VMT threshold path TC presentation_02182020 LRP FINALTown Council Meeting
2/18/2020
CEQA Transportation
Analysis Transition
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Background on SB 743 (refresher)
Lead Agency Discretion
VMT Thresholds
Los Gatos Context
Two Options for SB 743 Implementation
Recommendation
Next Steps
Outline
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Senate Bill 743
CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
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Legislative Intent
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).
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
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Senate BILL 743
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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
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Senate BILL 743
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Lead Agency Discretion
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Thresholds
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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
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Thresholds
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“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)
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Ying: state that the 15% reduction threshold is tied to the state’s climate goals.
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Los Gatos Context
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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
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Baseline VMT: Bay Area, County and Select Cities
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Source: VTA, January 2020
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Ying’s comment:
Change title to “Baseline VMTs: regional, Countywide and Select Cities – F&P updated slide title to “Baseline VMT: Bay Area, County and Select Cities”
Change some of values to match up with Attachment 2 – F&P updated values to match Attachment 2 of the staff report (i.e., 2015 baseline vmt provided by vta)
Add footnote on date – F&P added source and date
F&P comment: values to the 15% below county average have been added to dashed line on each chart in red text.
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Tools to Reduce VMT
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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.
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Ying: Can the text be modified to match the staff report, for the most part? Cite the source of the information.
F&P added replaced building operations with TDM
F&P added source
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Considerations
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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
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Two Options for SB 743 Implementation
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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
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Two Options for SB 743 Implementation
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CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
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Two Options for SB 743 Implementation
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CEQA TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS TRANSITION
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RECOMMENDATION
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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
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NEXT STEPS
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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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