Article 14 — Transportation Demand Management

The purpose of this article is to achieve the following:

1. Mitigate the impacts that new and expanding land uses may have on traffic congestion and air quality within the City and surrounding region;

2. Promote transportation demand management strategies that encourage employers to utilize both the existing and planned transportation infrastructure in an efficient manner through a variety of trip reduction techniques;

3. Specify responsibilities of applicants proposing nonresidential development within the City to consider transportation demand management strategies which incorporate design standards and other strategies that reduce single-occupant vehicle trips;

4. Require the implementation of strategies that reduce transportation demand through the City permit review process;

5. Support development of facilities that promote the use of alternative, energy-conserving transportation modes; and

6. Implement State law ( Government Code 65088, Congestion Management). (§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)

For the purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

"Alternative transportation modes" means any mode of travel that serves as an alternative to a single occupant vehicle, including all forms of ridesharing (i.e., carpooling, vanpooling), public transit, bicycling, walking, etc.

"Applicable development" means any development project that is determined to meet or exceed the project size threshold criteria contained in this article.

"Buspool" means a vehicle carrying 16 or more passengers commuting on a regular basis to and from work with a fixed route, according to a fixed schedule.

"Carpool" means two to six persons traveling together in a single vehicle.

"Development" means the construction or addition of new structure square footage. All calculations shall be based on gross square footage.

"Employee parking area" means the portion of total required parking at a development used by onsite employees.

"Preferential parking" means parking spaces designated or assigned, through use of a sign or painted space markings for carpool and vanpool vehicles carrying commute passengers on a regular basis that are provided in a location more convenient to a place of employment than parking spaces provided for single occupant vehicles.

"Property owner" means the legal owner of a parcel(s) subject to the provisions of this article, ultimately responsible for complying with the provisions of this chapter.

"Ridesharing" means the cooperative effort of two or more people traveling together for the purpose of getting to work. Utilization of carpools, vanpools, buspools, taxipools, trains and bus and rail transit are all examples of ridesharing.

"Telecommuting" means a work arrangement for performing work electronically, where employees work at a location other than the primary work location (i.e., at home or in a subordinate office).

"Teleconferencing" means telephone or video multi-access link for group communication.

"Teleservices" means automatic information services (i.e., automatic teller machines, telephone information services, telephone banking/transactions, computer mail, computer modem, facsimile,

etc.).

"Tenant" means the lessee of facility space at an applicable development project.

"Transportation demand management" means the implementation of programs, policies or permit approvals designed to encourage changes in individual travel behavior, including emphasis on alternative travel modes to single occupant vehicle use (i.e., carpools, vanpools and public transit, reduction or elimination of vehicle trips, shifts in peak hour vehicle commuting, etc.).

"Trip reduction" means reduction of the number of work related trips taken during peak-hours in single occupant vehicles.

"Vanpool" means a van occupied by seven to 15 persons commuting together to and from work on a regular basis.

(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)

Any new or expanded nonresidential development or change of use whose total square footage exceeds, or will exceed, the thresholds provided in Section 9-3-1404 shall provide, as a minimum, all applicable transportation demand management and trip reduction measures in compliance with this article.

(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)

All applicable projects shall prepare and implement a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program which will encourage increased ridesharing and the use of alternative transportation modes. A TDM Program shall include all of the requirements of this section and may include the optional measures provided in Section 9-3-1405.

1. Projects 25,000 Square Feet Gross Floor Area and Above. All nonresidential projects/uses of 25,000 square feet and more shall provide a bulletin board, display case or kiosk displaying transportation information located where the greatest number of employees are likely to see it. Information displayed shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

   • A. Current maps, routes and schedules for public transit routes serving the site;

   • B. Telephone numbers for referrals on transportation information including numbers for the regional ridesharing agency and local transit operators;

   • C. Ridesharing promotional material supplied by commuter-oriented organizations;

   • D. Bicycle route and facility information, including regional/local, bicycle maps and bicycle safety information; and

   • E. A listing of facilities available for carpoolers, vanpoolers, bicyclists, transit riders and pedestrians at the site.

2. Projects 50,000 Square Feet Gross Floor Area and above. All nonresidential projects/uses of 50,000 square feet and more shall provide all of the measures outlined above in addition to the following:

   • A. Carpool/Vanpool Preferential Parking. At least 10% of the employee parking spaces shall be designated for carpool vehicles by marking the spaces "Carpool Only." Carpool spaces shall be used only by carpool vehicles in which at least two of the persons are employees or tenants of the project. Spaces shall be located near the structure's employee entrance(s) or other preferential locations within the employee parking areas as approved by the Director.

A statement that preferential carpool/vanpool spaces for employees are available and a description of the method for obtaining the spaces shall be included on the required transportation information board.

For the purposes of this section, the percentages listed below shall be used to determine the number of employee parking spaces:

• B. Bicycle Parking. A bicycle parking/storage area shall be provided for use by employees and tenants, located in a secure location in close proximity to employee entrances. The minimum number of bicycle parking spaces to be provided shall be three spaces for each 100 employees or fraction thereof. This requirement is in addition to bicycle parking requirements for the public as provided in Article 5 of this chapter (Off-Street Parking Standards).

hall be provided for use by employees and tenants, located in a secure location in close proximity to employee entrances. The minimum number of bicycle parking spaces to be provided shall be three spaces for each 100 employees or fraction thereof. This requirement is in addition to bicycle parking requirements for the public as provided in Article 5 of this chapter (Off-Street Parking Standards).

• C. Pedestrian Access. Sidewalks and other paved pathways shall be provided on-site to connect off-site external pedestrian circulation systems, for both existing and proposed development.

• D. Commuter Matching Service. Commuter matching services shall be provided to all employees on an annual basis and all new employees upon hiring.

3. Projects 100,000 Square Feet Gross Floor Area and Above. All nonresidential projects/uses of 100,000 square feet and more shall provide all of the measures outlined above in addition to the following:

   • A. Carpool/Vanpool Loading Zones. A safe and convenient zone in which vanpool and carpool vehicles may deliver or board their passengers shall be provided near employee entrances.

   • B. Transit Waiting Shelters. Bus pullouts, bus pads and bus shelters may be required by the Review Authority for projects located along high traffic volume streets and established or proposed bus routes.

The developer shall consult with local bus service providers in determining appropriate improvements, and shall include the improvements as required by the Review Authority. Structure entrances shall be designed to provide safe and efficient access to nearby transit stations/stops.

• C. Joint Access and Shared Parking. For applicable projects, as determined by the Review Authority, joint access and shared parking across multiple parcels may be required to implement the intent of this article.

• (§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)

The following measures may be required by the Review Authority and incorporated into a project in order to further implement the intent of this chapter.

1. Shower and locker facilities provided on-site for use by employees/tenants who commute to the site by bicycle/walking or similar alternative transportation;

2. On-site daycare facilities;

3. On-site lunch room/cafeteria facilities; and

4. Telecommunication facilities to be available for exchange or shared use for activities (e.g., teleconferencing, teleservices or telecommuting).

• (§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)

1. Applicability. Whenever property is developed within the City, a Transit Mitigation Fee may be required as a condition of project approval or may be requested by an applicant to be provided in lieu of providing other requirements of this chapter.

2. Amendments. The Council may periodically review and cause an adjustment to made to the Transit Mitigation Fee upon a determination that it is necessary to do so in order to correctly make changes in actual and estimated costs of the facilities and equipment. The adjustment in the fee may also reflect changes in the facilities required to be constructed, in the estimated revenue received, and the availability or lack thereof of other funds with which to construct the transit facilities.

3. Payment of Fees. The following provisions shall apply to the timing of payment of Transit Mitigation Fees:

   • A. Fees shall be paid at the time of the filing of the final map or parcel map, as a condition of the waiver of the filing of a parcel map or, if a subdivision is not involved, the fee may be paid, in pro rata amounts, at the time of the issuance of Building Permits. The amount of the fee to be paid shall be the amount that is in effect at the time of payment of the fee.

   • B. If the applicant elects to have payment deferred to the time of issuance of a Building Permit, the recorded final map or parcel map, shall specifically state that payment of a Transit Mitigation Fee is required to be paid before the issuance of a Building Permit.

   • C. Prior to the deferment of any transit mitigation contributions, the applicant shall post bonds to ensure the future payment of the obligation. The bonds shall be valid for a period of not to exceed 18 months and may be subsequently extended. Before each extension the amount of the obligation shall be recomputed based upon the current contribution schedule.

4. Waiver of Fees. The council may waive fees when it determines that doing so would result in a superior project than otherwise might be developed and that doing so would be in the best interest of the City.

5. Use of Funds. All fees collected shall be deposited, invested, accounted for and expended in compliance with State law for related transit activities.

• (§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)

1. Facilities required under Section 9-3.1404 shall be included in the building plans and submitted to the Department.

2. Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance by the Department, all improvements and/or systems required by this chapter shall be in place at the site.

• (§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)

All transportation demand management programs/measures shall be subject to the applicable regulations of this Code, including provisions located in the following articles:

1. Article 11 of Chapter 4

2. Article 8 of Chapter 4

3. Article 7 of Chapter 4

4. Article 10 of Chapter 4

5. Article 9 of Chapter 4

Conditional Use Permits Minor Conditional Use Permits Minor Variances Development Permits Variances

• (§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001)