CC 2020-09-08_11a CEQA VMT Policy_PP PresentationConsideration of Policy Establishing Thresholds of Significance for Evaluating Transportation Impacts Under CEQA Pursuant to SB 743
CITY COUNCIL
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
1
Senate Bill 743
Signed into law in 2013
Amendment to CEQA that changed how a project’s transportation impacts are measured
Transportation impacts are no longer measured using Level of Service (LOS) metric
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is new metric (effective July 1, 2020)
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
2
What is LOS?
Quantitative metric to describe the operating conditions of a road
LOS is reported with a letter grade
A = “best” operational conditions
F = worst conditions, significant congestion
Mitigation for deteriorating LOS usually involves roadway expansion
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
3
Problems with LOS
OPR identified problems with using LOS as a primary measure of transportation impacts
LOS inhibits infill development
Promotes sprawling, low-density development and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
Exacerbates regional congestion
Increases costs associated with constructing and maintaining infrastructure
Inhibits active transportation and transit modes
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
4
What is VMT
VMT measures the number and length of vehicles trips made on a daily basis
Estimated trips are broken down by purpose, including: commutes, deliveries, shopping, etc.
Regional demand models, household travel surveys, and other large data sources are used to estimate VMT
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
5
Benefits of VMT
Encourages in-fill development close to key destinations, services, and transportation options
Incentivizes projects that address jobs-housing imbalances
Less costs associated with roadway expansion and widening
VMT reductions are needed to achieve statewide, long-term GHG reduction goals
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
6
CEQA Thresholds
Under CEQA, a lead agency is required to determine the significance of environmental impacts created by a project
The City contracted with GHD to develop proposed thresholds of significance in compliance with SB 743
GHD prepared an analysis of VMT patterns and developed baseline VMT numbers for the proposed policy
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
7
Baseline VMT
Calculated using the travel demand model developed by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG)
Represents the countywide average, based on full trips, not limited by jurisdictional boundaries
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
8
Baseline VMT
SLOCOG model determined baseline VMT per capita as follows:
Residential Projects – 20.2 VMT per capita
Non-residential Projects – 14.0 VMT per employee
OPR Technical Advisory recommends 15% reduction in VMT as a target for a significance threshold, except for retail
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
9
Thresholds of Significance
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
10
Thresholds of Significance
Retail Projects
Impacts are significant if the project VMT results in a total net increase of the regional VMT.
Transportation Projects
Impacts are determined on a case-by-case basis
Mixed-Use Projects
Each land use within the project will be analyzed separately and evaluated against the corresponding threshold.
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
11
Proposed Screening Criteria
Projects that meet the following proposed screening criteria would not require further CEQA review as it relates to transportation
Projects that are consistent with the Sustainable Communities Strategy or the General Plan that generate less that 110 daily trips
Projects that are within ½ mile of a transit stop at the intersection of two transit routes with 15 minute or less headway, with some exceptions
Retail projects that are local-serving (generally, projects of less than 50,000 sf)
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
12
VMT Mitigation Strategies
Not included in the proposed VMT Policy to allow flexible and creative mitigation measures
The following measures will be considered as potential methods for mitigation:
Improve or increase access to transit
Incorporate a mix of land uses to increase access to frequently needed goods and services
Locate a project in lower-VMT areas of the City
Provide car, bike, and/or ride-sharing programs
Participate in an in-lieu fee program to fund City-wide improvements to sustainable transportation modes
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
13
Retention of LOS
LOS is proposed to remain as a tool for evaluating a project’s consistency with the City’s General Plan
Project-level LOS analysis would be required, consistent with TIAR Guidelines
Project generating greater than 20 peak hour trips require further traffic analysis
Will include analysis of roadway safety, intersection queuing, and multimodal transportation
Retention of LOS for non-CEQA analysis would demonstrate that future projects do not create conditions that are inconsistent with the General Plan
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
14
Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council review and adopt the proposed Resolution adopting the policy establishing thresholds of significance for evaluating transportation impacts under CEQA
in compliance with SB 743.
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
15
Questions?
9/8/2020
Item 11.a
16