75D - PH - VMT AND CEQA GUIDELINES

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Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Ouality Act (2019) INITIAL STUDY Table 1 VMT Impact Thresholds Methods Project Threshold Cumulative Threshold daily VMT/SP. project generates inconsistent with the RTP/SCS. VMT/SP above 15% below the Countywide A significant impact would occur if average. the project causes total daily VMT within the City to be higher than the no project alternative under cumulative conditions. This analysis should be performed using the `project effect' method. Transportation Projects (thresholds may apply for SB 743 or GHG purposes) • OCTAM forecast of total A significant impact A significant impact would occur if citywide daily VMTI would occur if the the project caused total daily VMT project increased the within the City to be higher than the baseline VMT within the no build alternative under City. cumulative conditions. • Consistency check with NA A significant impact would occur if SCAG RTP/SCS the project is determined to be inconsistent with the RTP/SCS. The thresholds of significance set forth in Table 1 should be considered when determining a proposed project's potential transportation impacts under Forms J and S of these Local CEQA Guidelines. 5.10 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANT EFFECT. Whenever there is substantial evidence, in light of the whole record, that any of the conditions set forth below may occur, the Lead Agency shall find that the project may have a significant effect on the environment and thereby shall require preparation of an EIR: (a) The project has the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal, or eliminate important examples of major periods of California history or prehistory; (b) The project has the potential to achieve short-term environmental goals to the disadvantage of long-term environmental goals; I It is recommended that OCTAM is used to develop VMT estimates for transportation project impact assessment. However, the analyst must verify the model results for sensitivity to changes in VMT. Alternatively, if the model is not deemed appropriate, Robert Cevero's research on lane -mile elasticity and its relationship to VMT can be referenced. 2019 City of Santa Ana Local Guidelines CBest Best & Krieger LLP 75D-70