Climate & Sustainability
Infrastructure Equity:
Making Los Angeles More Resilient Through Inclusive Planning
L.A. County voters dedicated $1.6 billion annually to improve regional infrastructure by supporting new stormwater management, housing, parks, and transit projects. Individually each new project can enhance community resilience to climate change impacts. However, most projects are designed to achieve a single outcome.
By designing projects to achieve multiple goals, the funding could deliver better outcomes for Angelenos. For example, rather than just building an affordable housing project, that new building could incorporate park space and be located near a bus stop.
The Challenge
In L.A. County — and most of the rest of the country — there is no standard approach to prioritize public funding for infrastructure projects that achieve multiple goals, such as improving climate resilience and fulfilling community needs.
To enable public infrastructure funding to deliver the best outcomes for the community, a more integrated approach to infrastructure planning is needed — one that prioritizes environmental, climate, and public health concerns, while creating jobs and improving community wellbeing. When projects are planned in a way that achieves multiple goals, they’re considered “multi-benefit” projects.
The Partnership
USC Dornsife Public Exchange and researchers from the Sol Price School of Public Policy have partnered with the Infrastructure Justice for LA Coalition (IJLA) to develop a scorecard to evaluate infrastructure projects in L.A. County that support integrated planning. The scorecard will serve as a tool to help prioritize funding for multi-benefit, climate-resilient projects that meet the needs of communities. Initially the scorecard will evaluate infrastructure projects proposed under L.A. County tax measures for stormwater management (W), housing (H), parks (A), and transportation (M).
Definitions of Measures W, H, A, and M
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MEASURE W
This program was approved by voters in 2018 to provide local, dedicated funding to increase the region's water supply, improve water quality, enhance communities and protect public health.
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Measure H
Measure H is a 1/4-cent sales tax approved in 2015 by over two-thirds of County voters to create the first revenue stream dedicated to addressing and preventing homelessness.
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Measure A
In 2016, 75% of voters approved the L.A. County Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure, generating funding through a parcel tax, with estimated annual funding of $96.8 million across the County.
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Measure M
In 2016, 71% of voters approved a 1/2-cent sales tax to fund projects that ease traffic, repair streets and sidewalks, expand public transport, and subsidize transit for students, seniors and persons with disabilities.
The Approach
Led by USC faculty with expertise in urban planning, public policy, and infrastructure development, this project will design an initial scorecard to establish evaluation criteria for projects being proposed under L.A. County Measures W, H, A and M.
Phase 1: Establish Metrics
Researchers will analyze measures W, H, A, and M to determine the key guidelines and criteria used by L.A. County agencies to decide which project proposals receive funding. They will compile this information into a scorecard that agencies can use to evaluate how well projects achieve multiple benefits.
To engage with the project team, please contact Project Manager
Carling Monder
monder@usc.edu
Project Team Members
Belinda Faustinos
IJLA
Madeleine Siegel
IJLA
Maggie Gardner
IJLA
Monica Dean
Public Exchange
Carling Monder
Public Exchange
