Presented By:

Jolene Hayes, AICPFabiola Zelaya Melicher, AICP

City of San DimasSB 743 Implementation

AgendaWhy are we here?• What is SB 743?

• What is VMT?

What are we considering?• Methodology for calculating VMT

• Thresholds of significance

• Screening criteria

• Changes in mitigation

Questions & Answers

Evolution of CEQA GuidelinesLegislation requiring

updates to the CEQA Guidelines

AB 32

SB 97

SB 375

AB 1358SB 226

AB 2245

AB 417

SB 743

Timeline

September 2013 – Governor Signed Bill

December 2018 –OPR Finalized

Guidelines

December 2018 –Natural

Resources Agency Updated CEQA Guidelines

July 1, 2020 –Required for

CEQA

Intent of Legislation

Goals of SB 743Shift in focus to better align with the following State goals:•Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

•Encouraging infill development

•Improving public health through increased active transportation

New criteria should promote:•Development of multimodal transportation networks

•Diversity of land uses•Ensure that the environmental impacts of traffic such as noise, air pollution, and safety concerns continue to be addressed and mitigated through CEQA

Current LOS Methodology• Level of Service (LOS) = measures congestion of roadways, intersections, and freeway ramps, and typically focuses on motorized vehicles

• Impacts are related to degradation of traffic flow

• Mitigation focuses on reducing congestion through physical and/or operational improvements (e.g. widening a roadway or installing a traffic signal)

• Mitigation of LOS resulted in more capacity and higher speeds for vehicular traffic to the detriment of pedestrians and bicyclists

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LOS A LOS F

Methodology Changes with SB 743

•Eliminates Level of Service (LOS) as a CEQA Metric

•Replaces LOS with Vehicle Miles of Travel

•Provides methods and thresholds guidance

•Changes where significant impacts occur

•Changes mitigation options

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What is VMT?

VMT = Volume x Distance or Trips x Trip Length Link: https://youtu.be/UE4TJItVdJ8

Different Types of VMT

ResidentialHome-Based Generated VMT

Office/EmploymentHome-Based Work Generated VMT

SGVCOG Total VMT Per Service Population

• Includes 27 of 30 SGVCOG Cities

• SCAG Model Socio-Economic Data for Residents and Employees

When can Projects be Screened from VMT Analysis?Per State guidelines, projects that meet one or more of the following

screening criteria can be exempt from VMT analysis:

• Small projects (< 110 daily vehicle-trips)

• Local-serving retail (< 50 KSF)

• Local-serving land uses (schools, day care, community centers, etc.)

• Located in a Low VMT generating area

• Located in a Transit Priority Area (TPA)

Otherwise, a project proceeding through CEQA must have a VMT analysis.

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Examples of Small Project (<110 Trips)This generally corresponds to the following “typical” development potentials:

• 11 single family housing units

• 16 multi-family, condominiums, or townhouse housing units

• 10,000 sq. ft. of office

• 15,000 sq. ft. of light industrial

• 63,000 sq. ft. of warehousing2

• 79,000 sq. ft. of high-cube transload and short-term storage warehouse2

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Examples of Local Serving Retail Uses

Local-serving retail uses less than 50,000 square feet, including:

• Gas stations

• Banks

• Restaurants

• Shopping Center

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Examples of Local Serving Uses (non-retail)

• Local-serving K-12 schools

• Local parks

• Day care centers

• Local-serving hotels (e.g. non-

destination hotels)

• Student housing projects on or

adjacent to a college campus

• Local-serving assembly uses (places of

worship, community organizations)

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• Community institutions (public libraries,

fire stations, local government)

• Affordable, supportive, or transitional

housing

• Assisted living facilities

• Senior housing (as defined by HUD)

• Local serving community colleges that

are consistent with the assumptions

noted in the RTP/SCS

TPAs and Low VMT Areas (Total VMT/SP)16

86,200 Square Foot Manufacturing Facility

TPAs and Low VMT Areas (Employment)17

86,200 Square Foot Manufacturing Facility

TPAs and Low VMT Areas (Residential)18

Non-Screened (Non-Exempt) Projects

• Estimate Project VMT (SCAG Model)• Compare Project-Generated VMT to Thresholds of

Significance• If Project Results in VMT Impact, Identify Mitigation• If Full Mitigation is not Feasible, Approval will

require a Statement of Overriding Considerations

VMT Mitigation Strategies Transportation Demand Management:

To reduce VMT, new development will need to explore ways for fewer people to travel alone in their cars.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies can be used to reduce VMT.

Building Operations

Site Design

Location Efficiency

Regional Policies

Regional Infrastructure

Transportation Related VMT Reduction Measures

• Encourage Telecommuting and Alternative Work Schedules• Increase Diversity of Land Uses• Provide Pedestrian Network Improvements• Provide Traffic Calming Measures and Low-Stress Bicycle

Network Improvements• Implement Car-Sharing and Ride-Sharing Programs• Increase Transit Accessibility• Commute Trip Reduction Programs• Parking Management

Transportation Demand Management:VMT Mitigation Strategies

How does the City Comply with SB 743?

•Adopt new traffic impact thresholds of significance

•Publish Traffic Impact Study Guidelines with Screening Criteria, VMT Analysis Methodology, and Thresholds

•Analyze VMT for all projects/plans as follows:Step 1) Calculate Project VMTStep 2) Compare Project VMT to thresholdStep 3) If VMT exceeds threshold, document impactStep 4) Identify mitigation to reduce VMT below a level of significance

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Questions & Answers

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