Cloverdale General Plan Transportation Element Project

The City of Cloverdale launched a focused update to its General Plan Circulation Element to comply with California Senate Bill 743, which mandates a shift from congestion-based transportation metrics, such as Level of Service (LOS), to vehicle miles traveled (VMT) analysis under CEQA. This update concentrated solely on the Circulation Element update and incorporated complete streets principles, updated roadway cross sections, and elements from the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The effort also introduced new goals and policies to reduce VMT in alignment with Cloverdale’s Climate Emergency Declaration.

The Challenge

The City faced several challenges during this process. Limited staffing capacity and unfamiliarity with certain regulatory and procedural requirements created gaps in managing technical aspects of the  CEQA process. Additionally, determining a defensible approach to VMT analysis within the EIR was complex and required coordination among multiple stakeholders. The City’s goals were to achieve compliance with state mandates, certify the EIR to enable future projects to tier off the General Plan despite VMT impacts, and integrate policies that support alternative transportation modes and sustainability.

Our Solution

FCS provided strategic advisory and technical support, stepping in to fill staffing gaps and guide City staff through unfamiliar processes. The team advised on regulatory and procedural issues, coordinated with multiple stakeholders, and assessed policies promoting sustainable transportation options. FCS assessed the updated Circulation Element, which incorporates complete streets principles and introduces new goals and policies to reduce VMT. To address the challenge of VMT analysis, FCS facilitated collaborative sessions with City staff, consultants, and legal counsel to establish a clear, defensible methodology and compliance path.

Results and Deliverables

The City was provided with an updated Circulation Element addressing Senate Bill 743 requirements. The City also received a legally defensible and CEQA-compliant EIR addressing the impacts of the updated Circulation Element. This, in turn, allowed the city to certify the CEQA document and adopt the Updated Circulation Element, thereby achieving full compliance with state mandates, integrating sustainability-focused policies, and optimizing internal resources without hiring additional staff, saving time and costs. The project was delivered under budget and positioned Cloverdale to advance long-term mobility and climate goals.