Fees for the Current TIMF Program are derived
from each of the illustrated 12 planning areas .

Originally adopted in February 1990, the Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee (TIMF) Program was developed to help finance transportation improvements needed to accommodate new and expanding development - including residential, commercial and industrial projects - within the unincorporated areas of San Joaquin County. Since its inception, the County has revised the Program as necessary for clarification, conformance to the County’s General Plan, and to better serve the unincorporated communities. The latest revision, which occurred in 2000, included a new planning area for the Mountain House community. The County Department of Public Works is now seeking an in-depth update that adequately accounts for a broader range of public facilities, and accounts for recent developments in local transportation funding.

What is the TIMF?

The TIMF Program was established nearly 17 years ago to help fund transportation infrastructure and alternative mode improvements needed to accommodate expanding residential, commercial and industrial development projects. The fee is collected at the time of building permit issuance by means of 12 established TIMF Planning Areas.  The fee collections are then disseminated into the following fee components: Local; Regional - Congestion Management Program (CMP) and Non-CMP; Alternative Mode; and, Administration.  The fees are based on the estimated costs of infrastructure to support new development within each respective Planning Area.

Who pays into the TIMF?

Developers of all new or expanded commercial, industrial or residential development projects are required to pay into the TIMF before a building permit can be issued by the County. It is a one-time development fee that is assessed upon receipt of a development application.

I remember hearing recently about a fee program adoption. Is that different than this?

Yes. The Regional Transportation Impact Fee Program (RTIF), adopted on January 17, 2006, is independent from the TIMF. The RTIF program applies only to regionally designated roadways (state highways and principle arterials), and is a standard fee collected by all cities and the county.

Conversely, the TIMF is collected only by the County on development within the unincorporated area. The foundation of the local fee is to fund future infrastructure needed to provide adequate transportation in the unincorporated area of the County.

Who benefits from the TIMF?

All existing and future residents and businesses will benefit. This is because the traffic impacts associated with new or expanded commercial, industrial or residential land use development will be mitigated to acceptable conditions consistent with the thresholds established by the County’s General Plan.

What do the fees pay for, and how does the money get distributed?

There are twelve planning areas within the unincorporated area of San Joaquin County. Each of these areas is unique in terms of the degree of development and regional access. For this reason, fees will vary by planning area.

Regional Fee Component
The regional component of the fee collected for each area is spent on needed improvements on
designated county roadways that tend to serve trips between planning areas. This component of the
fee has two elements, which it is divided between - the Congestion Mitigation PRogram (CMP), and
the Non-CMP. The CMP is a defined network of regional roadways. The Non-CMP is a collection of
regional roadways not defined within the CMP.

Local Fee Component
The local component of the fee collected for each area is spent on projects and programs that
specifically serve a single planning area. For example, local fees collected in the Lockeford Planning
Area are not paying for improvements in the Escalon Planning Area, and vice versa.

Alternative Mode Component
The alternative mode component of the fee is derived by re-allocating five percent of the regional
and local fees to help fund transit, pedestrian, and bicycle improvements.

Program Administration
Similar to the alternative mode component, five percent of the fee is utilized to pay for overall administration and management of the program.

 

Stakeholder involvement in this update process is critical.  San Joaquin County’s Department of Public Works invites interested stakeholders to participate and provide feedback over the course of the Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Program Update.  All meeting information will be posted here.

• First Stakeholder Meeting: January 25, 2007
  Stakeholder Presentation
  Stakeholder Meeting Summary
  
  
• Second Stakeholder Meeting: October 30, 2007
  Stakeholder Presentation
  Current Fee Schedule
  Fee Table Comparison
  Supplemental Handout
  Meeting Summary
  
  
• Final Stakeholder Meeting cancelled pending interest or concerns. Contact Tim Koenig at (209) 468-3000 or, tkoenig@sjgov.org to request a final meeting.

The TIMF program is targeted to be presented to the County Board of Supervisors for consideration of approval at the end of March. The updated fee would be applied to all new development 60 days from adoption.

San Joaquin County is interested in your ideas. Please complete the form below with your questions and/or comments. A project team member will get in touch with you within two business days, as appropriate. Thank you!

To learn more about San Joaquin County’s TIMF Program Update, contact Tim Koenig at tkoenig@sjgov.org or
(209) 468-3000.