Resolution 13345CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 13345
ADOPTING A TRAFFIC CAPACITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO MITIGATE
CUMULATIVE TRAFFIC IMPACTS FROM DEVELOPMENT WEST OF GRAND STREET
ON THE WEBSTER AND POSEY TUBES
WHEREAS, the City of Alameda has adopted Mitigation Measures in the
Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) for both the NAS Reuse Plan and related actions and the
Catellus Project at FISC and East Housing which called for the implementation of a traffic control
program to ensure that cumulative development in the portion of the main island of Alameda west
of Grand Street did not adversely impact upon the operation of the Webster and Posey Tubes; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to efficiently and effectively utilize the capacity of the
Webster and Posey Tubes such that the most desirable development can be accommodated; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to identify and implement those Transportation System
Management and Transportation Demand Management programs which most effectively reduce
peak hour trips through the Webster and Posey Tubes; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the Traffic Capacity Management Program,
attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A, is necessary to implement Mitigation Measure T/C 3b of
the Alameda NAS Reuse EIR and Mitigation Measure T/C 19b of the Catellus Project EIR
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Alameda
that the Public Works Director shall apply the procedures set forth in the attached Exhibit A "Traffic
Capacity Management Program," to development projects proposed west of Grand Street.
Traffic Capacity Management Procedure (TCMP)
Page 1 of 2
Introduction: This Traffic Capacity Management Procedure (TCMP) is formulated to comply with the
requirements of the mitigation measures of the Catellus Mixed Use Development EIR, adopted by the City
Council in May 2000. The policy and the mitigation measures reference the capacity of the Webster and
Posey Tubes as a constraint on future development. The intent of this policy is to provide policy makers with
advance information regarding the traffic impacts of proposed development approvals in West Alameda on the
Webster and Posey Tubes.
Policy Statement:
A traffic report shall be required for any discretionary development approval west of Grand Avenue which is
anticipated to generate more than one percent (1 %) of the (current) estimated remaining capacity of the
Webster -Posey Tubes in either the AM or the PM peak hours. Stated in terms of vehicle trip -ends (VTEs), the
1% criterion shall be as follows:
Webster Tube (Inbound or Southbound):
Development proposals anticipated to generate more than 6 VTEs in the Webster Tube in the AM or 5 VTEs in
the PM peak hour shall provide a traffic report.
Posey Tube (Outbound or Northbound):
Development proposals anticipated to generate more than 8 VTEs in the Posey Tube in the AM peak hour or 6
VTEs in the PM peak hour shall provide a traffic report.
Minimum Report Content:
a) The traffic report shall be prepared by a licensed civil or traffic engineer and shall follow the Public Works
Department Traffic Study guidelines. The report shall determine the number of project generated peak hour
trips projected to pass through the Tubes in each direction, during the AM and PM peak hours. Trip generation
shall be based on the most current edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Manual
except where explicitly permitted by the Public Works Director. Trip distribution shall be pre- approved by the
Public Works Department and shall substantially conform to the Alameda Countywide Model adapted for the
City of Alameda. All assumptions shall be discussed in the report and are subject to approval by the Public
Works Department.
b) The report shall identify the then current remaining capacity for existing plus approved projects (Baseline)
with background growth and the reduction in that capacity associated with the project (the current Fall 2000
estimated remaining capacity is shown on page 3. Distribution /Assignment of trips shall be pre- approved by
the Public Works Department.
c) The report shall include a discussion of proposed mitigation measures to reduce the number of trips through
the Webster -Posey Tubes for City consideration and approval. Acceptable mitigation measures shall include
only enforceable TSM/TDM measures which have historically been shown to reduce trip -ends generated by
similar projects.
d) Any report prepared pursuant to the TCMP which does not identify trip reduction measures sufficient to
achieve the trip reduction goals shall include a statement explaining why such goals cannot be met. A report
that does not include measures sufficient to meet the trip reduction goals may nevertheless be found adequate
pursuant to a finding by the Planning Board that no (additional) measures are available that can be reasonably
implemented within said constraints.
G:\PUBWORKS \ENG\Transportation & Development Section \TRAFFIC\Trafric Cap\(TCMP 6 -05- 01,xIS)FAQ
TCMP 6 -05 -01
Traffic Capacity Management Procedure (TCMP)
Page 2 of 2
Webster & Posey Tube Capacity calculations: The "capacity' of the Tubes is reached when the volume to capacity ratio
reaches 1.0 The capacity of each individual tube was calculated using the Highway Capacity Manual based on the actual
characteristics of each of the two facilities. Many variables are used in the capacity calculation. Please refer to the
Highway Capacity Manual for more information.
Thresholds of Significance: In formulating the policy, a threshold of one percent (1 %) of the (Fall 2000) estimated
remaining capacity of the Webster -Posey Tubes in the AM and the PM peak hours was used. A 1% threshold was
selected because it is the historic DeMinimus standard used by the City and because traffic impacts below this threshold
would be less than significant. On the other hand, setting the threshold at higher than 1% would result in certain
development approvals producing tangible and reliably measurable impacts to the Tubes which would otherwise go
unreported to the decision makers. This threshold level may need to be adjusted as the estimate of the remaining capacity
changes materially over time.
Other:
A traffic report is a "minimum requirement" for development proposals that exceed the 1% threshold. Larger development
proposals may be required to prepare a traffic- focused EIR with a more extensive analysis of project alternatives and
mitigation measures.
Estimate of current remaining capacity in the Tubes is determined by taking the most recent traffic count and subtracting
the projected number of vehicle trip -ends estimated to use the Tubes during the a.m. and p.m. peak periods for all projects
approved after the date of the most recent count.
TSM/TDM Measures to Consider:
Solutions to be considered in the traffic analysis include, but are not limited to, the following:
1) Trip Reduction Related:
Shift start and stop of work day to not coincide withttraditional peak hours (flex -time)
Compressed work week which reduces total number of trips for each work day
Telecommuting
2) Transit Related:
Employer sponsored or subsidized shuttles
Financial subsidies to transit users, including ferries
Implement Water Taxi service
3) Bicycle /Pedestrian Related;
Require employee shower facilities and lockers
Provide bicycle lockers
4) Ridesharing Related.
Carpooling /vanpooling - employer provided or otherwise
Preferential parking for carpoolers /vanpoolers
Financial subsidies for carpoolers (the City of Alameda has implemented this since 1994)
5) Parking Management Related:
Charge for employee parking
Reduce number of parking spaces available on site
6) Site Related:
Provide childcare at/near work site
Provide service oriented businesses ( restaurants /banks /cleaners /markets) on -site/ close by
Work/live development
Links between jobs and employer provided housing
Traffic Capacity Management Procedure (TCMP)
Policy Background & Methodology
Following is a brief overview /recap of the principal elements of the proposed interim policy in a question- answer
format:
How was the capacity of the Tubes determined? The capacity of each tube was determined using the 1997
Highway Capacity Manual based on the characteristics of each facility. The computed (operational) capacity was
then compared to the assumed capacity in the Countywide Traffic Model. The two capacity were found comparable
with the computed capacity being slightly higher. In refining the model for City purposes, the computed capacities
were used in the model.
What about the "remaining" capacity? Estimate of current remaining capacity in the Tubes was determined by
taking the most recent traffic count (average of ten workdays in September, 2000) and subtracting the projected
number of vehicle trip -ends estimated to use the Tubes during the a.m. and p.m. peak period for all projects
approved after the count (but not built).
What was assumed as approved but not built? The estimated future traffic generation from the following projects
was deducted from the capacity of the Tubes:
Wind River Buildings 3, 4 and 5
Building 35, Alameda Point
1800 Orion Street, Alameda Point
Building 41, Alameda Point
AP &T
Building 18 & 525, Alameda Point
Parcels 98 & 99, Alameda Point
Weinerschnitzel
900 Otis Drive
St. Joseph Notre Dame High School
Shipways
Kaufman and Broad
Catellus
Bladium
Aegis
Marina Village Inn
Special Events Assembly
Alternatives in Action
What size project can be built before the traffic report and mitigation requirement is triggered?
The maximum size of development that may be approved without a traffic report or mitigation has been computed
for the following land use categories. These thresholds were computed based on a "generic" trip distribution that
"averages" the possible trip distribution from various development sites in west Alameda. Applicants have the option
to retain the services of a traffic engineer to compute the 1% threshold for a specific site. (parenthesis refer to ITE
use number followed by maximum development and the critical direction)
Manufacturing (140)
Warehouse (150)
Light Industrial (110)
Office (710)
Shopping Center (820)
Specialty Retail
Residential (SF - 210
Residential (attached) Duplex
: 14,000 sq. ft.
: 20,000 sq. ft.
: 9,000 sq. ft.
: 6,000 sq. ft.
: 3,500 sq. ft.
: 5,600 sq ft
: 10 Single Family (detached) units
: 17 units
These figures will be updated as development is approved and will be re- published after the next count in Fall
2001. Contact Public Works at (510) 749 -5840 for the most recent thershold figures.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly
adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting assembled on the
19th day of June, 2001, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt, Johnson, Kerr and
Mayor Appezzato - 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this
20th day of June, 2001.
Di.ne Felsch, City Clerk
City of Alameda