region
Every 10 years the U.S. Census Bureau is tasked with counting every resident in the country. Cities, counties, and states depend on an accurate and complete count for federal funding allocation to support community services.