LADOT Impact Criteria for Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Development Projects

LADOT Impact Criteria for Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Development Projects:

The impact criteria for development projects assess the potential impact on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) based on the project's characteristics and land use type. A development project will be considered to have a potential impact if it meets any of the following criteria:

1. Residential Projects: The project would generate household VMT per capita that exceeds 15% below the existing average household VMT per capita for the Area Planning Commission (APC) area in which the project is located. (Refer to Table 2.2-1)

2. Office Projects: The project would generate work VMT per employee that exceeds 15% below the existing average work VMT per employee for the APC area in which the project is located. (Refer to Table 2.2-1)

3. Regional Serving Projects: This category includes retail projects, entertainment projects, and event centers. The project would result in a net increase in VMT.

4. Other Land Use Types: For land use types not further specified in the criteria, the VMT impacts should be measured for the work trip element. Use the same criteria as for office projects (i.e., the project would generate work VMT per employee that exceeds 15% below the existing average work VMT per employee for the APC area in which the project is located). (Refer to Table 2.2-1)

These impact criteria help assess how a development project may affect VMT based on its type and characteristics. Projects that meet any of these criteria may have a potential impact on VMT and may require further analysis and mitigation measures to address the impact. The specific thresholds and comparisons are detailed in Table 2.2-1, which provides reference values for each APC area within the City of Los Angeles.

Impact Criteria for Land Use Plans:

The impact criteria for land use plans assess the potential impact on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) based on the anticipated land use growth under the proposed plan. A land use plan will be considered to have a potential impact if it meets any of the following criteria:

1. Total VMT Per Service Population (Horizon Year vs. Regional Average): The anticipated land use growth under the proposed plan would result in an average total VMT per service population in the horizon year that exceeds 15% below the regional average total VMT per service population for the baseline year from the most recent Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS).

2. Total VMT Per Service Population (Horizon Year vs. Local Baseline): The land use growth anticipated under the plan would result in an average total VMT per service population in the plan horizon year that exceeds the average total VMT per service population in the plan area for the baseline year from the most recent locally validated travel demand forecasting model.

These criteria help evaluate how a land use plan's growth projections may impact VMT. Plans that meet either of these criteria may be considered to have a potential impact on VMT and may require further analysis and mitigation measures to address the impact. The specific thresholds and comparisons are based on VMT per service population and are used to determine the potential impact of the plan.

Please contact us if you need help preparing a transportation assessment report for a development project in the City of Los Angeles LADOT.