Item 4 - Exhibit 03 - VMT threshold path TC presentationTown Council Meeting
2/18/2020
CEQA Transportation
Analysis Transition
EXHIBIT 3
1
Background on SB 743 (refresher)
Lead Agency Discretion
VMT Thresholds
Los Gatos Context
Two Options for SB 743 Implementation
Recommendation
Next Steps
OUTLINE
Senate Bill 743 CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION2
Legislative Intent
1.Ensure that the environmental impacts of traffic, such as
noise, air pollution, and safety concerns, continue to be
properly addressed and mitigated through the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
2.More appropriately balance the needs of congestion
management with statewide goals related to infill
development, promotion of public health through active
transportation, and reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions.
Signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on
September 27, 2013
SENATE BILL 743
3
DOES
Eliminates vehicle delay (i.e., LOS) as
basis for determining significant CEQA
impacts
Recommends VMT as the most
appropriate measure of transportation
impacts
Other considerations may include
transit and non-motorized travel
DOES NOT
Affect planning, design, or
development review, except for the
CEQA process
Change the General Plan or Congestion
Management Plan process
Change CEQA disclosure standards
4
Legislation Sets intent and goals
CEQA
Statute
Sets legal requirements
for adequate
environmental analysis
Technical
Advisory
Offers
advice for
compliance
SENATE BILL 743
LEAD AGENCY DISCRETION
5
Metric Method
Threshold Mitigation
THRESHOLDS
6
Threshold Setting Options:
OPR Technical Advisory
Consistent with lead agency air quality, GHG
reduction, and energy conservation goals
Consistent with the General Plan future year VMT
projections by jurisdiction or region
Based on baseline VMT performance by jurisdiction
THRESHOLDS
7
“OPR recommends
that a per capita or
per employee VMT that
is fifteen percent
below that of existing
development may be a
reasonable threshold.”
(page 10 of OPR Technical
Advisory)
Los Gatos Context
8
Suburban community within an
urban region
Baseline VMTs above regional
averages
No rail or frequent bus service or
major transit investments in near
term
TDM is applied to some projects
Mature land use and few large
parcels for (re)developments CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
BASELINE VMT: BAY AREA,
COUNTY AND SELECT CITIES
9
13.1 13.3
17.3
13.7
17.5 18.0
11.3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Nine County Bay AreaCoutywide AverageLos GatosCampbellMonte SerenoSaratogaHome VMT per Resident
(VTA Model)
Fifteen Percent Below
Countywide Average
16.5 16.6 17.4
14.6
21.2
24.3
14.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Nine County Bay AreaCoutywide AverageLos GatosCampbellMonte SerenoSaratogaWork VMT per Worker
(VTA Model)
Fifteen Percent Below
Countywide Average
Source: VTA, January 2020
TOOLS TO REDUCE VMT
10
Transportation Demand
Management (TDM)
Site Design
Location Efficiency
Regional Policies
Regional
Infrastructure
VMT Mitigation Actions:
Transportation-Related
GHG Reduction
Measures
Source: Fehr & Peers, 2020; California Air Pollution Control Officers Associate
(CAPCOA) Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Measures, 2010.
Considerations
11
Project specific TDM measures have
limited town-wide VMT reduction
potential
Statewide VMT rate increasing
Is 15% reduction an achievable and
defensible threshold?
Lead agencies can choose a
different threshold if:
It is backed by substantial evidence
Corresponding analysis of VMT effects is
adequate and complete CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
Two Options for SB 743
Implementation
12
Option 1: Rely on the OPR Technical
Advisory thresholds
Option 2: Set thresholds consistent
with the General Plan future year VMT
projections CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
Two Options for SB 743
Implementation
13CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITIONSubject Option 1: Rely on the OPR
Technical Advisory thresholds
Option 2: Set thresholds
consistent with the General Plan
future year VMT projections
Thresholds Residential: 15% reduction from
Town baseline
Employment: 15% reduction from
County or regional baseline
Other land use types: TBD
Set baseline and cumulative VMT
thresholds based on long-term
General Plan expectations for air
quality and GHG emissions.
Metrics Partial Project generated VMT for
most projects.
May need Total VMT and/or
boundary VMT for projects that
don't screen out or for unique land
uses.
To be determined (TBD) based on
above analysis.
Method Most likely the VTA Travel
Forecasting Model
TBD based on above mentioned
analysis. Method would be
aligned with Metrics decision(s).
Two Options for SB 743
Implementation
14CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITIONSubject Option 1: Rely on the OPR
Technical Advisory thresholds
Option 2: Set thresholds
consistent with the General Plan
future year VMT projections
Mitigation
Actions
Options: Project-by -project
mitigation measures or a Town-
wide VMT reduction program
Most likely a Town-wide VMT
reduction program (e.g., VMT fee,
VMT Bank, or VMT Exchange).
Relationship
to General
Plan Update
(GPU)
Overriding considerations required
if the VMT reduction in the
General Plan update (GPU) is
higher than the OPR thresholds.
The GPU CEQA analysis is
consistent with the VMT
significance thresholds. No
overriding consideration needed.
Evaluation of
Development
Projects
Project-by -project VMT analysis
with VMT screening. Most
projects will likely have significant
transportation impacts.
CEQA streamlining provision: All
projects consistent with the
General Plan will be considered to
have less than significant impacts.
Examples San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland,
and a few others
Pasadena, Woodland
RECOMMENDATION
15
Option 2: Set thresholds consistent
with the General Plan future year
VMT projections
Mature land use and few large parcels for
(re)developments
“Game Changer” type developments not
consistent with the GP
Achieving 15% reduction would be
challenging
Take advantage of the CEQA streamlining
provision CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
NEXT STEPS
16
Determine metric, method,
thresholds and mitigation
recommendations
Develop Transportation Analysis (TA)
Guidelines
General Plan Update CEQA Analysis
Update local transportation analysis
policies CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
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