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Circulation
Element
Introduction
The circulation element is not simply a transportation plan, but rather a strategy addressing infrastructure needs for the
circulation of people, goods, energy, water, sewage, storm drainage, and communications. By
statute
, the circulation element
must correlate directly with the
land use
element, but also has direct relationships with other elements. The provisions of a
circulation element affect a community’s physical, social, and
economic
environment, as well as its
health
. The passage of SB
1000 in 2016 requires
local governments to address
environmental justice
considerations related to circulation--such as access
to transportation systems, air quality related to transportation, delivery routes and transit options for nutritional food access,
and promotion of physical activity—upon the next revision of two or more elements in their general plan after January 1, 2018.
Government Code Section 65302 (b)
(1) A circulation element consisting of the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares,
transportation routes, terminals, any military airports and ports, and other local public utilities and facilities, all
correlated with the land use element of the plan.
(2) (A) Commencing January 1, 2011, upon any substantive revision of the circulation element,
the legislative body
shall modify the circulation element to plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that meets the
needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel in a manner that is suitable to the
rural, suburban, or urban context of the general plan.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “users of streets, roads, and highways” mean bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities,
motorists,
movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, users of public transportation, and seniors.
Transportation systems are essential to any city or county and its economy, and can be designed to enhance opportunity
and improve equity. However, the implementation and maintenance of infrastructure and resources is costly, impacts the
environment, and affects human health. Transportation planning in California is rapidly changing, driven by a number of
key factors:
• An increasing focus on access to destinations (connectivity) rather than just mobility, and transportation solutions involving
proximity that better accomplish livability
and environmental goals
• Constrained local government budgets
• A mismatch of anticipated revenue and future maintenance obligations under current policies
• An increasing focus on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and an ongoing focus on air quality
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•
An increasing recognition that we cannot “build our way out of congestion,”
in part because
new capacity encourages more
driving
, but that congestion can be addressed with roadway pricing measures
• An increasing recognition of the transportation network’s effect on
land use
, and in turn the effect of more disperse land use
on the
environment
and human
health
• Demographic and social trends creating increased demand for infill and walkable neighborhoods
• Emerging transportation
solutions such as carshare, rideshare, and bikeshare services, which can reduce automobile
dependence
• Enhanced technology and information such as Nextbus and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) making navigation of
multiple transportation systems more simple and convenient and in some cases influencing transportation choices.
• Introduction of emerging technologies such as partially or fully autonomous vehicles with potential to sharply increase VMT
and alter land use scenarios
Further, recent legislation has driven change in the way local governments approach transportation and the types of solutions
available:
•
The Complete Streets Act
•
Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32)
•
SB 32
• The
Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375)
and the completion of Sustainable Communities
Strategies
•
CEQA Streamlining for infill projects (SB 226)
•
Shift in CEQA transportation metric away from LOS to VMT (SB 743)
Many California communities are substantially revising their circulation elements to respond to and take advantage of this new
legislation.
C O R R E L A T I O N S A M O N G E L E M E N T S
n
Identified
in statute
n
Closely related to statutory requirements
Land Use
Housing
Conservation
Open Space
Noise
Safety
EJ
Circulation
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
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Completeness Checklist
Local agency staff can use the following checklist to help ensure that the draft circulation element addresses all required issues.
Please note that use of this checklist is purely advisory, and only contains issues that are legally required in
Government Code
section 65302(b)
. Circulation elements may address additional issues at the discretion of the local government. Because general
plan formats may vary, this checklist suggests identifying where the particular government code provision is satisfied
Statutory Citation
Brief Description of Requirement
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(1)
Existing and proposed major thoroughfares
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(1)
Existing and proposed
transportation routes
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(2)
• Public transportation
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(2)
• Bicycle
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(2)
• Pedestrian
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(2)
• Automobile
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(2)
• Commercial goods
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(1)
Existing and proposed terminals
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(1)
Military airports and ports
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(1)
Other local public utilities and facilities
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(2)
Needs of children, persons with disabilities, and seniors?
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(1); Fed. of Hillside & Canyon Assns. v.
City of Los Angeles (2004) 126 Cal. App. 4th 1180, 1196
Identified funding for infrastructure identified in circulation element?
Gov. Code, § 65302(b)(1)
Circulation element is correlated with the land use element?
Required
Contents
The circulation element must, consistent with Government Code Section
65302 (b)
, include the location and extent of existing
and proposed
• Major thoroughfares
• Transportation routes
• Terminals
• Military airports and ports
• Public utilities and facilities
Statutory Requirements
The
Government Code
requires that any revision of circulation elements after Jan 1, 2011 must plan for a “balanced,
multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient
travel in a manner that is suitable to the rural, suburban, or urban context of the general plan.”
Users are defined in