Chapter 16.503 — TRIP-REDUCTION MEASURES

These regulations are established to make Vallejo a more attractive and healthful place to live, work, visit, and do business by reducing traffic congestion, demand for parking and associated air pollution noise, fuel consumption. More specifically, the provisions of this chapter are intended to:

A.

Implement state requirements requiring cities to address greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change and general plan policies to decrease dependence on single-occupant vehicles by requiring development to incorporate measures to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT);

B.

Improve the mobility and general efficiency of circulation and transportation systems by increasing reliance on public transit, ridesharing, walking, car-sharing, cycling and focusing development in areas close to transit and employment;

C.

Reduce traffic impacts within the community and region, vehicular air pollutant emissions, energy usage, and ambient noise levels through a reduction in the number of per capita vehicle miles traveled and management of traffic congestion;

D.

Inform residents, workers, employers and other business owners about travel options and the impacts of travel choices;

E.

Coordinate transportation system management, TDM, and transportation facility development strategies citywide, with other cities in the region and through regional agencies; and,

F.

Support local and regional efforts to relieve traffic congestion in and around the city.

G.

The requirements of this chapter apply to:

1.

New multi-unit development of ten units or more;

2.

New non-residential development of ten thousand square feet or more; and

3.

Employers with fifty or more employees at a single worksite within the city except for employers subject to Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 13, Rule 1, Trip Reduction Requirements for Large Employers.

A.

All projects subject to the requirements of this chapter shall incorporate measures to reduce to the extent feasible single-occupant vehicle trip generation rates fifteen percent below the standard rates as established in the most recent edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual by promoting walking, cycling, public transit, and ridesharing/vanpooling, and/or discouraging single-occupant vehicle travel, ensure that the average VMT by residents or workers in the development, or students or workers in schools, is less than the average citywide VMT.

B.

Residential developments that obtain GreenTRIP Certification from TransForm, or other equivalent certification, prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, shall be deemed to have met this performance requirement.

C.

Vehicle Trip Reduction measures. all projects subject to the requirements of this chapter that do not have GreenTRIP or equivalent certification shall implement two or more of the following measures to achieve the required VMT reduction:

1.

Passenger Loading Zoning districts. Passenger loading zoning districts for carpool and vanpool drop-off located near the main building entrance.

2.

Direct Route to Transit. A well-lighted path or sidewalk utilizing the most direct route to the nearest transit or shuttle stop from the building.

3.

Pedestrian Connections. Safe, convenient pedestrian connections provided from the project to surrounding public streets and, if applicable, trails.

4.

Bicycle Connections. If a site is abutting a bicycle path, lane or route, provision of a bicycle connection close to an entrance to the building on the site.

5.

Land Dedication for Transit/Bus Shelter. Where appropriate, land dedicated for transit or a bus shelter provided based on the proximity to a transit route.

6.

Long-Term Bicycle Parking. Covered and secure long-term bicycle parking located within seventy-five feet of a main entrance. Long-term bicycle parking shall be in at least one of the following facilities:

a.

An enclosed bicycle locker;

b.

A fenced, covered, locked or guarded bicycle storage area; or

c.

A rack or stand inside a building that is within view of an attendant or security guard or visible from employee work areas.

7.

Short-Term Bicycle Parking. Secure short-term bicycle parking located within fifty feet of a main entrance to the building.

8.

Free Preferential Carpool and Vanpool Parking. Ten percent of vehicle spaces reserved for carpools or vanpools, with a minimum of one space required. The preferential parking spaces shall be provided free of charge.

9.

Showers/Clothes Lockers. Shower and clothes locker facilities free of charge.

10.

Transportation Management Association (TMA). Participation in or requirement for tenant to participate in a local or citywide TMA or a similar organization approved by the director of the department of public works, that provides ongoing administration of and support for non-auto and shared mobility commute incentives, facilities, and services.

11.

Paid Parking at Prevalent Market Rates. Parking provided at a cost equal to the prevalent market rate, as determined by the city based on a survey of paid parking in the city and adjacent communities.

12.

Alternative Commute Subsidies/Parking Cash Out. Provide employees with a subsidy, determined by the applicant and subject to review by the traffic engineer, if they use transit or commute by other alternative modes.

13.

Carpool and Vanpool Ride-Matching Services. Matching of potential carpoolers and vanpoolers by administering a carpool/vanpool matching program or participating actively in such a program administered by a local or citywide TMA, the city, or other public agency.

14.

Guaranteed Ride Home. Guaranteed rides home in emergency situations for carpool, vanpool and transit riders. Rides shall be provided either by a transportation service provider (taxi, rental car, or services provided by transportation network/ride sharing companies) or an informal policy using company vehicles with designated employee drivers.

15.

Shuttle Program. Provision of a shuttle program or participation in an existing shuttle program approved by the traffic engineer and subject to any fees for the existing program.

16.

Information Boards/Kiosks. Display of the following information in a prominent location, maintained by a designated TDM contact: transit routes and schedules; carpooling and vanpooling information; bicycle lanes, routes and paths and facility information; and alternative commute subsidy information.

17.

Promotional Programs. Promotion and organization of events for the following programs: new tenant and employee orientation packets on transportation alternatives; flyers, posters, brochures, and emails on commute alternatives; Spare the Air (June through October); Rideshare Week (October); and trip planning assistance routes and maps.

18.

Compressed Work Week. Allow employees or require tenants to allow employees to adjust their work schedule in order to complete the basic work requirement of five eight-hour workdays by adjusting their schedule to reduce the number of days per week employees are expected or required to be on-site, thereby reducing the number of vehicle trips to the worksite.

19.

Flextime. Provide or require tenants to provide employees with staggered work hours involving a shift in the set work hours of all employees at the workplace or flexible work hours involving individually determined work hours, such that a substantial share of employees regularly arrive at and depart from the worksite before or after the a.m. and p.m. peak periods for vehicle travel.

On-Site Amenities. One or more of the following amenities provided on site: day care, cafeteria, limited food service establishment, dry cleaners, exercise facilities, convenience retail, post office, or on-site transit pass sales.

21.

Telecommuting. Provide or require tenants to provide opportunities and the ability for employees to work off site.

22.

Other Measures. Additional measures not listed in this article, such as childcare facilities or an in-lieu TDM fee established by the city council to provide funding for multi-modal access facilities and services, and/or transportation and parking demand management programs.

All projects subject to the requirements of this chapter shall submit a trip reduction plan in conjunction with the development review or use permit application. These plans shall demonstrate that, upon implementation, they will achieve the performance requirement and shall include the following:

A.

Checklist. A completed checklist of the trip reduction measures chosen by the applicant pursuant to Subsection 16.503.02.C, Vehicle Trip Reduction Measures.

B.

Trip Generation. Estimated daily trip generation for the proposed use based on the ITE trip generation rates and the reductions anticipated with implementation of the measures proposed. The traffic engineer, a citywide TMA, or a consulting traffic engineer retained by the city at applicants' expense shall maintain guidelines and checklists for evaluation of trip reduction potential of proposed measures and make these available to applicants.

C.

Implementation Plan. A description of how the performance requirements will be achieved and maintained over the life of the project.

D.

Project-Designated TDM Contact. Designation of an employee or resident as the official contact for the TDM program. The city shall be provided with a current name and phone number of the project-designated TDM contact who administers carpool and vanpool ride-matching services and promotional programs, updates information on the information boards/kiosks, and is the official contact for the administration of the programs.

E.

Site Plan. A site plan that designates TDM design elements including, as applicable, the location and layout/design of:

1.

External: preferential parking areas, paid parking areas, bicycle connections, bicycle parking, location of on-site amenities, passenger loading areas, land dedicated for transit facilities and bus shelters, direct route to transit, and pedestrian connections.

2.

Internal: showers/lockers, information boards/kiosks, ATM, dry cleaners, day care, convenience retail, post office, cafeteria, limited food service establishment, exercise facilities, and on-site transit pass sales.

F.

Approval Required. Prior to approval of a project subject to the requirements of this chapter, the director or the planning commission, whichever has review authority, shall make both of the following findings:

1.

The proposed trip reduction measures are feasible and appropriate for the project, considering the proposed use or mix of uses and the project's location, size, and hours of operation; and

2.

The proposed vehicle trip reductions will ensure that the performance targets of this chapter will be achieved and maintained.

G.

Monitoring and Reporting. A report, documenting the TDM activities undertaken and their results or an affidavit confirming that the requirements of this chapter have been met, shall be submitted to the director by the designated TDM contact. If the TDM measures consist of solely measures that would be performed once, this report shall be submitted at the completion of the implementation of those measures.

1.

For measures that are ongoing commitments, this report shall be submitted annually. If the annual report shows compliance for three consecutive years, no further annual reports are required.

2.

A five-year review may be required by the director or citywide TMA to evaluate the overall effectiveness of all of the TDM activities and may suggest new or modified activities or substitute activities to meet the program's objectives, per the director's or TMA's review and approval.

3.

The director may impose reasonable changes to assure the program's objectives will be met. All employers shall, upon the city's request, provide the city with information about the number of employees who work at worksites located within the city.

H.

Modifications and Revisions.

1.

Minor Modifications. The director may approve minor modifications to an approved TDM plan that are consistent with the original findings and conditions approved by the review authority and would result in the same target minimum alternative mode use.

2.

Revised Plans. A proposed change in an approved project subject to the requirements of this article that would result in a ten percent increase in the number of average daily vehicle trips shall be accompanied by a statement of what modifications or additions to the approved TDM plan will be made to ensure the same target alternative mode use. The director may conditionally approve such a change, subject to annual monitoring to confirm that the program's objectives are being met.

Chapter 16.504 - LANDSCAPING