Transportation planning and programming: barriers to wildlife movement.

Assembly Member Schultz's Connected Communities Act proposes new requirements for California's regional transportation planning agencies to address wildlife movement barriers in their infrastructure projects and planning processes. The legislation establishes a framework for identifying and analyzing areas critical for wildlife connectivity when developing or updating regional transportation plans after January 1, 2028.

Under the bill's provisions, transportation agencies must evaluate how their infrastructure and development affect wildlife movement patterns, incorporating wildlife-friendly design elements such as specialized fencing, lighting, and habitat buffer zones. The legislation requires agencies to consult with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Native American tribes, and local conservation districts while utilizing peer-reviewed research and public datasets to inform their planning decisions.

For transportation projects beginning after January 1, 2026 that add traffic lanes or could impair wildlife movement in designated connectivity areas, agencies must conduct detailed assessments in partnership with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. These evaluations will identify potential barriers to wildlife movement and determine necessary remediation measures. Agencies must maintain public lists of projects requiring wildlife passage improvements and may utilize state-approved compensatory mitigation credits with departmental concurrence.

The bill preserves local government land use authority while creating new obligations for regional planning bodies to consider wildlife connectivity in their transportation infrastructure decisions. Implementation costs incurred by local agencies would be eligible for state reimbursement pending review by the Commission on State Mandates.