A Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) is required to assess the potential transportation impacts of proposed development projects. The need for a TIA can stem from multiple sources:
- CEQA Compliance: All discretionary actions require review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The extent and type of TIA required will depend on the findings of the initial study and whether the project has the potential to cause significant impacts.
- General Plan Consistency: All discretionary actions must align with the City of Jurupa Valley's General Plan. The development review process determines whether a TIA is needed and what type of analysis is required for compliance with CEQA and General Plan standards.
LOS Requirement in TIA Analysis
The City of Jurupa Valley has two processes for assessing traffic impacts:
- Focused Transportation Assessment (FTA): Required for projects generating between 50 and 100 peak-hour trips. It involves less detailed analysis compared to a full TIA.
- Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA): Required for larger projects with more significant traffic impacts.
Certain activities may not require a full TIA with LOS analysis due to their nature or low trip generation:
- Residential parcel maps
- Small residential and multi-family projects
- Minor plot plan and conditional use cases
- Local-serving institutions and facilities
Focused Transportation Analysis (FTA)
For projects generating fewer trips, the City may still require an FTA based on specific criteria, such as:
- Proximity to intersections with poor operating conditions
- Potential safety concerns
- Location in sensitive or controversial areas
- Substandard nearby intersections or streets
- Site access and operational issues
The Planning Director and Director of Public Works will determine the scope of the FTA.
VMT Requirement in TIA Analysis
For compliance with Senate Bill 743 (SB 743), a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis may be required if the project could increase VMT per capita or per employee, or if there is a net increase in VMT. An initial project screening determines the need for a full VMT analysis, considering factors such as:
- Potential to reduce VMT
- Consistency with the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) / Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS)
Projects generally exempt from detailed VMT assessment include:
- Those in Transit Priority Areas (TPAs)
- Those in low-VMT generating areas
- Local-serving businesses and facilities
- Projects generating fewer than 250 daily vehicle trips
Coordination with Planning and Other Agencies
To streamline TIA preparation and review, coordination with the City of Jurupa Valley Planning Department is essential. A TIA Project Scoping Form must be prepared and approved before drafting the TIA. This form ensures agreement on key elements, such as:
- Study area and intersections to be analyzed
- Trip generation, distribution, and assignment
- Screening criteria and VMT assessment methodology
- Coordination with adjacent agencies and, if necessary, Caltrans
Projects near city boundaries or state highways may require input from affected agencies to include necessary elements in the TIA.