Traffic Impact Mitigation Identification and Considerations for El Dorado County Community Development Agency

Traffic Impact Mitigation Identification and Considerations for El Dorado County Community Development Agency

H. TRAFFIC IMPACT MITIGATION IDENTIFICATION

Mitigation measures must be developed for all significant impacts identified according to the criteria in the previous section. These measures apply to the following traffic analysis scenarios:

• Existing Plus Project Conditions: The impact of the proposed project on current traffic conditions.

• Near-Term Plus Proposed Project Conditions: The anticipated traffic conditions within the next ten years, factoring in the proposed project and other planned developments.

• Future Cumulative With Proposed Project (2035) Conditions: The long-term impact of the proposed project in conjunction with projected regional development and infrastructure improvements.

Mitigation measures must comply with applicable policies in the General Plan, including:

• Policy TC-Xf: Establishes requirements for projects that worsen traffic conditions and mandates the construction of necessary road improvements or their inclusion in the County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

• Policy TC-Xg: Ensures that necessary road improvements are in place or planned before project approval.

• Policy TC-Xh: Requires developers to contribute to road improvements proportionate to their project's impact.

Whenever a project results in a significant impact, the applicant team must identify and propose appropriate design changes and traffic improvements beyond those already included in the County’s approved CIP. The mitigation strategies must effectively reduce traffic impacts to a level deemed less than significant. Specific improvements proposed to mitigate direct impacts must be explicitly outlined within the Traffic Impact Study (TIS).

Potential mitigation measures may include:

• Project Re-Design: Altering the site layout to minimize traffic generation or congestion.

• Traffic Signal Improvements: Installation of new signals, signal timing modifications, or coordinated signal systems.

• Physical Road Improvements: Expanding roadway capacity, adding turn lanes, or modifying intersections.

• Street Re-Striping: Reconfiguring existing lanes to improve traffic flow.

• Parking Prohibitions: Limiting on-street parking to enhance roadway efficiency.

• Fair Share Contributions: Financial contributions towards planned traffic infrastructure projects.

• Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Programs: Strategies to reduce vehicle trips, such as employer-based incentives for public transit or carpooling.

All mitigation measures must be supported by a comprehensive analysis of the mitigated project scenario to ensure that the proposed measures effectively reduce impacts to a less-than-significant level. The applicant team must consult with the County Development Agency’s Long-Range Planning (CDA’s LRP) staff to determine the acceptability of the proposed mitigation measures.

If a mitigation proposal is deemed effective and approved by CDA’s LRP staff, it shall be incorporated as an official element of the proposed project. Additionally, all California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review necessary for implementing the required mitigation shall be included within the CEQA review process for the proposed project.

I. OTHER TRANSPORTATION-RELATED IMPACTS AND MITIGATION CONSIDERATIONS

In addition to the primary traffic impacts and their mitigations, the Traffic Impact Study (TIS) must also document how the project affects and mitigates the following transportation-related considerations, which align with the General Plan’s Circulation Element Goals:

1. Emergency Vehicle Access

   • Ensuring that roadways, intersections, and project site entrances provide unobstructed access for emergency response vehicles.

   • Evaluating the impact of proposed roadway modifications on emergency response times.

   • Implementing design modifications such as emergency access lanes, signal preemption, and widened turning radii where necessary.

2. Deliveries of Goods and Services

   • Assessing the potential impact of the project on commercial vehicle access, loading zones, and delivery routes.

   • Implementing designated loading/unloading zones to minimize disruptions to general traffic.

   • Ensuring that roadway capacity can accommodate increased truck movements where applicable.

3. Access to Public Transit Services

   • Consistency with General Plan Circulation Element Goal TC-2, which promotes a safe, efficient transit system for all residents, including seniors, youth, and disabled individuals.

   • Evaluating the proximity of the project site to existing transit stops and routes.

   • Incorporating transit-friendly features such as bus shelters, pedestrian pathways, and transit signal prioritization.

4. Transportation System Management (TSM)

   • Compliance with General Plan Circulation Element Goal TC-3, which aims to reduce travel demand and improve transportation efficiency to reduce emissions and infrastructure investment.

   • Strategies may include ramp metering, adaptive signal control, and dynamic lane management to improve traffic flow.

   • Encouraging ride-sharing programs, telecommuting incentives, and staggered work hours to distribute peak-hour demand.

5. Non-Motorized Transportation

   • Adhering to General Plan Circulation Element Goal TC-4, which seeks to establish a safe, continuous, and accessible non-motorized transportation network.

   • Ensuring pedestrian and bicycle-friendly design features, including sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks.

   • Implementing traffic-calming measures where necessary to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.

6. On-Site Transportation Review

   • Assessing internal circulation patterns, parking lot efficiency, and pedestrian connectivity within the project site.

   • Ensuring ADA-compliant pathways and crossings within the development.

7. Complete Streets Implementation

   • Integrating the principles of complete streets, which prioritize safety and accessibility for all roadway users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists.

   • Encouraging multi-modal transportation solutions where feasible.

J. TECHNICAL APPENDICES

The technical appendices section of the Traffic Impact Study (TIS) serves as a repository for all supporting documentation, ensuring that findings are backed by empirical data and validated analytical methods. The appendices must be structured systematically, aligning with the analysis scenarios presented in the TIS.

The technical appendices shall include:

• Traffic Count Data

  • Comprehensive raw data from recent traffic counts conducted for the study.

  • Documentation of methodology, including count locations, dates, and conditions.

• Synchro and SimTraffic Printouts

  • Model-generated analysis outputs demonstrating existing, near-term, and future traffic conditions.

  • Detailed intersection capacity analyses and queue length evaluations.

• Trip Generation Calculations

  • Breakdown of expected trip generation based on ITE Trip Generation Manual or other justifiable data sources.

  • Justification for alternative trip rates if applicable.

• Mitigation Effectiveness Analysis

  • Documentation of proposed mitigation strategies and their quantified impact on traffic conditions.

  • Before-and-after comparisons of Level of Service (LOS) at affected intersections.

• Additional Supporting Documents

  • Any supplementary studies, maps, or design plans relevant to the analysis.

  • Correspondence with CDA’s LRP staff regarding project coordination and mitigation approvals.

By systematically including this information, the Traffic Impact Study ensures transparency, rigor, and compliance with El Dorado County’s General Plan and CEQA requirements. The thorough documentation of mitigation strategies and transportation considerations contributes to a more sustainable and efficient road network for the community.

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