Council’s Sustainable Transportation Bill (SB 288) Advances

Legislation the Bay Area Council is co-sponsoring to fast track sustainable transportation projects this week cleared a key legislative committee. The Assembly Natural Resources Committee gave the OK to Sen. Scott Wiener’s SB 288, which would exempt a wide range of transit, bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects from review under the California Environmental Quality Act. We are proud to serve as a co-sponsor to the bill along with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and SPUR.

Exempted infrastructure projects under SB 288 would include: safer streets and facilities for walking and biking; faster, more efficient bus service with new bus rapid transit lines; and the installation of new zero emission bus charging infrastructure. These projects are essential not only because transit and walking and biking infrastructure are important for the general wellbeing of our cities, but because more people are walking and biking now than ever, due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

SB 288 is also important in the face of the economic shutdown since COVID-19 began surging in March. California needs bold, state-wide policy solutions that help us improve our infrastructure, address climate change, and help put people back to work. SB 288 will make sustainable transportation projects more affordable and efficient with less expensive administrative delay. To submit a letter of support, please contact Senior Vice President Gwen Litvak.