AB 1976: Streets and highways: pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

The bill aims to amend various state laws related to streets and highways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It would prohibit cities and counties from holding community input meetings on pedestrian or bicycle safety projects after they are included in an approved plan, and would require them to make specific findings before terminating such projects. The bill would also revise the pedestrian mall law, eliminating notice and hearing procedures and allowing cities and counties to adopt resolutions or ordinances to establish pedestrian malls without paying damages to property owners. It would also permit private businesses to use pedestrian malls and make improvements to them. The bill would exempt pedestrian mall projects from CEQA requirements, but would require lead agencies to determine whether projects qualify for this exemption.…