Senator Scott Wiener introduced SB 71, a bill to make permanent the exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for public transportation and infrastructure projects promoting active transportation. This legislation extends previous exemptions established in 2020, which are set to expire in 2029, ensuring ongoing support for initiatives such as bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. Experts argue that removing the sunset now offers project sponsors necessary confidence amid lengthy development timelines, as the bill has previously streamlined almost 100 transit projects in California over the last four years, promoting faster and more cost-effective infrastructure improvements.
SB 71 streamlines environmental review for public transit and bike projects, making exemptions from CEQA permanent to encourage active transportation and reduce car dependency.
Senator Wiener’s SB 71 aims to permanently exempt specific public transit and active transportation projects from CEQA, extending successful exemptions originating from SB 288.
Ending the sunset on CEQA exemptions now provides certainty for project sponsors, ensuring that they won’t hesitate to claim exemptions as deadlines approach.
In four years under SB 288, nearly 100 transit projects were expedited in California, decreasing costs and enhancing project delivery speed.
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