TRANSPORTATION STUDY GUIDE (TSG)

About the Program

Category: Planning (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The State of California passed Senate Bill 743, which changes how jurisdictions, including the County of San Diego, analyze transportation impacts from privately- and publicly-initiated projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). SB 743 identifies Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the standard to evaluate a project's environmental impacts. VMT measures the amount and distance people drive to destinations. The legislative intent behind SB 743 was to balance the needs of congestion management (traffic) with statewide goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, encourage infill development, and improve public health through more active transportation. The County adopted a Transportation Study Guide (TSG) to establish procedures, methodologies, and thresholds to implement VMT as a new transportation metric when determining potential impacts on the environment. This provides certainty and transparency for developers, stakeholders, and the general public, helping development projects proceed more efficiently. The adoption of the TSG will also assist in identifying areas of opportunity for housing, services, and mobility choices in underserved areas.