Chapter 16.70 — TRIP REDUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to establish the requirements for facility and tourist-oriented trip reduction in conformance with the congestion management plan adopted by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC). The purpose of these adopted measures is to promote the reduction of vehicle trips, traffic congestion, air pollution, and to improve parking availability. This chapter may be cited as the city's trip reduction ordinance (TRO). (Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

The definitions for terms identified in this chapter are specifically defined at PGMC § 16.70.080. (Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

• (a) Applicability. This chapter shall apply to all residential developers, commercial developers, or tourist-oriented facility developers proposing applicable developments as defined at PGMC § 16.70.080.

• (b) Voluntary Trip Reduction Program. The Transportation Agency, local jurisdictions, AMBAG, MST and the private sector intend to implement a two-year voluntary trip reduction demonstration program focused on areas experiencing traffic congestion, LOS deficiencies, and/or parking congestion. The trip reduction demonstration program will begin on July 1, 1993. Preparatory work to begin the trip reduction demonstration program will begin upon TAMC approval of this paragraph and will utilize AB 2766 funds. The effectiveness of the demonstration program will be evaluated by TAMC and summarized at the end of the two-year program. Program evaluations will also be performed by TAMC as specific programs are implemented so that programs can be fine-tuned as needed. At the end of the two year demonstration program, mandatory trip reduction will go into effect at employment sites of over 250 employees if the 1.35 AVR or 60 percent drive alone rate or 1.6 percent per year trip-reduction goals have not been met at the demonstration sites.

• (c) Facilities Trip Reduction Program. The intent of the facilities component is to ensure that new development, redevelopment, and expansion of existing development contains the needed infrastructure and programs to both reduce the need to travel and encourage alternative mode usage. "Trip" as used herein refers to all trip purposes and is defined at PGMC § 16.70.080.

• (d) Tourist-Oriented Developers and Development(s) Trip Reduction Program. All developers of applicable new tourist-oriented developments must submit a trip reduction checklist as part of the plan check process prior to the issuance of a development permit or a special event permit. The checklist shall identify proposed design elements and facilities that encourage alternative transportation usage by visitors to the development.

• (e) Responsibilities of Developers.

  • (1) Residential Development. All developers of applicable new residential developments with 25 or more units must submit a trip reduction checklist as part of the site

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

TRAFFIC

§ 16.70.030

§ 16.70.030

development permit application process. The checklist shall identify proposed design elements and facilities that encourage alternative transportation usage by residents of the development.

• (A) The city shall take into consideration the nature and size of the project when reviewing the trip reduction checklist.

• (B) The city will determine the necessary programs as part of the permit approval process. After review of the trip reduction checklist prepared by the developer, the city council may require, but not be limited to, one or all of the following programs:

  • (i) Provide ride sharing, public transportation and nearby licensed child care facility information to tenants/buyers as part of move-in materials;

• (ii) Print transit scheduling information on all promotional materials;

  • (iii) Install bicycle amenities, such as bicycle racks and bicycle lanes (where appropriate);

  • (iv) Provide bus pull-outs, pedestrian access, transit stops, shelters and amenities as part of the site plan, as described in the guideline or subsequent publications;

  • (v) Provide locked and secure transportation information centers or kiosks with bus route/schedule information, as part of common areas;

  • (vi) Provide pedestrian facilities linking transit stops and common areas;

  • (vii) Provide resources for site amenities that reduce vehicular trip making;

  • (viii) Park-and-ride facilities;

  • (ix) On-site child care facilities;

  • (x) Local TSM improvements defined as shuttle bus services/bus pools or improved transit service as part of the development;

  • (xi) Facilities to encourage telecommuting;

  • (xii) Trip generation fees with proceeds to go toward provision of transit service, transportation management associations, ride sharing services and other alternative transportation services.

(xiii) Mixed land uses designed to reduce the length and number of vehicle trips;

• (xiv) Pedestrian and bicycle system improvements;

• (xv) Transit-oriented design and/or pedestrian-oriented design;

• (xvi) The city may require other measures to be added to or substituted for any or all of the above. Additional techniques for reducing trips are acceptable.

• (2) Commercial Development. All developers of commercial developments with projections of 50 or more employees or expansions of commercial space of 25,000

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City of Pacific Grove, CA § 16.70.030

PACIFIC GROVE CODE

§ 16.70.030

gross square feet or more must submit a trip reduction checklist as part of the site development permit application process prior to the issuance of a building permit. The checklist shall identify proposed design elements and facilities that encourage alternative transportation usage by the customers and employees of the development.

• (A) The city shall take into consideration the nature and size of the project when reviewing the trip reduction checklist. The city will determine the necessary programs as part of the permit approval process.

• (B) After review of the trip reduction checklist prepared by the developer, the city may require, but not be limited to, one or all of the following programs:

  • (i) Provide ride sharing, public transportation and nearby child care facility information to employees as part of orientation materials;

  • (ii) Provide on-site daycare for customers and employees;

  • (iii) Provide on-site banking ATMs, restaurants, dry cleaners, grocery, and other typically needed services to reduce the need to travel. Link these uses with convenient and pedestrian-oriented paths. Provide transit access that allows bus passengers convenient access to uses with a minimum of walking distance;

• (iv) Site building entrances close to bus stops with access uninterrupted by parking lots, parking aisles, and interior roadways. Place parking at the rear of the development and the transit stop at the front of the development near the main entrance;

  • (v) Print transit information in employee paychecks occasionally. Provide onsite transit information displays;

  • (vi) Install bicycle racks and lanes, paths or routes;

  • (vii) Provide bus pull-outs, pedestrian access, transit stops, shelters and amenities as part of the development as described in the MST Development Review Guidebook or subsequent documents;

  • (viii) Provide locked and secure alternative-mode information kiosks;

  • (ix) Offer a parking cash-out program for employees;

  • (x) Provide park-and-ride facilities within the development which are not limited to the site's customers or employees;

  • (xi) Provide preferential parking for employees who ride-share;

  • (xii) Provide local TSM improvements, defined as shuttle bus services/bus pools or improved transit service, as part of the development;

  • (xiii) Facilities and policies to encourage telecommuting;

  • (xiv) Provide pedestrian, bicycle, and transit system improvements;

  • (xv) The city may require other measures to be added to or substituted for any or all of the above. Additional measures which reduce trips are acceptable.

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

TRAFFIC

§ 16.70.030

§ 16.70.030

• (3) Tourist-Oriented Developments and Special Events. All tourist-oriented developers or special events promoters requiring any permit with the city must submit a trip reduction checklist as part of the application process prior to the issuance of a special event permit. The checklist shall identify proposed design elements and facilities that encourage alternative transportation usage by tourists and residents of the city.

  • (A) The city shall take into consideration the nature and size of the project when reviewing the trip reduction checklist. The city will determine the necessary programs as part of the permit approval process and in consultation with the transit operator.

  • (B) After review of the trip reduction checklist prepared by the tourist-oriented developer or special event promoter, the city may require, but not be limited to, one or all of the following programs:

    • (i) Provide park-and-ride, public transportation shuttles, and associated marketing to special event ticket purchasers as part of the special event promotion or site/business promotion;

    • (ii) Print transit scheduling information on all promotional materials;

    • (iii) Install bicycle amenities, such as bicycle racks and bicycle lanes (where appropriate), paths or routes, and at intermodal connection points;

    • (iv) Provide bus pull-outs, pedestrian access, transit stops, shelters and amenities as part of the site plan, as described in the MST Development Review Guidebook or subsequent documents;

• (v) Provide locked and secure transportation information centers or kiosks with bus route/schedule information, as part of common areas and at intermodal connection points;

  • (vi) Provide pedestrian facilities linking transit stops and common areas and at intermodal connection points;

  • (vii) Provide resources for site amenities that reduce vehicular trip making;

(viii) Provide park-and-ride facilities;

• (ix) Local TSM improvements, defined as shuttle bus services/bus pools or improved transit service, as part of the development;

• (x) Trip generation fees with proceeds to go toward provision of transit service, transportation management associations, ride sharing services and other alternative transportation services;

• (xi) Mixed land uses designed to reduce the length and number of vehicle trips;

• (xii) Pedestrian and bicycle system improvements;

• (xiii) Provide alternative transportation from the airport, provide airport information displays, contribute to the marketing or fare promotions of transit service and transit passes, provide concierges as sources of tourist transit promotion, rent bicycles to visitors, provide contributions of funds

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

PACIFIC GROVE CODE

§ 16.70.030

§ 16.70.070

for implementing rail service to the area, provide transit information displays;

• (xiv) Educational and marketing strategies designed to induce tourists to reduce their vehicular trips;

• (xv) Programs and projects to provide alternatives to automobile transportation into Monterey County;

• (xvi) The city may require other measures to be added to or substituted for any or all of the above. Additional measures which reduce trips are acceptable.

• (Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

• (a) During the time period July 1, 1993 through June 30, 1995, the city of Pacific Grove and TAMC will work jointly with AMBAG, MST, and the private sector to implement a voluntary trip reduction demonstration program for use in areas experiencing traffic congestion. The focus will be on employment sites, central business districts, and tourist facilities.

• (b) The facilities portion of this chapter will be incorporated into the zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance and development standards within six months.

• (Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

Compliance shall be ascertained by the city reviewing residential, commercial, tourist-oriented, and special events promotion development proposals and applying this chapter and ensuring/ enforcing its implementation.

(Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

• (a) General. A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be an infraction, and may be enforced pursuant to Chapter 1.16 PGMC.

  • (1) Failure to submit the trip reduction checklist, make mandatory site plan revisions, or failure to implement provisions of an approved plan;

  • (2) Failure to respond to the needs of a transit operator and to incorporate trip reduction techniques into new or expanded development;

  • (3) Failure to ensure that required amenities are available for alternative modes for the life of the development or until the development permit conditions are otherwise amended.

• (b) Each day that a provision of this chapter, or the terms and conditions of any approved development plan or condition is violated shall constitute a separate violation.

• (c) Failure to achieve the target AVR or trip reduction goal does not constitute a violation of this chapter and no developer shall be subject to any fines based on lack of attainment.

• (Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994; Ord. 08-006 § 73, 2008)

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

TRAFFIC

§ 16.70.070

§ 16.70.080

The planning commission shall have the power to hear and decide appeals based on the enforcement of this chapter. Any person aggrieved by any administrative decree may appeal to the planning commission. Any person aggrieved by any action or decision of the planning commission may appeal to the city council by paying a fee prescribed by resolution and by written statement for appeal.

(Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined and explained:

"Alternative transportation modes (ATM)" means any mode of travel that serves as an alternative to the single-occupant vehicle. This can include all forms of ride sharing such as carpooling or van pooling, public transit, bicycling, walking, or alternative methods such as telecommuting.

"Alternative work schedule (AWS)" means a method to reduce trips to the site by causing a fulltime employee to commute to the work site less than 10 times during a 14-day period. (Example: 10/40 or 9/80 work weeks.)

"Applicable development" means any new development that is determined to meet or exceed the 50-employee threshold or any existing development that applies to increase its floor areas by 25,000 gross square feet. Applicable developments include complexes exceeding the 50-employee threshold and residential developments with 25 or more units. To determine the number of employees, the chart below is used.

For purposes of determining whether a new or expanding employer is subject to this chapter, the total employment figure will be determined by the jurisdiction as follows:

• (a) Employment projections developed by the project applicant, subject to approval by the TRO program manager; or

• (b) Employment projections provided to sewer and water agencies in connection with the new or expanded use; or

• (c)

• The following employee generation factors by type of use:

==> picture [401 x 187] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Table 16.70.070
Land Use Category Number of Employees
Commercial (Regional, Community or 1/500 gross square feet
Neighborhood)
Office/Professional 1/250 gross square feet
Industrial 1/525 gross square feet
Hotel/Motel 0.8 per room
Mixed Use Sum of individual figures for each use
Restaurant 1 per 10 seats
Hospital/Other Medical 1 per 4 beds
----- End of picture text -----

"Average vehicle ridership (AVR)" means the figure derived by dividing the number of

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City of Pacific Grove, CA § 16.70.080

PACIFIC GROVE CODE

§ 16.70.080

employees (including those telecommuting) at a regulated work site who commute to and from work between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, by the number of vehicles driven by these employees between home and the work site over that five-day period. The methodology for calculating AVR is contained in PGMC § 16.70.110.

"Buspool" means ridership on a heavy duty vehicle occupied by at least 16 passengers and the routing/scheduling for which is arranged between employer(s) and transit operators.

"Carpool" means ridership on a light duty motor vehicle occupied by at least two but not more than six employees traveling together.

"Commercial developer" means a developer of a commercial project.

"Complex" means any business park, shopping center, or mixed-use development in separate or common ownership.

"Congestion management program (CMP)" is the county-wide program developed in accordance with California Government Code Section 65088 et seq., requiring local jurisdictions and congestion management agencies to adopt and implement a trip reduction and travel demand element. The CMP law also requires designation of a CMP principal arterial network, a transit network, a land use impact analysis program, a deficiency plan and level of service monitoring system, and a seven-year capital improvement program.

"Developer" means the individual or company who is responsible for the planning, design, and/ or construction of an applicable development project. The developer is the individual who signs all permit applications on behalf of the property owner.

"Facility(ies)" means the total of all buildings, structures and grounds that encompass a development site, at either single or multiple locations, that comprise or are associated with an applicable development project.

"Mixed-use development" means any development project that combines residential with any one of these land uses: daycare, office, commercial, light industrial, retail, and business park.

"Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD)" is the regional governmental body responsible for the development and enforcement of regulations for control of air pollution within the counties of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito.

"Park-and-ride lot" means a parking lot located near residential communities or along highways which is served by a transit route or can be used by commuters as a staging area for carpool formation or for catching a bus. (A park-and-ride lot may also be used by visitors as a staging area for tourist shuttle buses.) Parking is free for commuters or visitors using a park-and-ride lot.

"Parking cash-out program" means an employer funded, tax deductible program where employers provide a cash allowance to an employee equivalent to the parking subsidy the employer would otherwise provide. Cities and counties are required to grant appropriate parking requirement reductions for developments that implement parking cash-out programs.

"Parking management" means comprehensive management of the location, cost and availability of parking to effect changes in travel behavior, trips generated, and mode used. Parking management can involve charging for employee parking, providing an employee transportation monetary allowance for use in paying for a bus pass or other alternative commute mode, or charging for a parking space. Parking management can also mean offering preferential, priority or reserved free parking for those employees who use alternative modes. Parking management can also involve changing time limits for parking lot or street parking to reduce employee parkers.

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

TRAFFIC

§ 16.70.080

§ 16.70.100

"Peak period" means the hours from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. inclusive, Monday through Friday.

"Residential developer" shall mean an individual, group or designee responsible for the development of single-family or multiple-family housing units in which 25 or more housing units will be constructed as a part of a single application.

"Site development plan/permit" means a precise plan of development that may be subject to public hearing before the planning commission, or that may or may not be subject to a discretionary permit.

"Special event" means a seasonal, recurring activity or a singular event which attracts both residents and nonresidents to a facility for recreational or other activities.

"Telecommuting" means a method of conducting work without leaving one's residence and thereby eliminating the commute round trip.

"Tourist-oriented development" means a development that will attract visitors or nonresidents to the jurisdictions within Monterey County.

"Transportation demand management (TDM)" means the implementation of programs, plans, pricing, or policies designed to encourage changes in individual travel behavior. TDM can include pricing to effect travel mode change; an emphasis on alternative travel modes to the single-occupant vehicle (SOV) such as carpools, vanpools and transit; reduction or elimination of vehicle trips, or shifts in the time of vehicle commutes to other than the peak period. A listing of TDM techniques is included at PGMC § 16.70.100.

"Transportation management association (TMA)" means a group of employers or other uses joining together in a formal association with the intent to reduce trips.

"Trip reduction" means reducing the number of trips made in single occupant vehicles.

"Trip reduction checklist" is the mechanism to be used by developers to outline TDM measures they will implement to reduce trips.

"Vanpool" means seven or more persons traveling to work in one vehicle.

"Vehicle trip" means a point-to-point journey or trip in one direction utilizing a motorized vehicle. For example, an employed mother driving a car and dropping off two children at two daycare facilities and then going to an instant cash facility on the way to her job, makes a total of four vehicle trips.

"Worksite" means the place of employment, base of operation, or predominant work location of an employee.

(Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

TDM techniques may include the following:

• (a) Ride sharing:

  • (1) Carpool/vanpool matching;

  • (2) Preferential parking for carpools and vanpools;

  • (3) Carpool/vanpool financial subsidies or rewards;

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

PACIFIC GROVE CODE

§ 16.70.100

§ 16.70.100

• (4) Employer-provided vehicles for carpools and vanpools;

• (5) Employer-sponsored vanpools;

• (6) Ride-share marketing campaigns;

• (7) Financial subsidy of vanpool liability insurance;

• (b) Transit:

  • (1) Work site transit ticket sales;

  • (2) Transit ticket financial subsidies;

  • (3) Transit route maps and schedules distributed and displayed on-site at the workplace;

  • (4) Shuttle to transit lines;

• (c) Trip elimination:

  • (1) Compressed work weeks;

  • (2) Work-at-home programs;

  • (3) Telecommuting;

• (d) Parking pricing:

  • (1) Establishing fees for employee parking at least as expensive as a monthly bus pass;

  • (2) Elimination of any employer parking financial subsidy;

  • (3) Transition from employer parking financial subsidy to general transportation monetary allowance for all employees;

  • (4) Reduced parking rates for carpools and vanpools;

• (e) Bicycle and pedestrian:

  • (1) Bicycling financial subsidies or rewards;

  • (2) Financial subsidy to employees for the purchase of bicycles for commute trip use;

  • (3) Bicycle lockers or other secure, weather-protected bicycle parking facilities;

  • (4) Bicycle access to building interior;

  • (5) Bicycle and/or walking route information;

  • (6) On-site bicycle registration;

• (f) On-site facilities/services:

  • (1) Employee shower facilities and clothes lockers;

  • (2) Site modifications that would encourage walking, transit, carpool, vanpool, and bicycle use;

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

TRAFFIC

§ 16.70.100

§ 16.70.110

• (3) On-site services to reduce midday vehicle trips, e.g., direct deposit of payroll, cafeteria, automatic teller machines, apparel cleaning, etc.;

• (4) On-site transportation fair to promote commute alternatives;

• (g) Other:

  • (1) Membership in a transportation management association that provides services and incentives;

  • (2) Establishment of employee committee to help design, develop, and monitor the trip reduction program;

  • (3) Guaranteed ride home program;

  • (4) Financial subsidies or rewards for using walking and other nonmotorized transportation modes, transit or carpools;

  • (5) Shuttles between multiple work sites;

  • (6) Providing child daycare at/near work site;

  • (7) Enhanced trip reduction efforts.

• (h) Any additional techniques not listed here which bring about the desired reductions in vehicle trips.

• (Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

The averaging period cannot contain a holiday and shall be for a normal, representative week. AVR for the work site is calculated by dividing the total "employee-days" by the total "vehicle trip-days" for the survey week. The survey will be done at least annually for the same sample week.

• (a) "Employee-days" are the total number of employees reporting or assigned to a work site during the peak period each workday of the survey week. The following procedures are used in totaling employee-days:

  • (1) Employees who telecommute or are off due to a compressed workweek schedule are counted as reporting to the work site in calculating the total employee-days.

  • (2)

• The following employees are not included in the employee-days total:

• (A)

  • Employees not working because of vacation, sickness or other time off;

• (B) Employees who report to a different work site or an off-site work-related activity;

• (C)

  • Disabled employees.

• (b) "Vehicle trip-days" means the total number of vehicles used by employees in reporting to the work site each workday of the survey week. A vehicle trip-day is based on the means of transportation used for the greatest distance of an employee's home-to-work commute trip. The following numerical values are used in calculating vehicle trip-days:

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

PACIFIC GROVE CODE

§ 16.70.110

§ 16.70.110

• (1) Single-occupant vehicle (drive alone) equals one.

• (2) Employee dropped-off vehicle by another person equals one.

• (3) Carpool equals one divided by the number of employees in the carpool, regardless of whether the other employees in the carpool work for the employer or at the worksite.

• (4) Vanpool equals one divided by the number of employees in the vanpool, regardless of whether the other employees in the vanpool work for the employer or at the work site.

• (5) Motorcycle, moped, scooter, or motorbike equals one.

• (6)

• The following equals zero vehicle trip-days:

• (A)

  • Public transit;

• (B)

  • Private buspool;

• (C)

  • Bicycle;

• (D)

  • Walking and other nonmotorized transportation modes;

• (E) Employees who telecommute (only on the days those employees work at home for the entire day);

• (F) Employees who work a compressed workweek schedule (only on their compressed day(s) off);

• (G)

• Disabled employee vehicles at all times.

Example of AVR Calculation

Number of vehicles driven to work site by these employees:

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City of Pacific Grove, CA

TRAFFIC

§ 16.70.110

§ 16.70.110

Example of AVR Calculation

Friday 74 Total 370

AVR is calculated by dividing the number of employees reporting to work during the week by the number of vehicles driven to work:

500 employees

= 1.35 Average Vehicle Ridership 370 vehicles

(Ord. 1925 N.S. § 1, 1994)

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City of Pacific Grove, CA