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Transportation Impacts of Development Projects:Updating VTA’s TIA GuidelinesSVLG Transportation Policy CommitteeOctober 2, 2013

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Presentation Outline

1. Congestion Management Agency (CMA) Role

2. Importance of Reducing Automobile Trips

3. VTA’s TIA Guidelines Update

4. Benefits

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What is a Congestion Management Agency?

• CMAs are county-level agencies charged with helping coordinate land use & transportation and improve air quality

• CMAs maintain a Congestion Management Program (CMP) to monitor congestion and analyze the impacts of development on the transportation system.

• VTA is the CMA for Santa Clara County(C/CAG for San Mateo County)

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Legislative Basis for the CMP

• Proposition 111, the Traffic Congestion Relief and Spending Limit Act, approved in June 1990

• CMA Legislation - 1991• Incentive-based approach

• Increased transportation funding through gas tax• With funding, counties required to maintain a CMP• Cities need to follow CMP to receive these funds

• Other benefits to local agencies• Consistent guidelines for transportation impact analysis• More flexibility & decision-making at local and regional level

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CMA Role in Analysis of Development Projects

• One responsibility of the CMA is to monitor the impacts of land use decisions on the transportation system.

• Done through Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) reports, collaboration with cities, and CMP monitoring.

• CMAs establish the guidelines that local agencies use to prepare TIAs.

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Relevance to Local Planning Efforts

• Current planning/development projects – analysis may affect project mitigation measures, or impact fees

• Long-range planning – analysis may influence how growth is allocated, or how a local agency approaches transportation improvements.

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Importance of Reducing Auto Trips

• Reducing the auto trip generation of developments is important for a number of reasons:1. To meet CMP and local Level of Service (LOS)

standards2. To reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gases and other

pollutants3. To reduce the amount of space devoted to parking

and roadways4. To minimize other negative impacts (e.g., noise, water

quality issues)

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Problem Statement

• Autos get most attention in CMP Monitoring & TIAs• Outcome: Wider roads, more turn lanes at intersections,

faster-moving traffic.(“What gets measured, gets done”)

• Unintended consequences:• Often worse for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders• Discourage desired development • Induce more driving

So how do we address this?

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VTA TIA Guidelines Update• VTA is updating its Transportation Impact Analysis

Guidelines• Some trends leading to the update:

• SB 375 and efforts to reduceGreenhouse Gases

• Revisions in CEQA guidelines• Release of Highway Capacity

Manual (HCM) 2010• Greater emphasis on

Complete Streets policies

• One proposed change –emphasize reduction of auto trips

Auto Trip Generation

Evaluate Impacts on Roadways

Mitigation MeasuresRoad wideningConnections to TransitShuttle programsBike/Pedestrian improvements

Impact FeesSignificant & Unavoidable ImpactsCongestion

Widen Roadways

Faster Driving

More People Drive

Source: Jeffrey Tumlin, Nelson/Nygaard

Development and Congestion Management:Conventional Approach

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EvaluateAll Modes

Sensible Mitigation Measures

Reduced FeesFewer Significant Impacts

Development and Congestion Management:Comprehensive Approach

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Auto Trip GenerationConsider Auto Trip Reductions

- Transit/walk/bike friendly locations

- TDM (Shuttles, carpool, bike, transit incentives) - Parking pricing & managementMore Trip Reduction Efforts,

Less Driving

TOD in Sunnyvale, CA with Access to VTA’s Fair Oaks Light Rail Station and Bus Route 26

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Proposal: Auto Trip Reduction Statement

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Other Areas to Update

• Improve TIA process• Clarify process for larger auto trip reductions

(tie-in to monitoring and enforcement)• Improve pedestrian & bicycle analysis requirements• Re-orient parking analysis to focus on management

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Stakeholder Involvement

• VTA and local agency staff• Committees of the VTA Board• Advocacy groups and non-profits• Transportation & environmental consultants and

development community

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Schedule

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Benefits of a Comprehensive Approach

• Fewer Automobile Trips Generated• Sensible Mitigation Measures• Better Employee Benefits and

Morale• Earning ‘Green Points’• Being a ‘Good Neighbor’

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Questions or Comments?

Rob Swierk, AICProbert.swierk@vta.org

www.vta.org/cmp

Thank you!