“This is an important moment to quickly and decisively make use of transformational funds and expand our transportation infrastructure across the state. “Given recent historic infrastructure investments at the federal and state levels, SB 922 will help us get projects up and running in record time,” added Wiener. In a press release, Wiener also stressed not getting the projects to be bogged down in governmental red tape through institutions such as CEQA and the long-term benefit to the environment they impose. SB 922 will streamline these projects so we can get them done more quickly.” SB 922 passes Assembly “Increasing walking, biking and public transit options is a great way to reduce carbon emissions and improve the livability of our communities. “We can and must make it easier and faster to build sustainable transportation projects that help get people out of their cars,” said Senator Wiener on Monday. In general, exemptions would be for for urbanized projects for bus rapid transit, bus, or light rail service would be covered as well.ĭue to dozens of local and county mass transit projects currently awaiting funding and consideration, and likely to miss out on the original CEQA exemptions as they ended in January, Senator Wiener wrote the bill to help reduce delays in approving and constructing the projects to create more sustainable transportation options and reduce carbon emissions. Pedestrian projects, as well as transit prioritization projects and projects for pedestrian and bicycle facilities or for the institution or increase of new bus rapid transit, bus, or light rail services on public or highway rights-of-way would also be exempt. Senate Bill 922, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would specifically exempt bicycle transportation plans for an urbanized area for restriping of streets and highways, bicycle parking and storage, signal timing of street and highway intersection operations, and related signage for bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles until 2030. A bill that would exempt bike, pedestrian, light rail, and rapid bus projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was passed in the Assembly on Monday, heading straight to a Senate vote.