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Local Guidelines for Implementing the <br />California Environmental Quality Act (2019) INITIAL STUDY <br /> <br />5.09 D ETERMINING THE S IGNIFICANCE OF T RANSPORTATION I MPACTS <br />On or about December 28, 2018, the California Natural Resources Agency added a new <br />section to the State CEQA GuidelinesSection <br /> of the State CEQA Guidelines provides, in part: <br />Beginning on July 1, 202City hereby <br />elects to be governed by the provisions of Section 15064.3 and incorporates those provisions <br />herein. <br />State CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3 provides: <br />(a) Purpose. <br /> <br />This section describes specific considerations for evaluating a project's <br />transportation impacts. Generally, vehicle miles traveled is the most appropriate <br />nd distance of automobile travel attributable to a <br />project. Other relevant considerations may include the effects of the project on <br />transit and non-motorized travel. Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2) below <br />(regarding roadway capacity), a project's effect on automobile delay shall not <br />constitute a significant environmental impact. <br /> <br />(b) Criteria for Analyzing Transportation Impacts. <br /> <br />(1) Land Use Projects. Vehicle miles traveled exceeding an applicable threshold <br />of significance may indicate a significant impact. Generally, projects within one- <br />half mile of either an existing major transit stop or a stop along an existing high <br />quality transit corridor should be presumed to cause a less than significant <br />transportation impact. Projects that decrease vehicle miles traveled in the project <br />area compared to existing conditions should be presumed to have a less than <br />significant transportation impact. <br /> <br />(2) Transportation Projects. Transportation projects that reduce, or have no impact <br />on, vehicle miles traveled should be presumed to cause a less than significant <br />transportation impact. For roadway capacity projects, agencies have discretion to <br />determine the appropriate measure of transportation impact consistent with CEQA <br />and other applicable requirements. To the extent that such impacts have already <br />been adequately addressed at a programmatic level, such as in a regional <br />transportation plan EIR, a lead agency may tier from that analysis as provided in <br />Section 15152. <br /> <br />(3) Qualitative Analysis. If existing models or methods are not available to <br />estimate the vehicle miles traveled for the particular project being considered, a <br />lead agency may analyze the project's vehicle miles traveled qualitatively. Such a <br />qualitative analysis would evaluate factors such as the availability of transit, <br /> <br />2019 City of Santa Ana Local Guidelines 5-6 ©Best Best & Krieger LLP <br /> <br />