City to Hold Study Session on CEQA Transportation Analysis

The city’s Transportation Department will conduct a Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) Study Session on Jan. 28 to enhance understanding of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Transportation Analysis and the city’s local mobility analysis.

The study session begins at 4 p.m.

The workshop follows City Council action on Nov. 16 updating the CEQA baseline and adopting updated Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and Vehicle Trips (VT) transportation impact analysis thresholds.

“Recognized as one of the early VMT adopters, the city is continuing to take proactive steps that further promote sustainable transportation and align with the state’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving long?term climate change goals,” the city said in a statement.

VMT refers to the number of miles traveled by automobiles, no matter how many passengers it is carrying, in relation to development projects.

These actions comply with Senate Bill 743, signed into law in 2013. The bill updated the standard by which a development’s impacts on transportation are evaluated under CEQA.

Prior to SB 743, impacts were evaluated by the Level of Service, (LOS) which evaluated how projects would affect traffic on local roadways.

Projects that could alleviate or divert traffic from congested areas received a higher LOS score.

SB 743 replaced Level of Service with Vehicle Miles Traveled. VMT takes into account the number of vehicles on the road and the miles they’re driving.

Projects that reduce or have little impact on VMT receive better ratings.

For more information, contact Alejandra Flores (626) 744-4031.