CEQA Assessment - VMT Analysis for the project in City of Jurupa Valley

Analysis Methodology: The Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis is a critical part of complying with Senate Bill 743 (SB 743). It is conducted to evaluate whether a land use project could potentially increase the average VMT per service population (VMT/SP) within a city. The analysis is guided by the standards set forth by the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) Implementation Pathway Study.

Project Screening: Projects undergo a three-step screening process to determine if a project-level VMT assessment is necessary:

1. Transit Priority Area (TPA) Screening:

   • Projects in TPAs are presumed to have a less-than-significant VMT impact unless there is substantial evidence otherwise. The presumption does not apply if the project has:
     • A Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of less than 0.75
     • Excessive parking compared to what is required
     • Inconsistency with the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS)
     • Replaces affordable housing with higher-income housing.

2. Low VMT Area Screening:

   • Projects in low VMT-generating areas (according to WRCOG’s screening tool) and consistent with the city’s general plan can be presumed to have a less-than-significant impact. This presumption may not apply if the project changes the built environment significantly.

3. Project Type Screening:

   • Local-serving retail projects under 50,000 square feet and specific uses like local parks, daycares, and community colleges are presumed to have a less-than-significant VMT impact.

VMT Assessment for Non-Screened Development: Projects not screened out must undergo a VMT analysis to evaluate both “project-generated VMT” and “project effect on VMT” using scenarios like Baseline, Baseline Plus Project, Cumulative No Project, and Cumulative Plus Project.

CEQA VMT Impact Thresholds: A project has a significant VMT impact if:

• Residential projects exceed the city’s average VMT per capita.
• Office/industrial projects exceed the city’s average VMT per employee.
• Other uses result in a net increase in total VMT within the city.

Cumulative VMT Impacts: If a project aligns with the regional RTP/SCS, cumulative impacts are considered less than significant. Otherwise, significant impacts occur under similar thresholds as project VMT impacts.

VMT Mitigation Measures: When a significant VMT impact is identified, mitigation options include:

• Modifying the project’s built environment.
• Implementing Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures, such as car-sharing, telecommuting, increasing transit service, and ride-sharing programs.
• Participating in VMT reduction programs like TUMF transit improvements or a VMT fee program.

The mitigation effectiveness should be monitored over time to ensure VMT reductions meet expectations.

Source: WRCOG Implementation Pathway Study, City of Jurupa Valley Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines, November 2020. Additional information can be found on the WRCOG SB 743 webpage or the WRCOG SB 743 Document Package.