I t e m 1 2 C
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Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) for Site
Development Guidelines
Recommended Actions
2 1. Conduct a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to Chapter 23.36, Right-ofWay Standards, Street Improvement Standards, and Building Line Requirements, and Chapter 23.08 Design Review of the Encinitas Municipal Code.
2. Introduce Ordinance No. 2026-11, titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, Amending Chapter 23.36 of the Encinitas Municipal Code Right - of-Way Standards, Street Improvement Standards, and Building Line Requirements, and Chapter 23.08 Design Review, to Establish Local Traffic Study Requirements, Development Project Review Procedures, and Authority for Related Transportation Improvements and Fair-Share Contributions.”
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-45, titled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, Adopting the City of Encinitas Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines.” Table of Contents
➢ Purpose of the TIA (Traffic Impact Analysis/Traffic Study) Guidelines ➢ General Plan Policy Framework
➢ When is a TIA Needed?
➢ TIA Guidelines
➢ Supplemental Traffic Analyses
3 TIA Background and the Need for a Guideline
4 - Traffic Impact Analyses (TIAs) evaluate how a proposed development affects the City’s transportation system.
- Traditionally, TIAs have focused on Level of Service (LOS), evaluating roadway capacity and average intersection delay.
- Senate Bill (SB) 743 shifted transportation analysis under CEQA from LOS-based analysis to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).
- Existing General Plan Policies will be enhanced through the Circulation Element Update to support a more comprehensive approach to traffic impact analyses. - The legal landscape has changed, creating a need for more objective transportation standards.
- The proposed Guidelines will provide a clear, consistent framework for transportation impact evaluation, including cumulative impacts from multiple developments within a study area.
Purpose of TIA Guidelines
• Evaluate individual and cumulative transportation impacts associated with proposed development projects.
• Identify potential mitigation measures and transportation improvements to address impacts to the City’s transportation network resulting from new development. • Support a safe, resilient, and efficient transportation system. • Maintain community character and quality of life.
5 Why is a TIA Important?
A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) evaluates how a new development may affect local traffic patterns and helps identify potential congestion and transportation issues. ✓ Identifies Transportation Impacts
✓ Establishes Appropriate Mitigation
✓ Supports Fair-Share Contributions
✓ Evaluates All Transportation Users
✓ Considers Impacts from
Other Developments
6 Senate Bill (SB) 743 and CEQA
• Level of Service (LOS) is no longer a CEQA significance metric for transportation impacts.
• Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis is required under CEQA for evaluating transportation impacts.
• VMT measures how much vehicle travel (additional miles driven) a proposed project would generate.
• LOS remains applicable for evaluating General Plan consistency and compliance.
• The City has a Council-approved VMT Analysis Guideline that provides direction for conducting VMT analysis.
7 Current General Plan Policy Framework
Policy 1.2: Endeavor to maintain Level of Service C as a basic design guideline for the local system of roadways understanding that the guideline may not be attainable in all cases.
Policy 1.3: Prohibit development which results in Level of Service E or F at any intersection unless no alternatives exist and an overriding public need can be demonstrated.
8 Current Circulation Element Update
• The update is currently in process.
• The TIA Guidelines reinforce and support the existing Circulation Element until the update is completed.
• As part of the new Circulation Element, existing policies may be maintained or revised, and additional policies may be introduced to establish and support objective standards.
9 Concerns over Current General Plan Policy Framework
Policy 1.2: Endeavor to maintain Level of Service C as a basic design guideline for the local system of roadways understanding that the guideline may not be attainable in all cases.
Policy 1.3: Prohibit development which results in Level of Service E or F at any intersection unless no alternatives exist and an overriding public need can be demonstrated.
10 Proposed Triggers for a TIA
• Commercial projects: over 2,000 square feet (SF)
• Residential projects: 5 or more dwelling units
• Any development or redevelopment, including a change in land use, adding 50 or more daily trips.
Requirements of a TIA
• The TIA shall be prepared by a qualified and licensed Traffic Engineer. • The TIA shall be subject to review and approval by the Traffic Engineering Division.
• All analyses shall comply with the TIA Guidelines.
11 Contents of a TIA
• Trip Generation – How many new vehicle trips will the proposed project generate? • Trip Distribution and Study Area – Where will the project trips originate and travel to? Which intersections and roadway segments need to be studied? • Analysis Scenarios
o Existing Conditions
o Existing + Project Conditions
o Cumulative Conditions (approved and pending projects) o Cumulative Conditions + Project Conditions
• Operational Impact Criteria – When is a transportation impact considered significant and when are mitigation measures required?
• Other Evaluations – Safety, active transportation facilities, transit facilities, etc. 12 Outcomes of a TIA
• Operational Impacts Identified – Mitigation measures will be required to address identified transportation impacts.
• Fair-Share Contributions – Projects that do not have direct operational impacts may still be required to contribute a proportionate fair-share toward future transportation improvements.
o Fair-share contributions may apply to existing Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects or improvements identified as necessary due to the cumulative impacts of other projects. • Traffic Mitigation Fees – Fair-share contributions do not replace applicable Traffic Mitigation Fees. Traffic Mitigation Fees remain applicable and must be paid prior to issuance of a building permit for the project.
13 S u p p l e m e n t a l T I A E v a l u a t i o n s
▪ Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis – Evaluates whether a traffic signal may be warranted based on applicable CA MUTCD criteria.
▪ Site Access Analysis – Evaluates site access, including sight distance, driveway spacing, and internal project circulation.
▪ Queuing Analysis – Evaluates vehicle queue lengths, identifies potential spillback conditions, and adequate storage for turning movements at intersections and site access points.
▪ Active Transportation and Transit Analysis – Evaluates potential impacts to pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities.
▪ Safety Analysis – Evaluates potential safety improvements based on the previous five (5) years of collision data and the City’s Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP). 14 Recommended Actions
15 1. Conduct a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to Chapter 23.36, Right-ofWay Standards, Street Improvement Standards, and Building Line Requirements, and Chapter 23.08 Design Review of the Encinitas Municipal Code.
2. Introduce Ordinance No. 2026-11, titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, Amending Chapter 23.36 of the Encinitas Municipal Code Right - of-Way Standards, Street Improvement Standards, and Building Line Requirements, and Chapter 23.08 Design Review, to Establish Local Traffic Study Requirements, Development Project Review Procedures, and Authority for Related Transportation Improvements and Fair-Share Contributions.”
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-45, titled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, Adopting the City of Encinitas Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines.” 16 Thank You!