The City of San José's Transportation Impact Policy, Council Policy 5-3 has been replaced with a new Transportation Analysis Policy, Council Policy 5-1. The new transportation policy establishes the thresholds for transportation impact under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) removing Level of Service (LOS) and replacing with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).

Transportation Analysis (TA) reports are prepared to make sure that new development projects comply with all applicable transportation policies and regulations. As part of the environmental review process, a TA must be prepared in order to comply with the City of San José's transportation policy, any area development policy, and the Congestion Management Program. The TA will identify the impact of the proposed development on the surrounding transportation network, as well as the specific development impacts and any identified mitigation measures. 

Types of Transportation Analysis

• In-House Analysis - Conducted by City staff for minor projects to confirm a project does not have a significant transportation impact.
• Local Transportation Analysis (LTA) - Projects located in Area Development Policies or Transportation Development Policies that do meet the criteria for a comprehensive Transportation Analysis.  This analysis focuses on local transportation operations surrounding the project.
• Transportation Analysis (TA) - This includes VMT Analysis and is mandatory for all projects that are not screened out based on the City’s Council Policy 5-1.  The comprehensive TA also includes LTA as well as Intersection Operations Analysis.

TA's and LTA's are prepared by a traffic consultant hired by the applicant. Division staff, working closely with the consultant, identify intersections to be studied and provide available existing and background information. Upon submittal of the completed traffic report and the traffic review fee to the City, staff will review the consultant's analysis to ensure compliance with the City's Transportation Policy, any Transportation Policies unique to the area (i.e., Evergreen, North San José, Edenvale), and the Congestion Management Program. After review, the TA becomes part of the environmental documentation necessary for project approval.

Transportation Analysis Preparation Resources

Vehicle Miles Traveled Website

VMT Transportation Analysis Handbook

Traffic Impact Analysis (LOS) Guideline Vol 1

Traffic Impact Analysis (LOS) Guideline Vol 2

For Transportation Analysis Submittal Resources visit our Applications, Instructions and Resources page.

Transportation Analysis Policies

City Council Transportation Policy

Area Specific Policies

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer