Bill Providing Zero-Emission Mass Transit Projects Expedited Approval Signed Into Law

Sacramento – Environmentally friendly mass transit projects will soon be eligible for an expedited approval process in Los Angeles County. Senate Bill 44, by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), will allow zero-emission mass transit projects to be considered for expedited California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. Governor Newsom signed the measure into law on Thursday.

“California must address the climate change crisis by tackling one of the biggest contributors to poor air quality: transit,” said Senator Allen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. “This new law will remove unnecessary roadblocks for large-scale, environmentally beneficial transit projects and improve our roadways – work that will be especially critical ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.”

SB 44 received unanimous, bipartisan support in the state legislature. It will go into effect on January 1, 2022.

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Ben Allen represents the 26th State Senate District, which consists of the Hollywood, Westside, and South Bay communities of Los Angeles County. He chairs the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Joint Committee on the Arts.