Preamble
The City of Beaumont adopted vehicle miles traveled (VMT) significance thresholds and level of service (LOS) guidelines through Council Resolution No. 2020-20, which was officially adopted on June 16, 2020. Since that time, the City has completed a Council Action Plan and has expressed concerns related to LOS, particularly in light of recent development trends. Additionally, Fehr & Peers provided an LOS informational presentation to the City Council on March 5, 2024, highlighting various considerations associated with LOS and its impact on transportation planning.
Furthermore, the City has experienced a significant increase in development activity, particularly in the southwestern part of the City. This development has primarily consisted of large-scale warehouse projects that were not fully anticipated during the City’s General Plan Update. Many of these warehouse developments are being constructed on speculation—meaning that no specific tenant has been identified at the time of approval. This practice decreases the reliability of trip generation estimates for these projects, making it difficult to accurately predict their impact on traffic.
This uncertainty is further compounded by the wide variability in trip generation rates for different types of warehouse uses. For example, a general warehouse typically generates 1.71 trips per thousand square feet (KSF) per day, while a high-cube fulfillment center (sort) generates 6.44 trips per KSF per day. If these variations are not adequately accounted for, it may lead to an underestimation of traffic impacts associated with these facilities.
Given these considerations, the City has determined that a differential LOS policy—requiring lower congestion levels in this area compared to the rest of the City—has merit. Consequently, the City’s traffic study guidelines should be modified to reflect this policy change. Additionally, with SB 743 having been in effect for four years, the City has gained valuable experience in VMT analysis and mitigation. As a result, these guidelines incorporate refinements to the VMT guidance based on insights gained by City staff during this period.
Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines for the City of Beaumont
Updated 07.18.2024
Background Information
SB 743, signed into law by the Governor in 2013, has fundamentally changed how transportation impacts are identified and evaluated under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This legislation directed the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to shift away from traditional LOS analysis as the primary metric for assessing transportation impacts. Instead, SB 743 requires agencies to evaluate transportation impacts using VMT as the preferred metric.
The final OPR guidelines, released in December 2018, established VMT as the primary measure for assessing transportation-related environmental impacts. In response, the Natural Resources Agency completed the rule-making process to formally update the CEQA Guidelines in December 2018 to reflect this change.
To assist local agencies in implementing SB 743, the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) completed an SB 743 Implementation Pathway Study in 2019. This study was designed to help member agencies address key implementation questions related to methodology, significance thresholds, and mitigation approaches for VMT impact analysis. The WRCOG study, which is accessible online (http://www.fehrandpeers.com/wrcog-sb743/), includes the following components:
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Thresholds Evaluation Memorandum: Provides potential significance thresholds for VMT assessment that WRCOG member agencies may consider adopting.
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Methodologies and Calculations Memorandum: Outlines different types of VMT metrics that could be used for impact assessments.
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Tools Evaluation Memorandum: Evaluates various tools available for estimating VMT and assesses their respective advantages and limitations.
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Mitigation Memorandum: Identifies potential mitigation strategies for reducing VMT impacts.
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VMT Screening Tool: Provides an online GIS-based tool that can be used for VMT screening.
All WRCOG member agencies, including the City of Beaumont, can use the findings from the Implementation Pathway Study to adopt their own methodologies and significance thresholds for CEQA compliance. As stated in CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.7(b), lead agencies are encouraged to formally adopt thresholds of significance, as this is a critical component of SB 743 implementation:
(b) Each public agency is encouraged to develop and publish thresholds of significance that the agency uses in the determination of the significance of environmental effects. Thresholds of significance to be adopted for general use as part of the lead agency’s environmental review process must be adopted by ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation, and developed through a public review process and be supported by substantial evidence. Lead agencies may also use thresholds on a case-by-case basis as provided in Section 15064(b)(2).
In alignment with this guidance, the City of Beaumont formally adopted its significance thresholds via City Council resolution in 2020. The updates in this document further refine those thresholds based on experience gained over the past four years.
Guidelines Organization
This document is structured as follows:
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Introduction
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Need for Transportation Impact Study
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LOS Assessment for General Plan Consistency
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CEQA Assessment – VMT Analysis
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CEQA Assessment – Active Transportation and Public Transit Analysis
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Transportation Impact Analysis Format
Each section provides clear guidance on the methodologies, requirements, and expectations for conducting transportation impact analyses in the City of Beaumont.
1. Introduction
The purpose of this document is to establish clear and consistent guidelines for conducting Traffic Impact Analyses (TIAs) within the City of Beaumont. These guidelines are intended to ensure that development projects are evaluated comprehensively in terms of their impacts on traffic congestion, VMT, and active transportation infrastructure.
2. Need for Transportation Impact Study
A Transportation Impact Study is required for projects that meet certain criteria outlined by the City. This section details the thresholds and triggers for requiring a study, including considerations such as project size, location, and expected trip generation.
3. LOS Assessment for General Plan Consistency
While SB 743 shifts the CEQA focus away from LOS, the City continues to use LOS for General Plan consistency evaluations. This section outlines the methodologies for assessing LOS and the role it plays in ensuring compliance with long-term planning goals.
4. CEQA Assessment – VMT Analysis
This section details the methodologies for conducting VMT analysis in compliance with CEQA requirements. It includes guidance on screening criteria, impact thresholds, and available mitigation measures.
5. CEQA Assessment – Active Transportation and Public Transit Analysis
Projects must also be evaluated for their impacts on pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit facilities. This section establishes the criteria for determining whether a project enhances or degrades active transportation infrastructure.
6. Transportation Impact Analysis Format
The final section provides a structured format for preparing a TIA report. This ensures consistency in how analyses are conducted and documented, facilitating effective review by City staff.
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