Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JANUARY 18, 2023
Subject
SUBJECT: OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL CEQA STREAMLINING REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE Office of the Inspector General California Environmental Quality Act Streamlining Report and Recommendations.
Issue
ISSUE
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and its federal counterpart, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), require extensive environmental reviews and community outreach for significant capital transportation projects. These laws are often blamed for delays in bringing transit projects to fruition. Construction delays can result in increased costs for a project. Metro has embarked on an ambitious plan to build out its transit network in advance of the 2028 Olympics and beyond, including both mega projects and numerous smaller projects. Expediting the delivery of these projects in a sustainable, environmentally conscientious way is a priority, and Metro is looking at multiple methods for expediting the delivery of these projects. Some Metro Board Members have repeatedly expressed a desire for further review in this area.
One aspect of expedited delivery is through streamlined environmental review. Our review and report focuses on areas where we believe the process can be improved without reducing the integrity of the review.
Background
BACKGROUND
Metro's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) completed substantial work in researching the effects of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on Metro's ability to plan and build projects and options to streamline the CEQA process. Impact Sciences has supplemented the OIG's work to prepare this report. A total of 31 people were interviewed, including experts outside of Metro, to gain a cross section of perspectives on CEQA concerns. Building on the previous work performed by the OIG, the report includes recommendations for streamlining the envir...
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