City of Grover Beach
Circulation Element
Update
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Megan Martin, Community
Development Director
June 26, 2023
BACKGROUND
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What is a General Plan?
• Planning document required by State law;
• Outlines a city’s long-term vision and goals for development, land use, transportation, and other aspects that affect the built environment and quality of life for its residents;
• Required Elements: Land Use, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, Safety, and Circulation
BACKGROUND
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What is a General Plan Circulation Element?
• Address infrastructure needs for the movement of people, goods, etc. • Contains plans and policies related to streets, sidewalks, and bicycles • Serves as long-term plan for to developing and maintaining community circulation; and
• Shapes and defines a City’s transportation networks
BACKGROUND
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Why is the City Updating the Circulation Element?
• Periodic updates are required by the State;
• Complete Streets Act 2008;
• Align with Senate Bill 743 (2013);
• Evaluate and plan for the City’s changing transportation needs; • Consider and plan for evolving transportation technologies; and • Incorporate other completed transportation and planning efforts into the plan (Measure K Street Improvements, 2022 Land Use Element update) GROVERBEACH.ORG
Existing Circulation
Element
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What’s in it?
• Goals, policies, programs;
• Description of the City’s circulation
system; and
• Circulation “issues of concern”
EXISTING CIRCULATION ELEMENT
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What Updates will be made?
• Updated plans and policies;
• New programs & strategies to manage congestion and
greenhouse gas (Senate Bill 743);
• Updated transportation networks to accommodate future growth; and
• Revised planning guidance and documents
EXISTING CIRCULATION ELEMENT
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State and Local
Policy and the
Circulation Element
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State and Local Policies Require a Circulation Element Update • Complete Streets Act 2008
• Balanced multimodal transportation network to meet the needs of all users
• City adopted Bicycle Master Plan (2011)
• Senate Bill 743 (2013)
• City completed comprehensive update to Land Use Element and updated the Development Code (2022)
• City’s 2023-2025 Major City Goals: Street Maintenance & Complete Streets
CIRCULATION ELEMENT UPDATE
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SB 743: Level of Service (LOS) vs. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) • SB 743 requires VMT if a project is subject to CEQA
• Current Circulation Element utilizes metric known as LOS • Measures impacts of traffic volume on a roadway or intersection based on vehicle delay
• Does not gauge secondary/active transportation uses
• Most streets in City of Grover Beach operate at LOS ‘A’ or ‘B’
CIRCULATION ELEMENT UPDATE
Typical Levels of Service
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Source: Institute of Traffic Engineers
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SB 743: Level of Service (LOS) vs. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
• VMT: HOW the project will impact the number of miles driven by users of the project, gauges GHG impacts
• Require transportation impacts to consider factors such as:
• Availability of sustainable modes of transportation (i.e. transit) • Access to jobs
• Proximity to services
• Overall reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG)
CIRCULATION ELEMENT UPDATE
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Funding Opportunities
• Infrastructure Projects
• Regional projects
• Sustainable transportation grants
• Funding for transit-oriented development & greenhouse gas reduction projects
CIRCULATION ELEMENT UPDATE
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Policy Direction
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Public Participation
• Planning Commission – Two (2) Study Sessions;
• “Pop-up” booths during City-sponsored events; and
• Joint Planning Commission & City Council Workshop
CIRCULATION ELEMENT
POLICY DIRECTION
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Level of Service (LOS) vs. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) • City must address SB 743 and utilize VMT as a metric for proposed developments that are subject to CEQA
• Options:
• Continue to use LOS for purposes of non-CEQA related project approvals;
• Use VMT for purposes of CEQA related project approvals • Utilize ONLY VMT for purposes of all project approvals
CIRCULATION ELEMENT
POLICY DIRECTION
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Bicycle Master Plan (2011)
• 2023-2025 Major City Goal: “Street Maintenance and Complete Streets” • Complete Streets Act of 2008
• Bicycle planning is aligned with the vision and goals of the current element and updated element.
• Utilize staff resources
• Other consideration:
• Incorporate pedestrian facilities and safety policies • Limited budget; Additional timing; could instead direct future “action item” following Circulation Element update
CIRCULATION ELEMENT
POLICY DIRECTION
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Reclassification of Streets
• Staff & consultant to evaluate the city’s transportation network based on what is existing:
• Street hierarchy (i.e. local, arterials, collectors); and • Align existing street hierarchy and street improvements with future vision and goals of the plan
CIRCULATION ELEMENT
POLICY DIRECTION
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Next Steps
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NEXT STEPS
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Thank you!
Questions? Please contact:
Megan Martin, Community Development Director
Phone: (805) 473-4520
Email: [email protected]