Transportation Impacts of Development Projects Updating VTAs TIA

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

Presentation Outline 1. Congestion Management Agency (CMA) Role 2. Importance of Reducing Automobile Trips 3. VTA’s TIA Guidelines Update 4. Benefits 2 VTA Congestion Management Program

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) 3 VTA Congestion Management Program

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 4 VTA Congestion Management Program

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. 5 VTA Congestion Management Program

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. 6 VTA Congestion Management Program

Importance of Reducing Auto Trips • 7 Reducing the auto trip generation of developments is important for a number of reasons: 1. To meet CMP and local Level of Service (LOS) standards 2. To reduce emissions of Greenhouse Gases and other pollutants 3. To reduce the amount of space devoted to parking and roadways 4. To minimize other negative impacts (e. g. , noise, water quality issues) VTA Congestion Management Program

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? 8 VTA Congestion Management Program

VTA TIA Guidelines Update • VTA is updating its Transportation Impact Analysis Guidelines • Some trends leading to the update: • SB 375 and efforts to reduce Greenhouse 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 9 VTA Congestion Management Program

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

Development and Congestion Management: Comprehensive Approach § Auto Trip Generation § Consider Auto Trip Reductions § Sensible - Transit/walk/bike friendly locations - TDM (Shuttles, carpool, bike, transit incentives) - Parking pricing & management Mitigation Measures § Reduced Fees § Fewer Significant Impacts Evaluate All 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 11 VTA Congestion Management Program

Proposal: Auto Trip Reduction Statement 12 VTA Congestion Management Program

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 13 VTA Congestion Management Program

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

Schedule 15 VTA Congestion Management Program

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

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