Transportation Impacts of Development Projects: Updating VTA’s TIA Guidelines

1. Transportation Impacts of Development Projects:Updating VTA’s TIA Guidelines SVLG Transportation Policy Committee October 2, 2013 Development Review Program

2. Presentation Outline • Congestion Management Agency (CMA) Role • Importance of Reducing Automobile Trips • VTA’s TIA Guidelines Update • Benefits VTA Congestion Management Program

3. 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) VTA Congestion Management Program

4. 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 VTA Congestion Management Program

5. 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. VTA Congestion Management Program

6. 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. VTA Congestion Management Program

7. Importance of Reducing Auto Trips • Reducing the auto trip generation of developments is important for a number of reasons: • To meet CMP and local Level of Service (LOS) standards • To reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gases and other pollutants • To reduce the amount of space devoted to parking and roadways • To minimize other negative impacts (e.g., noise, water quality issues) VTA Congestion Management Program

8. 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? VTA Congestion Management Program

9. 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 CapacityManual (HCM) 2010 • Greater emphasis onComplete Streets policies • One proposed change –emphasize reduction of auto trips VTA Congestion Management Program

10. Development and Congestion Management:Conventional Approach • Mitigation Measures • Road widening • Connections to Transit • Shuttle programs • Bike/Pedestrian improvements • Impact Fees • Significant & Unavoidable Impacts Evaluate Impacts on Roadways Auto Trip Generation Congestion More People Drive Widen Roadways Faster Driving Source: Jeffrey Tumlin, Nelson/Nygaard VTA Congestion Management Program

11. Development and Congestion Management:Comprehensive Approach • Auto Trip Generation • Consider Auto Trip Reductions • - Transit/walk/bike friendly locations - TDM (Shuttles, carpool, bike, transit incentives) - Parking pricing & management • Sensible Mitigation Measures • Reduced Fees • Fewer Significant Impacts EvaluateAll Modes More Trip Reduction Efforts,Less Driving TOD in Sunnyvale, CA with Access to VTA’s Fair Oaks Light Rail Station and Bus Route 26 VTA Congestion Management Program

12. Proposal: Auto Trip Reduction Statement VTA Congestion Management Program

13. 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 VTA Congestion Management Program

14. Stakeholder Involvement • VTA and local agency staff • Committees of the VTA Board • Advocacy groups and non-profits • Transportation & environmental consultants and development community VTA Congestion Management Program

15. Schedule VTA Congestion Management Program

16. Benefits of a Comprehensive Approach • Fewer Automobile Trips Generated • Sensible Mitigation Measures • Better Employee Benefits and Morale • Earning ‘Green Points’ • Being a ‘Good Neighbor’ VTA Congestion Management Program

17. Questions or Comments? • Rob Swierk, AICProbert.swierk@vta.org • www.vta.org/cmp • Thank you!