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Need for Transportation Impact Analysis for the project in City of Beaumont

Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) Guidelines for the City of Beaumont

Need for a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA)

A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is an essential tool used by local governments to evaluate the potential transportation-related effects of new developments. The need for a TIA may arise due to compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), requirements for general plan consistency, or both. Discretionary actions taken by public agencies typically trigger a CEQA review; however, whether a TIA is required depends on the findings of the City of Beaumont’s initial study and whether the project has the potential to create significant transportation impacts. While general plan consistency is required for all discretionary actions, the City of Beaumont has the discretion to determine how that consistency is evaluated.

Requirement for LOS Analysis in the TIA

Level of Service (LOS) analysis is a key component of transportation impact assessments, measuring the performance of roadways and intersections based on traffic flow and congestion levels. However, not all projects require an LOS analysis. The following types of developments are generally exempt from requiring a TIA that includes LOS analysis. These exemptions are based on their limited trip generation potential (i.e., projects generating fewer than 100 peak-hour trips) or because they primarily serve local needs and thus do not significantly impact overall LOS.

Projects Generally Exempt from LOS Analysis

  • All residential parcel maps

  • Single-family residential developments with fewer than 100 lots

  • Apartment and multi-family developments with fewer than 150 units

  • Small-scale commercial developments, including plot plans and projects occupying one acre or less

  • Local-serving schools, such as preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools

  • Local-serving churches, lodges, community centers, neighborhood parks, and community parks

  • Mini storage facilities

  • Congregate care facilities that include substantial services such as medical care, dining, recreation, and retail

  • Any project demonstrating a trip generation of fewer than 100 vehicle trips during peak hours

Although these types of projects may be exempt, the City of Beaumont reserves the right to require additional traffic analysis under specific circumstances. These include:

  • When there is an existing or potential safety concern

  • When the development is in an environmentally sensitive area or is expected to generate public controversy

  • When the development is near substandard intersections or roadways

  • When a focused study is needed to assess access and operational issues

  • When another affected agency, such as Caltrans or a neighboring city, requests additional analysis and the request is deemed reasonable and appropriate

Requirement for VMT Analysis in the TIA

With the implementation of Senate Bill 743 (SB 743), the state of California has shifted the emphasis of transportation impact analysis from LOS-based congestion metrics to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). VMT measures the total number of miles driven by vehicles associated with a project, offering a more comprehensive perspective on environmental sustainability and regional mobility.

Certain types of projects are generally exempt from requiring a VMT analysis. These exemptions are based on substantial evidence presented in the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Technical Advisory on SB 743 implementation, particularly for projects expected to reduce overall VMT through their location or function.

Projects Generally Exempt from VMT Analysis

  • Projects located in a Transit Priority Area (TPA), as defined in the guidelines

  • Projects located in low-VMT-generating areas, as defined in the guidelines

  • Local-serving K-12 schools

  • Local parks

  • Daycare centers

  • Local-serving gas stations

  • Local-serving banks

  • Local-serving hotels (e.g., non-destination hotels)

  • Student housing developments

  • Local-serving community colleges, provided they align with the assumptions in the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS)

  • Infill affordable housing projects

  • Projects generating fewer than 110 daily vehicle trips

Projects falling below this 110-trip threshold are typically exempt because CEQA provides a categorical exemption for minor additions to existing structures (up to 10,000 square feet) in areas with adequate public infrastructure and outside environmentally sensitive zones.

For reference, 110 daily vehicle trips generally correspond to the following development sizes:

  • 11 single-family housing units

  • 16 multi-family, condominium, or townhouse units

  • 10,000 square feet of office space

  • 15,000 square feet of light industrial space

  • 63,000 square feet of warehousing

  • 79,000 square feet of high-cube transload and short-term storage warehouse space

Thresholds may be adjusted depending on the nature of the development and its tenants. The City of Beaumont retains the discretion to require a VMT analysis even for projects below these thresholds if site-specific conditions warrant additional review.

Coordination with the City of Beaumont

To ensure a smooth TIA preparation and review process, the City of Beaumont requires early coordination between project applicants and city staff. Before initiating a draft TIA, the project proponent must submit a Project Scoping Form to the City for approval. The scoping form helps establish key parameters for the analysis, ensuring alignment between the applicant, the City, and other affected agencies.

Key Elements of the Project Scoping Form

  • Study Area Definition: Identify intersections and roadway links to be analyzed

  • Trip Generation, Distribution, and Assignment: Establish project-related travel patterns

  • VMT Screening and Methodology: Determine whether the project qualifies for VMT screening or outline the methodology to be used for VMT estimation

  • Background Traffic Assumptions: Identify other approved projects, growth projections, and integration with the RIVCOM travel demand model

  • Coordination with Adjacent Agencies: Ensure alignment with transportation plans of neighboring jurisdictions

For projects within one mile of a state highway or in locations expected to affect state-managed facilities, coordination with Caltrans is required. The City may also consult with the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) to ensure consistency with regional transportation policies.

Conclusion

The City of Beaumont’s updated Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines align with evolving state regulations and best practices in transportation planning. While SB 743 has fundamentally changed how transportation impacts are evaluated under CEQA, LOS analysis remains an important tool for ensuring general plan consistency and maintaining roadway performance. By clearly outlining the circumstances under which LOS and VMT analyses are required, these guidelines provide clarity for developers and decision-makers, facilitating a streamlined and transparent review process.

Early coordination with the City is essential to ensure compliance with TIA requirements and to avoid delays. Applicants are encouraged to engage with City staff and complete the required Project Scoping Form before preparing a draft TIA. This proactive approach will help ensure that transportation impacts are accurately assessed and that appropriate mitigation measures are identified to support sustainable growth in the City of Beaumont.

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