REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
STUDY SESSION: Update on Proposed Changes to the City's Transportation Analysis Methodology from Level of Service to Vehicle Miles Traveled
Report
BACKGROUND
Staff will conduct a second study session with the Planning Commission to provide an update on proposed changes to the City's transportation analysis methodology from Level of Service (LOS) to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).
In September 2013, the State of California approved Senate Bill 743 (SB 743), which changes the way transportation impacts should be analyzed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by removing automobile Level of Service (LOS) from environmental transportation analysis and replacing it with the State recommended Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) methodology. While LOS measures traffic delay at signalized intersections or roadway segments, VMT generally measures the distance a vehicle will travel to a destination.
In December 2018, the State of California published a technical guidance document titled, "Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA", which contains technical recommendations on how CEQA lead agencies should assess VMT, create and evaluate thresholds of significance related to VMT impacts, and require and monitor impact mitigation measures. All California lead agencies (which include cities, counties, etc.) are required to implement VMT as the methodology for conducting CEQA analysis for projects by July 2020. The Valley Transportation Authority is working with all Santa Clara County member agencies to provide technical support and promote consistencies between cities in transitioning from LOS to VMT in environmental documents.
On November 5, 2019 a City Council study session was held to provide an overview and update on the City's effort to comply with SB 743. Staff provided the background and goals of SB 743, discussed how transportation analysis for development projects is currently perform...
Click here for full text