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Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (2019) INITIAL STUDY 2019 City of Santa Ana Local Guidelines 5-6 ©Best Best & Krieger LLP 5.09 DETERMINING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS On or about December 28, 2018, the California Natural Resources Agency added a new section to the State CEQA Guidelines—Section 15064.3, entitled “Determining the Significance of Transportation Impacts.” Section 15064.3(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines provides, in part: “A lead agency may elect to be governed by the provisions of this section immediately. Beginning on July 1, 2020, the provisions of this section shall apply statewide.” The City hereby elects to be governed by the provisions of Section 15064.3 and incorporates those provisions herein. State CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3 provides: (a) Purpose. This section describes specific considerations for evaluating a project's transportation impacts. Generally, vehicle miles traveled is the most appropriate measure of transportation impacts. For the purposes of this section, “vehicle miles traveled” refers to the amount and distance of automobile travel attributable to a project. Other relevant considerations may include the effects of the project on transit and non-motorized travel. Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2) below (regarding roadway capacity), a project's effect on automobile delay shall not constitute a significant environmental impact. (b) Criteria for Analyzing Transportation Impacts. (1) Land Use Projects. Vehicle miles traveled exceeding an applicable threshold of significance may indicate a significant impact. Generally, projects within one-half mile of either an existing major transit stop or a stop along an existing high quality transit corridor should be presumed to cause a less than significant transportation impact. Projects that decrease vehicle miles traveled in the project area compared to existing conditions should be presumed to have a less than significant transportation impact. (2) Transportation Projects. Transportation projects that reduce, or have no impact on, vehicle miles traveled should be presumed to cause a less than significant transportation impact. For roadway capacity projects, agencies have discretion to determine the appropriate measure of transportation impact consistent with CEQA and other applicable requirements. To the extent that such impacts have already been adequately addressed at a programmatic level, such as in a regional transportation plan EIR, a lead agency may tier from that analysis as provided in Section 15152. (3) Qualitative Analysis. If existing models or methods are not available to estimate the vehicle miles traveled for the particular project being considered, a lead agency may analyze the project's vehicle miles traveled qualitatively. Such a qualitative analysis would evaluate factors such as the availability of transit, proximity to other destinations, etc. For many projects, a qualitative analysis of construction traffic may be appropriate. 3 -61