2.0 NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPACT ANALYSIS
The need for a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) arises primarily from compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City of Murrieta’s General Plan consistency requirements. Discretionary actions undertaken by public agencies trigger CEQA review, but whether a TIA is necessary depends on the findings of the local agency’s initial study and the project's potential to cause transportation impacts. Additionally, ensuring consistency with the City’s General Plan is required for all discretionary actions. The City of Murrieta has established an early review process to determine the necessity of a TIA and the specific type of analysis required for CEQA compliance and General Plan consistency.
LOS Analysis Requirements
A Level of Service (LOS) analysis as part of the TIA is generally not required for certain types of development projects. The assumption is that these projects either have local-serving characteristics or generate limited traffic, typically less than 100 peak-hour trips, which would not significantly impact the LOS of the roadway network. The following projects typically do not require an LOS analysis:
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Residential parcel maps
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Single-family residential developments with fewer than 100 lots
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Multi-family residential projects with fewer than 150 units
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Development Plans or Use Permits covering one acre or less
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Local-serving preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools
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Local-serving churches, lodges, community centers, and parks
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Mini storage facilities
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Congregate care facilities that provide significant services, such as medical, dining, recreation, and retail services
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Any project that generates fewer than 100 peak-hour vehicle trips
However, the City reserves the right to require an LOS analysis for projects under certain conditions, including:
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Locations with existing or potential safety concerns
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Development in environmentally sensitive or controversial areas
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Proximity to substandard intersections or roadways
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Projects requiring a focused study on access and operational issues
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Requests from affected agencies, such as Caltrans or adjacent municipalities, when deemed reasonable
VMT Analysis Requirements
With the implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 743, the primary metric for evaluating transportation impacts under CEQA has shifted from LOS to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). Certain projects are presumed not to require a VMT analysis based on substantial evidence from the City’s General Plan Update and the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Technical Advisory for SB 743. These projects include:
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Developments generating fewer than 110 daily vehicle trips, which typically include:
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Residential parcel maps
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11 single-family housing units
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16 multi-family, condominium, or townhouse units
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10,000 square feet of office space
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15,000 square feet of light industrial space
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63,000 square feet of warehouse space
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Local-serving retail that primarily serves the City and adjacent cities
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Office and employment centers that reduce external commute trips
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Local-serving day care centers, pre-K and K-12 schools
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Local parks and civic uses
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Local-serving gas stations, banks, and non-destination hotels
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Local-serving community colleges consistent with Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) assumptions
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Student housing projects
For projects not meeting the screening criteria above, a limited VMT analysis is required to compare expected VMT generation with the levels assumed in the City’s General Plan. A more detailed analysis is necessary if the project generates more VMT than the General Plan's assumptions. Additional guidance on VMT analysis is provided in the relevant sections of these guidelines.
Coordination with Public Works/Engineering
To streamline the TIA preparation and review process, the applicant must obtain input and approval from the City of Murrieta Public Works/Engineering Department before preparing and submitting a draft TIA. The applicant must complete and submit a TIA Project Scoping Form, which outlines key study parameters. The form must be approved by the City Engineer before initiating the TIA and includes agreement on the following key elements:
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Definition of the study area, including intersections and roadway links to be analyzed
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Project trip generation, distribution, and assignment
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Presentation of screening criteria used for VMT assessment or proposed methodology and metrics for estimating VMT
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Consideration of other approved projects for background traffic estimates, traffic growth assumptions, and integration with the City’s travel demand model or the Riverside County (RIVCOM) model when available
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Coordination with adjacent agencies
For projects located within one mile of a state highway or those that may generate additional traffic on the state highway, the applicant must also coordinate with Caltrans. Additionally, projects located within the City’s Sphere of Influence or adjacent to another city or county jurisdiction require coordination with the respective agencies. The applicant must submit all received comments to the City of Murrieta Public Works/Engineering Department for review and consideration.
Future Updates and Considerations
At the time of these guideline updates, the RIVCOM model was under development and anticipated to be completed by the end of 2020. Once finalized, RIVCOM should be used for all forecasting activities related to TIAs. Applicants should coordinate with the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) to ensure they are using the most current travel demand forecasting model.
These guidelines will be updated as necessary to reflect changes in CEQA regulations, transportation modeling practices, and best practices in traffic impact analysis. It is the responsibility of project applicants and traffic engineers to stay informed about these updates to ensure compliance with City requirements and state laws. By adhering to these guidelines and engaging with the City early in the process, applicants can ensure a more efficient review and approval process for their development projects.
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