CEQA Assessment – Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Analysis
The implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 743 in 2013 introduced a shift in how transportation impacts are assessed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Specifically, SB 743 eliminated the use of automobile delay and Level of Service (LOS) as the sole measure of transportation impacts and instead introduced Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the preferred metric. The most recent CEQA guidelines, updated in December 2018, establish VMT as the primary criterion for evaluating a project’s transportation impact. However, while SB 743 requires VMT-based analysis for CEQA compliance, cities may continue to assess LOS for other planning purposes, such as general plans, corridor studies, and network monitoring.
The following guidance outlines how VMT should be analyzed in the Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) for land use projects to determine whether they have a significant transportation impact.
Analysis Methodology
To comply with SB 743, a project-level VMT analysis is required for land use projects unless they qualify for screening exemptions. When required, the project’s estimated VMT generation should be compared to the VMT levels assumed for the land use designation in the City of Murrieta’s General Plan. If the proposed project is expected to generate more VMT than the corresponding land use in the General Plan, it is presumed to have a significant transportation impact. In such cases, additional VMT analysis and mitigation measures will be necessary.
It is the City’s policy to address VMT impacts at the General Plan level whenever possible. These guidelines align with the City’s General Plan Update and regional recommendations provided by the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG). The methodologies and significance thresholds established here are based on these regional guidelines; however, the City reserves the right to adjust these thresholds and methodologies as needed.
Project Type Screening for VMT Exemption
Certain types of projects may be exempt from detailed VMT analysis if they are considered local-serving in nature and are unlikely to significantly increase regional VMT. If a project qualifies for exemption under project type screening, it does not require further VMT analysis and can be evaluated under the General Plan’s broader transportation assessment.
Projects that are presumed to have a less than significant VMT impact, unless substantial evidence indicates otherwise, include:
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Local-serving retail projects of less than 50,000 square feet, as they are expected to reduce VMT by providing convenient shopping options close to residents.
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Projects generating fewer than 110 daily vehicle trips, regardless of General Plan consistency. This threshold is derived from CEQA Guidelines and generally corresponds to:
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A small residential parcel map
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11 single-family housing units
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16 multi-family, condominium, or townhouse housing units
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10,000 square feet of office space
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15,000 square feet of light industrial development
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63,000 square feet of warehouse space
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Local-serving uses that primarily serve Murrieta and nearby communities, such as:
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Local-serving retail (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacies, small shopping centers)
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Offices and employment centers that reduce commute trips outside the area
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Daycare centers, preschools, and K-12 schools
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Local parks and civic facilities
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Gas stations, banks, and non-destination hotels
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Community colleges that align with Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) assumptions
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Student housing projects
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Rationale for Screening Thresholds
The 110 daily trip threshold is consistent with the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) technical advisory and CEQA categorical exemptions. CEQA provides an exemption for additions to existing structures up to 10,000 square feet in areas with adequate public infrastructure, provided they are not in environmentally sensitive locations. Based on data from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, office buildings and business parks typically generate between 110-124 trips per 10,000 square feet. Given this, it is reasonable to assume that projects generating fewer than 110 daily trips do not create a significant transportation impact.
For industrial and warehouse uses, trip generation rates vary depending on tenant operations and site functions. The threshold for these uses may be higher in certain cases, based on the specific characteristics of the project and its impact on regional VMT.
By incorporating these VMT screening criteria and assessment methodologies, the City of Murrieta ensures that development projects comply with CEQA requirements while supporting sustainable and efficient transportation planning.
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