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.
Federal FY18 Budget Bill Provides Big Boost for Transportation Programs
President Trump signed a $1.3 trillion federal spending bill on March 23rd that included substantial increases in several transportation funding programs that could benefit the Sacramento region. The FY18 spending bill triples funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, increases available Capital Investment Grants (CIG) for new public transportation construction projects, directs $1.3 billion to Amtrak to support intercity rail service across the nation, and provides $100 million for autonomous vehicle research and development.
Civic Lab releases Smart Mobility Challenge RFQ
Submissions due Friday, April 13th at 5:00pm
Want to work with a Civic Lab project team(s) to launch smart mobility pilot projects in the Sacramento region?
Civic Lab is soliciting qualifications from established mobility and technology firms, start-ups, and nonprofits to address smart mobility challenges facing six Civic Lab project teams in the Sacramento region.
Elected Officials Gather to Hear Brookings Assessment of the Sacramento Region Economy
On April 30, the region’s elected officials are convening at the Regional Futures Forum to explore how our region compares on the drivers of an inclusive economy–growth, prosperity and inclusion in an assessment report from the Brookings Institution.
The report is being released in partnership with Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Sacramento Metro Chamber, Region Business, and Valley Vision. The report will also be released to the public on the same day.
The Multi-Headed Monster of Rising Housing Costs
Ever wonder why the cost of housing is so high and what the Sacramento Region is doing about it? According to two housing developers—one market-rate and one non-profit—we simply aren’t building enough housing. From 2009-2014, California added 544,000 households, but only 467,000 housing units. Katherine Bardis of Bardis Homes and Doug Shoemaker of Mercy Housing California lead a healthy discussion on challenges to building housing at a recent SACOG Board of Directors meeting.
Roseville Launches Online Participatory Budgeting
The City of Roseville has launched an innovative participatory budgeting program. EngageRoseville is seeking public input in a variety of ways including the online game like platform called Balancing Act. The mobile friendly platform allows residents to interactively balance the city’s budget by sharing their priorities by increasing or decreasing individual program budgets. The city’s goal is to try to maintain financial stability, manage short-term and long-term liabilities while meeting the community’s needs.
Region-Wide Travel Survey Launched
SACOG has initiated a region-wide household travel survey project to understand how new technology and changing travel needs impact residents’ daily travel. The results will help plan to meet residents’ and visitors’ future transportation services needs.
Woodland Agricultural Worker Housing Wins International Award
Mutual Housing was recently honored with a World Habitat Award for their Spring Lake apartment complex in Woodland. The awards are presented to outstanding and innovative housing projects in more than 100 countries.
Missouri Flat Bike Trail Opens in El Dorado County
The Missouri Flat bike trail officially opened on January 12 in El Dorado County. The trail connects the Missouri Flat Interchange and the Placerville Drive interchange over the Weber Creek Canyon. The new trail connects the two major commercial areas on either side of the creek for the first time with bicycle infrastructure.
Civic Lab Opens its Doors to Private Sector Transportation Companies
Private sector vendors and industry experts from across the country introduced their innovative transportation solutions to the Sacramento region the Civic Lab workshop on February 14. Eight project teams briefed the private sector vendors on pilot project concepts that focus on how disruptive technology can improve transportation mobility, ranging from autonomous shuttles to first and last mile connections to transit. Teams presented poster sessions and engaged with vendors in an open-house format. Private sector attendees represented autonomous vehicle vendors, microtransit shuttles, carshare providers, mobile and cellular technology services, and more.
Rancho Cordova and Folsom Join List of Area Cities Launching Bike Share Systems in 2018
The greater Sacramento region is poised to become a national leader in testing new approaches to bike share systems, with Rancho Cordova and Folsom recently advancing pilot projects for dockless bikeshare systems. They join the cities of Davis, West Sacramento and Sacramento who are also preparing a major launch of bikeshare in May.
Bike share moves forward by selecting potential hub locations
Tell us what you think
The regional bike share project aims to give residents, employees, students, and visitors alike another option to get around for fun, work, or exercise. The project is currently in the process of identifying hub locations for the designated bike racks.
The community is invited to review the potential hub locations as well as suggest new ones through an interactive online map.
What the Trump Administration’s Infrastructure Proposal Means for the SACOG region
The White House released its much anticipated infrastructure plan on February 12. The proposal to invest $1.5 trillion over 10 years is eye-catching and shines a sorely needed spotlight on the need to invest in the nation’s roadways, railways and waterways. The plan itself is significant in that it represents a major departure from how the federal government has viewed infrastructure and its role in supporting state and local projects.
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SACOG's regional newsletter
In January, SACOG launched the Current, an electronic newsletter that celebrates the dynamic, vibrant, and diverse six-county greater Sacramento region. the Current is written and curated by staff at the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, but is for and about the region.
SACOG Announces New Board Leadership for 2018
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Board of Directors have elected City of Sacramento Councilmember Jay Schenirer as the 2018 Board Chair and City of Rancho Cordova Councilmember David Sander as Board Vice Chair.
NACTO Released Policy Recommendations for planning and implementation of Automated Vehicles
Cities across the nation have become the testing grounds of numerous technology firms and automakers testing fleets of automated vehicles. In a few years, automated vehicles could be operating everywhere on our city streets, with far-reaching consequences and opportunities for safety, mobility, and public space.
To help cities prepare for the age of autonomous vehicles, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has asked stakeholders at all levels to implement the following recommendations into their transportation networks:
TDM Mini-Grant Program
Award amount increased to $10,000 per project
Across the country, local governments are deploying new pilot projects to test the effectiveness and community readiness for projects and programs that encourage bicycling, walking, ride sharing, riding transit, and teleworking as options to replace car trips. Have an idea for a pilot project in your community? Apply for our Mini-Grant program.
Innovating to Address Homelessness
City of West Sacramento Works with Startup to Build Platform Addressing Homelessness
The City of West Sacramento partnered with Startup in Residence (STIR) to co-develop Outreach Grid, a collaborative online platform for service providers, outreach workers, law enforcement, and city management to address homelessness.
CEQA Streamlining Upheld
Sustainable Communities Strategy Affirmed as Infill Environmental Review
Recently, the Yamanee mixed-use residential project in midtown Sacramento, won a lawsuit filed by opponents over environmental issues. The Sustainable Communities Strategy was upheld as a form of environmental review and the project’s consistency with the Sustainable Communities Strategy – a requirement for any project to use SB 375 CEQA streamlining – was upheld.
NEARLY HALF-A-MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
SACOG and SacRT Awarded Grant
The Sacramento Area Council of Government (SACOG) in partnership with the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) have been awarded a $492,000 grant by Caltrans through its Sustainable Communities Planning Grant program.
SACOG and SacRT will work with partners to improve transit and plan for development along light rail train stops throughout the region.
SACOG Joins Metro Chamber’s Austin Study Mission
Comparing Our Region
In early October, SACOG partnered with the Sacramento Metro Chamber on a study mission to Austin, Texas. Nearly 130 business, public sector, and non-profit leaders spent three days learning about how our capital regions compare, and what Austin has done to build a thriving economy and culture.