Introduction to City of Montebello Transportation Study Guidelines for Vehicle Miles Traveled and Level of Service Assessment

Introduction

The City of Montebello’s Transportation Study (TS) guidelines outline the necessary requirements for transportation analysis in land development, land use planning, and transportation projects. These guidelines aim to ensure compliance with both local and state regulations by providing a framework for evaluating a project’s environmental transportation impacts and effects on the transportation network within the city. The goal is to support the preparation of transportation studies that meet the City of Montebello's standards while aligning with California state laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Background Information

In 2013, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 743 (SB 743), significantly changing how transportation impacts are assessed under CEQA. This law required the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to investigate alternative metrics to measure transportation impacts. In December 2018, OPR released its final guidelines, recommending vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as the new metric to assess transportation impacts, effective July 2020. Under this new framework, VMT has replaced traditional metrics like level of service (LOS) for determining significant transportation impacts in CEQA.

To support the transition to VMT analysis, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) conducted an SB 743 Implementation Study to address key implementation questions. This study produced three main resources for member agencies:

1. Analysis Methodologies Memorandum – This memorandum provides guidance on threshold levels for VMT significance, offering recommendations for screening and assessment methods.
2. Mitigation Memorandum – This document identifies potential mitigation approaches for projects with VMT impacts.
3. VMT Assessment Tool – A web-based tool developed to aid in VMT screening and identify suitable mitigation strategies.

Montebello adopted VMT assessment methodologies and significance thresholds from the SGVCOG study to align with CEQA standards. As part of SB 743 implementation, CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.7(b) encourages agencies to adopt significance thresholds to provide consistency and transparency in the environmental review process. By developing standardized VMT assessment thresholds, Montebello’s guidelines comply with SB 743 while supporting informed decision-making.

CEQA Changes

SB 743 also mandated the removal of vehicular metrics like LOS and similar indicators of vehicle congestion as primary determinants of environmental significance. This shift supports broader goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting active transportation, and fostering infill development. Although LOS is no longer required in CEQA assessments, cities can still analyze LOS for planning purposes outside CEQA, including general planning, impact fee programs, and traffic studies.

The City of Montebello may still utilize LOS for assessing discretionary project approvals to maintain infrastructure and manage traffic flow. As such, Montebello’s TS guidelines include instructions for both VMT and LOS analysis, allowing for CEQA compliance and continued local planning oversight.

Transportation Study Guidelines

California’s land use planning mandates that building densities outlined in General Plan Land Use Elements correlate with Circulation Elements for transportation capacity. Montebello’s TS guidelines ensure that land use proposals are evaluated for their impact on both the existing and projected transportation system, as required by CEQA.

These guidelines detail both CEQA-compliant requirements (using VMT metrics) and non-CEQA requirements (including LOS) to assist developers, planners, and city officials. They outline the structure and methodologies required to complete TS reports for development projects. Notably, while past CEQA transportation analyses focused on LOS, the adoption of SB 743 requires VMT as the primary metric. However, LOS analysis may still be requested as a non-CEQA metric for planning decisions.

Application of Guidelines

The process begins with the project applicant submitting a land use application to the City of Montebello. During a preliminary review, city staff will determine if a TS is required based on the project’s anticipated impact on local transportation. The TS will include evaluations of both LOS and VMT when required.

A TS incorporating LOS analysis is required for projects generating over 100 vehicle trips during peak hours or adding more than 50 peak-hour trips to any intersection. Additional roadway segment analysis may also be necessary. Smaller projects or unique land uses may require TS assessments based on location and other considerations. Montebello’s guidelines detail the trip generation methodologies and specific requirements for LOS analysis.

For VMT assessment, a TS is required for projects that do not meet screening criteria, including:

1. Transit Priority Area Screening – Areas with robust transit options may qualify for exemption.
2. Low VMT Area Screening – Projects within established low-VMT areas may also qualify.
3. Project Type Screening – Certain project types with limited transportation impacts may be exempt.

These criteria are explained in the “CEQA Transportation Assessment - VMT Analysis” section of the guidelines.

The City of Montebello’s TS guidelines provide clear requirements for transportation studies, ensuring that projects comply with the latest CEQA standards while addressing local planning needs. By incorporating VMT as the primary CEQA metric, these guidelines align with California’s sustainability and emissions reduction goals, while allowing for LOS analysis in planning contexts.

Our Services are available throughout City of Montebello of LA County with Zipcode 90640