Bill Text: CA AB1218 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 1218 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: bicycle transportation plans.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-07-31 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 149, Statutes of 2017. [AB1218 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1218-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly April 18, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1218

Introduced by Assembly Member Obernolte

February 17, 2017

An act to amend Sections 21080.20 and 21080.20.5 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1218, as amended, Obernolte. California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: bicycle transportation plans.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA, until January 1, 2018, exempts from its requirements bicycle transportation plans for an urbanized area for restriping of streets and highways, bicycle parking and storage, signal timing to improve street and highway intersection operations, and related signage for bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles under certain conditions. CEQA, until January 1, 2018, also exempts from its requirements projects consisting of restriping of streets and highways for bicycle lanes in an urbanized area that are consistent with a bicycle transportation plan under certain conditions.

This bill would extend ~~indefinitely~~ those 2 ~~exemptions.~~ exemptions until January 1, 2021.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 21080.20 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21080.20.

(a) This division does not apply to a bicycle transportation plan prepared pursuant to Section 891.2 of the Streets and Highways Code for an urbanized area for restriping of streets and highways, bicycle parking and storage, signal timing to improve street and highway intersection operations, and related signage for bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles.

(b) Prior to determining that a project is exempt pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall do both of the following:

(1) Hold noticed public hearings in areas affected by the bicycle transportation plan to hear and respond to public comments. Publication of the notice shall be no fewer times than required by Section 6061 of the Government Code, by the public agency in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the proposed project. If more than one area will be affected, the notice shall be published in the newspaper of largest circulation from among the newspapers of general circulation in those areas.

(2) Prepare an assessment of any traffic and safety impacts of the project and include measures in the bicycle transportation plan to mitigate potential vehicular traffic impacts and bicycle and pedestrian safety impacts.

(c) If a local agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section, and it determines to approve or carry out that project, the notice shall be filed with the Office of Planning and Research and the county clerk in the county in which the project is located in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21152.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 2.

Section 21080.20.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21080.20.5.

(a) This division does not apply to a project that consists of the restriping of streets and highways for bicycle lanes in an urbanized area that is consistent with a bicycle transportation plan prepared pursuant to Section 891.2 of the Streets and Highways Code.

(b) Prior to determining that a project is exempt pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall do both of the following:

(1) (A) Prepare an assessment of any traffic and safety impacts of the project and include measures in the project to mitigate potential vehicular traffic impacts and bicycle and pedestrian safety impacts.

(B) The requirement to prepare an assessment pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not apply if either of the following conditions is met:

(i) Measures to mitigate these impacts are identified in an environmental impact report, negative declaration, or mitigated negative declaration prepared pursuant to this division for the bicycle transportation plan, certified or approved no more than five years prior to making the determination, the measures are included in the plan, and those measures are incorporated into the project.

(ii) An assessment was prepared pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 21080.20 no more than five years prior to making the determination, the measures to mitigate these impacts are included in the plan, and those measures are incorporated into the project.

(2) Hold noticed public hearings in areas affected by the project to hear and respond to public comments. Publication of the notice shall be no fewer times than required by Section 6061 of the Government Code, by the public agency in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the proposed project. If more than one area will be affected, the notice shall be published in the newspaper of largest circulation from among the newspapers of general circulation in those areas.

(c) (1) If a state agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section, and it determines to approve or carry out that project, the notice shall be filed with the Office of Planning and Research in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21108.

(2) If a local agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section, and it determines to approve or carry out that project, the notice shall be filed with the Office of Planning and Research, and filed with the county clerk in the county in which the project is located in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21152.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed.