Intersection General Plan Consistency Requirements
To ensure consistency with the General Plan's Level of Service (LOS) standards as outlined in the Circulation Element, the City of Moreno Valley applies specific criteria in traffic studies to determine necessary infrastructure improvements. This analysis is conducted to demonstrate compliance with the General Plan. However, it is important to note that California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) thresholds are determined separately based on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) requirements, which are discussed later in these guidelines.
Level of Service Analysis
The City of Moreno Valley General Plan establishes minimum LOS standards for the roadway network. A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is required to assess whether the proposed project maintains the required LOS after construction or whether improvements are necessary to meet the required standards.
The City’s LOS standards, detailed in Exhibit C of the General Plan, define the acceptable operational goals for intersections as follows:
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LOS D applies to intersections adjacent to freeway on/off ramps and employment-generating land uses.
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LOS C applies to all other intersections.
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For boundary intersections, LOS D is considered acceptable.
Signalized Intersection Operating Requirements
For signalized intersections, the following criteria must be considered when evaluating project-related traffic impacts:
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If a signalized intersection currently operates at an acceptable LOS but degrades to an unacceptable LOS due to project traffic, improvements must be identified to restore acceptable operations.
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If a signalized intersection is already operating at an unacceptable LOS without the project and the project increases delay by 5.0 seconds or more, mitigation measures must be recommended to offset the increased delay.
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Consistent with the City’s LOS standards, LOS D is applicable to intersections near freeway on/off ramps and employment centers, while LOS C applies to all other intersections. Boundary intersections are evaluated using LOS D as the threshold.
Unsignalized Intersection Impacts
Unsignalized intersections must be assessed using the following criteria to determine operational deficiencies:
An improvement is required if either of the following conditions is met:
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Condition A: The addition of project-related traffic causes the intersection to degrade from an acceptable LOS to an unacceptable LOS.
OR
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Condition B and Condition C:
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Condition B: The project increases delay by 5.0 seconds or more at an intersection already operating at an unacceptable LOS without project traffic.
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Condition C: The intersection meets the peak-hour traffic signal warrant following the addition of project traffic.
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If any of these conditions are met, the project must identify improvements that achieve:
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LOS D or better for Condition A
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Pre-project LOS and delay for Condition B
These requirements ensure that development projects align with the City’s transportation goals and maintain an efficient roadway network.
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