For Transportation Commission Meeting [November 3, 2021]
TO: Honorable Chairperson and Commission
APPROVAL: Michael Tahan, Interim Public works Director
FROM: Justin Schlaefli, Consultant Engineer, TKE Engineering
Title
Draft Vehicle Miles Traveled and Level of Service Guidelines (SB743)
(ACTION ITEM)
Body
BACKGROUND:
Senate Bill (SB) 743 changes how transportation impacts are measured under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) from using vehicle Level of Service (LOS) to using Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). The new VMT metric for transportation analysis focuses on the overall miles traveled by vehicles within a region. This approach has an added inherent emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Historically, delay and congestion LOS were the metrics used when evaluating Transportation impacts. Adopting VMT thresholds do not however preclude the City from using LOS analysis to comply with Congestion Management Plan requirements or to conduct project specific transportation analysis.
The City of Rialto participated in the pathway implementation study led by San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) to assist its member agencies understand the specific questions that need to be addressed when making these determinations and to provide research, analysis, and other substantial evidence to support their final SB 743 implementation decisions.
Staff attended several regional meetings specific to the region and the City regarding SB743 and obtained consultant support resulting in the recommended guidelines.
The draft VMT and LOS Guidelines were previously provided to the Transportation and Planning Commission Joint Workshop on June 2, 2021 as an informational item.
Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines for Vehicle Miles Traveled and Level of Service
Level of Service
The City adopted vehicle LOS policies that set standards for which local agency infrastructure will strive to maintain. These policies are contained in the General Plan ...
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