Determining the Need for a Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) in the City of Calimesa
A Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) may be required for various reasons, including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), ensuring consistency with the City of Calimesa’s General Plan, or both. All discretionary actions undertaken by public agencies are subject to CEQA review. However, the requirement for a TIA depends on the outcome of the City’s initial study and whether the proposed project may result in a significant impact.
When LOS Analysis Is Not Required
Certain types of development typically do not require a TIA that includes Level of Service (LOS) analysis. This determination is based on two key considerations: the local-serving nature of the proposed development and the project’s low vehicle trip generation, generally fewer than 100 peak-hour trips. Projects meeting these criteria are not expected to significantly affect LOS when traffic is distributed across the local roadway network. Examples of such projects include:
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Residential parcel maps
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Single-family residential developments with fewer than 100 units
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Multi-family housing projects with fewer than 150 units
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Development projects occupying one acre or less
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Preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools that are local-serving
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Local-serving churches, community centers, and parks
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Mini-storage facilities
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Congregate care facilities with extensive on-site services
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Any use with demonstrated peak-hour vehicle trip generation below 100
Despite these general exemptions, the City Traffic Engineer retains the authority to require additional traffic analysis in specific circumstances, such as:
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Known or potential traffic safety concerns
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Project location in environmentally sensitive or controversial areas
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Proximity to substandard streets or intersections
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Project access or operational issues requiring focused evaluation
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Reasonable requests from external agencies like Caltrans or adjacent municipalities
When VMT Analysis Is Not Required
Similarly, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis under CEQA may not be required for certain projects. This determination follows the guidance and substantial evidence provided in the Office of Planning and Research’s (OPR) Technical Advisory on SB 743. Exempted projects are generally local-serving or located in areas where VMT reduction is expected. Examples of such projects include:
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Projects within Transit Priority Areas (TPAs)
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Projects located in areas identified as low-VMT generating
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Local-serving K-12 schools and day care centers
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Neighborhood parks and local-serving medical facilities
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Local-serving gas stations, banks, and hotels (non-destination)
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Student housing and local-serving community colleges consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS)
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Projects generating fewer than 110 daily vehicle trips
The 110-trip threshold is derived from OPR’s technical advisory, which ties directly to CEQA categorical exemptions for certain small developments (e.g., additions of up to 10,000 square feet to existing structures). For typical land uses, this trip threshold translates to:
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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 development
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63,000 square feet of general warehouse
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79,000 square feet of high-cube warehouse used for transloading or short-term storage
These thresholds are based on trip generation rates from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, but the specific applicability may vary depending on project use and tenant characteristics.
TIA Project Scoping and Coordination Requirements
To streamline the preparation and review of a TIA, the City of Calimesa requires early coordination between the project applicant and the City Traffic Engineer. Prior to drafting a TIA, applicants must complete and submit a TIA “Project Scoping Form,” which is included in the appendix of the City’s guidelines.
The Project Scoping Form ensures agreement between the applicant and the City on key components of the analysis, including:
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The study area boundaries, including intersections and road segments to be evaluated
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Trip generation estimates and trip distribution/assignment assumptions
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Screening criteria for VMT applicability or the proposed VMT assessment methodology
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Use of background growth projections, inclusion of nearby approved developments, and model inputs such as RIVTAM or RIVCOM
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Coordination with external agencies (e.g., adjacent cities, regional transportation agencies)
Projects located within one mile of a state highway, or those anticipated to add traffic to the state highway system, must also coordinate with Caltrans during the scoping process.
Summary
The City of Calimesa’s TIA Guidelines reflect recent changes in CEQA, especially those prompted by SB 743, which emphasizes the evaluation of VMT over LOS for environmental review purposes. However, LOS remains relevant for ensuring consistency with the City’s General Plan and other planning objectives. To provide clarity and consistency in applying these requirements, the guidelines offer specific thresholds and examples of projects that may be exempt from detailed analysis. The required Project Scoping Form is a critical tool in ensuring the appropriate scope and methodology for each individual TIA.
These practices ensure that new development is evaluated fairly and consistently while maintaining the City's commitment to mobility, safety, and environmental sustainability.
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