![]() Furthermore, under the bill, parking impacts are no longer considered significant impacts on the environment for select development projects within infill areas with nearby frequent transit service. A transit-oriented infill project can be exempt from CEQA if consistent with a specific plan for which an EIR was prepared, and also consistent with the use, intensity, and policies of a Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) or Alternative Planning Strategy that is certified by the California Air Resources Board as meeting its greenhouse gas reduction targets. 743 (SB 743) (2013) provides opportunities to streamline CEQA for qualifying urban infill development near major transit stops in metropolitan regions statewide. The new law requires CARB to adopt the regulation so that the maximum technologically feasible emissions reductions are achieved in the most cost-effective way. 32 (SB 32) (2016) extends AB 32 by requiring the State to further reduce GHGs to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 (the other provisions of AB 32 remain unchanged). 375 (SB 375) (2008) requires all Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to update their Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs) and prepare RHNA allocations that result in development patterns and supporting transportation networks that reduce GHG emissions from cars and light trucks. If the safety element is updated concurrently with the housing element, this provides opportunity for jurisdictions to address concepts such as infill development with an integrated approach. This challenge presents jurisdictions with the opportunity to address transportation safety mitigation measures in their safety elements. Sprawl-style development has been shown to lead to elevated crash risk due to the higher VMT levels and design variables which influence speed and driver behaviors. As jurisdictions are prompted to update their safety elements, the impact of sprawl-style development that is common in the San Joaquin Valley region on increased VMT may need to be addressed. Integration of VMT considerations and safety. Additionally, jurisdictions have the opportunity to encourage accessory dwelling unit and fourplex development through the small project screen. Legislation allows jurisdictions to develop thresholds such as exempting affordable housing. Many agencies use “screening thresholds” to quickly identify when a project should be expected to cause a less-than-significant impact without conducting a detailed study. This poses a challenge to jurisdictions who are trying to remove barriers to housing development and meet the growing demand for housing. In more rural areas such as the San Joaquin Valley region, many potential housing sites would qualify as high VMT and do not meet the above exemption requirements. ![]() However, many land development projects including transit-oriented development, housing, retail, and office projects are presumed to have a less than significant impact and may not need to undertake CEQA transportation analysis if they are within one-half mile of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor or are 100 percent affordable housing projects. One significant barrier to housing development is extensive environmental review. Integration of VMT considerations and housing. However, VMT requirements can pose challenges to jurisdictions, especially those in more rural regions, because many opportunity housing sites are identified as high VMT. ![]() This can occur under CEQA through VMT mitigation. To achieve the State’s long-term climate goals, California needs to reduce per capita VMT. Half of California’s GHG emissions come from the transportation sector therefore, reducing VMT is an effective climate strategy, which can also result in co-benefits such as increased public health. ![]() VMT is used by jurisdictions to determine the significance of transportation impacts in a manner that promotes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses. Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is a metric that identifies the amount and distance of automobile travel in one day.
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