Screening Criteria for Development Projects under the CEQA Transportation Impact Analysis in LA County

Section 3.1.2: Screening Criteria for Development Projects

Section 3.1.2.1: Non-Retail Project Trip Generation Screening Criteria

For non-retail projects, further analysis is not required, and a less than significant determination can be made if the project does not generate a net increase of 110 or more daily vehicle trips.

• Screening Question: Does the development project generate a net increase of 110 or more daily vehicle trips?
• Estimation Method: Use the most recent edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual. If the proposed land use is not listed, submit a trip generation study to Public Works for review and approval.

Section 3.1.2.2: Retail Project Site Plan Screening Criteria

Local serving retail uses are assumed to have less than significant VMT impacts for the retail portion of the project. Further analysis is not required if the project meets the following criteria:

• Screening Question: Does the project contain retail uses that exceed 50,000 square feet of gross floor area?
• Mixed-Use Projects: If the retail project is part of a mixed-use project, the remaining portions of the project may be subject to further analysis according to other screening criteria. Retail uses exceeding the 50,000 square feet threshold require evaluation of the entire project’s VMT.

Section 3.1.2.3: Proximity to Transit Based Screening Criteria

Projects near major transit stops or high-quality transit corridors may qualify for less than significant determination based on proximity to transit.

• Initial Screening Question: Is the project located within a one-half mile radius of a major transit stop or an existing stop along a high-quality transit corridor?
• Subsequent Questions:
  1. Does the project have a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) less than 0.75?
  2. Does the project provide more parking than required by the County Code?
  3. Is the project inconsistent with the SCAG RTP/SCS (Southern California Association of Governments Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy)?
  4. Does the project replace residential units set aside for lower-income households with a smaller number of market-rate residential units?

If the answer to all four subsequent questions is no, further analysis is not required, and a less than significant determination can be made.

Note: To utilize the Proximity to Transit Based Screening Criteria, there must not be a net decrease in residential units set aside for lower-income households compared to the existing units on the project site.

Section 3.1.2.4: Residential Land Use Based Screening Criteria

Certain residential projects that support the State’s affordable housing goals are presumed to have less than significant impact on VMT.

• Screening Question: Are 100% of the units, excluding manager’s units, set aside for lower-income households?
• Discretionary Action: If the project requires a discretionary action and the answer to the screening question is yes, further analysis is not required, and a less than significant determination can be made.

By applying these screening criteria, development projects can determine if a Transportation Impact Analysis is necessary and whether they are likely to have significant transportation impacts, streamlining the CEQA review process and supporting sustainable development practices.