Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 141-2020 that provides direction on the County’s application of the methodology, significance thresholds, mitigation measures and exemptions for implementation of Senate Bill 743 for land use projects. (Cont. 9/22/20, Item 38)
FUNDING: Road Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 27, 2013 the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 743 (SB 743). SB 743 was originally enacted to address transportation issues related to the development of the Golden One Center in downtown Sacramento. The legislative intent of SB 743 was to 1) ensure that the environmental impacts of traffic, such as noise, air pollution, and safety concerns, continue to be properly addressed and mitigated through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and 2) more appropriately balance the needs of congestion management with statewide goals related to infill development, promotion of public health through active transportation, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
In January 2019, the Natural Resources Agency finalized updates to the CEQA Guidelines including the incorporation of SB 743 modifications. The guidelines’ changes were approved by the Office of Administrative Law and are now in effect. Specific to SB 743, Section 15064.3(c) states, “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.”
SB 743 changes how transportation impacts are measured under CEQA, from using vehicle level of service (LOS) to using vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The State Office of Planning and Research (OPR) have determined that the appropriate metric for the change is VMT. This change is intended to capture the impacts of driving on the environment compared to the impact on drivers. LOS or other delay metrics may still be used to evaluate the impact of projects on...
Click here for full text