Transportation Analysis Implications for SB 743
What is SB 743? Senate Bill (SB) 743, signed into law on September 27, 2013, by Governor Jerry Brown, replaces Level of Service (LOS) with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the metric for determining significant transportation impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The law shifts the focus from evaluating traffic congestion impacts on drivers to assessing the environmental impact of driving, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, promoting infill development, and supporting active transportation. The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) selected VMT as the new metric and provided guidelines for implementation by lead agencies, including a grace period until July 1, 2020.
Why did the State adopt SB 743? The intent of SB 743 is to better support the State's goals of reducing GHG emissions, encouraging infill development, and improving public health through active transportation. By shifting away from LOS, which measures traffic congestion, to VMT, which accounts for trip length and frequency, the State aims to address the broader environmental impacts of transportation. This change moves away from prioritizing vehicle movement efficiency and focuses on reducing the overall environmental footprint of driving.
How does SB 743 align with the City of Lancaster's General Plan? The City of Lancaster’s General Plan aligns with SB 743's goals, as it promotes a well-balanced transportation system that prioritizes safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility. Objectives within the General Plan, such as reducing reliance on automobiles and encouraging alternative transportation modes like bicycling, walking, and public transit, support the shift towards VMT. Specific policies include improving street networks that accommodate non-motorized transportation, enhancing public transit, and promoting the development of facilities that support biking and walking.
How does LOS compare to VMT? Under traditional approaches, LOS measures driver delay and roadway congestion at specific locations, such as intersections, by assigning a grade (A through F) based on traffic conditions. In contrast, VMT captures the total distance traveled by vehicles, considering both the number of trips and trip length across the roadway network. While LOS focuses on localized congestion, VMT reflects broader environmental impacts, making it more suitable for evaluating how projects contribute to GHG emissions and overall transportation efficiency.
Which projects are affected by SB 743? SB 743 affects both land use development projects and transportation infrastructure projects. For land use projects, such as developments and area plans, the transportation impact analysis must now focus on VMT instead of LOS. Transportation infrastructure projects that previously were evaluated based on their potential to increase vehicle delay (LOS) will now be assessed based on whether they increase VMT. Projects that encourage non-auto travel, such as bike lanes or pedestrian pathways, are no longer considered to have negative environmental impacts.
Can Lancaster still consider LOS? While SB 743 mandates VMT for CEQA transportation analysis, the City of Lancaster can still evaluate LOS for non-CEQA purposes. Lancaster has opted for a dual analysis process that uses VMT for environmental review under CEQA and LOS for assessing safety and operational issues within the city's development review process. In infill areas, LOS standards may be more flexible to promote transit, bicycling, and walking. Outside of these areas, the City generally aims to maintain LOS D, balancing vehicle operations with goals for sustainable transportation.
SB 743 Implementation in Lancaster The City of Lancaster began the SB 743 implementation process in early 2020 by collecting baseline VMT data using the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Travel Demand Forecasting Model. This data helped the City define VMT methodologies, establish impact thresholds, and explore potential mitigation strategies to reduce VMT in future development projects.
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