Existing law requires certain transportation planning agencies to prepare and adopt regional transportation plans directed at achieving a coordinated and balanced regional transportation system. Existing law requires that each regional transportation plan include a sustainable communities strategy prepared by each metropolitan planning organization in order to, among other things, achieve certain regional targets established by the State Air Resources Board for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and light trucks in the region for 2020 and 2035, respectively.
This bill would require the regional transportation plan or sustainable communities strategy, upon the adoption or next revision on or after January 1, 2028, to, among other things, identify and analyze connectivity areas, permeability, and natural landscape areas that are partially or fully within the region of the metropolitan planning organization or transportation planning agency, and consider the impacts of development and the barriers caused by transportation infrastructure and development to wildlife and habitat connectivity. The bill would also require metropolitan planning organizations and regional transportation agencies, in implementing those requirements, to, among other things, incorporate appropriate standards, policies, and feasible implementation programs, consult with certain entities, and consider relevant best available science as appropriate. By imposing additional duties on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would authorize metropolitan planning organizations and regional transportation agencies, in implementing the above-described requirements, to consult with specified entities and incorporate relevant information, guidelines, and standards from specified sources.
Under existing law, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those species. Existing law authorizes DFW to approve compensatory mitigation credits for wildlife connectivity actions taken under specified programs.
This bill would require regional transportation agencies, in consultation with DFW, to perform an assessment, containing specified information, to identify potential wildlife connectivity barriers and any needs for improved permeability regarding any specified transportation infrastructure project located in a connectivity area beginning the project initiation phase on or after January 1, 2026, as provided. The bill would also require the regional transportation agency to submit the assessment to DFW, to remediate barriers to wildlife connectivity in conjunction with the project, as necessary, and to publish on its internet website a list of all of the transportation infrastructure projects that require remediation, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program
This bill would authorize regional transportation agencies to use compensatory mitigation credits if DFW concurs with the use of those credits. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.