California Bike Lanes May Be Exempted From Environmental Review

Aaron Bialick explains the significance of the bill, written by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-LA County, that crosses traditional party lines to encroach upon the sanctity (for the environmental community) of the embattled California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

"When traffic lanes are removed to make room for bike lanes, CEQA typically requires planners to measure impacts using the car-centric formula known as Level of Service. That would change under the new bill. As the California Bicycle Coalition explains, "AB 2245 essentially requires cities to examine the same environmental impacts for bike lane projects as under CEQA, but in a much more streamlined and cost-effective fashion"

According to the CBC, "CEQA review for bike lanes can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete, often costing more than the actual project on the ground. These timelines and costs deter many cities from the robust implementation of needed and necessary bike networks."

Surprisingly, a major supporter for the bill is none other than the Automobile Club of Southern California who are quoted in the Aug. 15 legislative analysis: "The encouragement of greater bicycling as a viable mode of transportation through the provision of these facilities should provide a net environmental benefit."

Also quoted is the California Chamber of Commerce, an organization known for its ability to "kill" legislation. "Additional bikeways will promote tourism and benefit the residents of the area where the project will take place", they write.

Opposing the bill is the United Transportation Union, representing many bus drivers throughout the state.

"The addition of Class II bikeway projects, undertaken by a city, county, or a city and county within an existing right-of-way, to the exemptions of current CEQA requirements, creates an unsafe condition for all motorists and bike riders in California", they write.

To read the bill, see the enrolled text: "This bill would, until January 1, 2018, exempt from CEQA the restriping of streets and highways for bicycle lanes in an urbanized area that is consistent with a prepared bicycle transportation plan..."