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San Francisco Adopts Multimodal VMT Metrics in General Plan Transportation Element

  • When: 2025/10/06
  • Address: Citywide
  • City: San Francisco
  • State: CA
  • Category: Land Use Planning
  • Asset Class: Land
  • Planning Department: True

This resolution updates the San Francisco General Plan's Transportation Element, specifically revising the Congestion Management Element (CME) in accordance with State law (Senate Bill 743). It replaces the traditional Level of Service (LOS) standards, which primarily focused on vehicular delay, with a new framework centered on multimodal performance metrics. This new approach includes a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis methodology for evaluating the transportation impacts of land use and transportation projects. The update aims to encourage infill development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve public health by shifting away from a sole focus on vehicle speed. The Planning Commission's recommendation for approval signifies a major step towards aligning the city's planning efforts with sustainability and equity goals, while also simplifying the environmental review process for projects that reduce VMT. The changes are expected to streamline approvals for transit-oriented development and active transportation projects.

Source

Applicant - San Francisco Planning Department


City Representative - Kate B. Connor