| Purpose:
A Traffic Impact Analysis
(TIA) assesses the impact of a proposed development, zoning change, or
special use approval on the transportation system. Its purposes are (1)
to ensure that proposed developments or zoning changes do not adversely
affect the transportation network, (2) to identify any traffic problems
associated with access from the site to the existing transportation network,
(3) to delineate solutions to potential problems, and (4) to present improvements
to be incorporated into the proposed development.
When Required:
When required, the TIA should
be submitted for review to the High Point Department of Transportation
and must be approved by the Director of Transportation prior to any other
development or zoning approval(s). A TIA shall not be utilized as a means
for staff to require the party developing the property to make needed
transportation improvements remote from the property for which the TIA
is submitted, nor shall identified deficiencies in Level of Service (LOS)
in and of themselves preclude approval of the proposed development. The
TIA shall be required but is not limited to the following situations and
shall be submitted at the time of application for each of the following:
- Development Petitions:
properties of which rezoning and/or special use permits are requested,
where the potential development may generate 100 or more trips during
the adjacent roadway’s peak hour(s) or the development’s
peak hour(s).
- Subdivision/Site
plan/Platting/approval: when the potential development may
generate 100 or more trips during an adjacent roadway’s peak
hour(s) or the development’s peak hour(s).
- Technical Review
Committee (TRC): when TRC applications reflect development
proposals that may generate 100 or more trips during an adjacent roadway’s
peak hour(s) or the development’s peak hour(s).
- Localized Safety
or Capacity Conditions: the Director of Transportation shall
require that a TIA be submitted for any or all of the above situations,
regardless of the potential trip generation levels, when there are
localized safety or capacity deficiencies such as:
- current traffic problems
in the area of the proposed development, such as high accident
locations, confusing intersections, or an intersection in need
of a traffic signal;
- current or projected
level of service of the roadway adjacent to the development, which
will be significantly affected;
- the ability of the
adjacent, existing or proposed roadway system to handle increased
traffic, or the feasibility of improving the roadway system to
handle increased traffic;
- other specific problems
or deficiencies that may be affected by the proposed development
or affect the ability of the development to be satisfactorily
accommodated (i.e., capacity deficiency, vertical/horizontal curves,
circulation).
Based on information provided
in the pre-application conference the Department of Transportation may
determine that a complete TIA is not required for a particular site and
specific use. Such determination will be made on a case by case basis.
In those cases where a complete TIA is not required, the information and
analyses required will be discussed with the Department of Transportation
and submitted as instructed or according to the TIA format.
The following guidelines will
be used by the Director of Transportation to determine whether a full
TIA or certain portions of a TIA will be required. Trip generation may
be required to determine if capacity or safety problems exist, however,
a full TIA may not be required if:
- No safety or capacity
problems exist in the immediate vicinity of the site.
- A prior TIA, prepared
for a site located within one block, indicates that buildout of vacant
tracts will not create capacity or safety problems on the street.
- The potential development
or use produces less than 150 trips in the peak hour.
- There is a reuse of an
existing building and the new use produces trips equal to or less
than one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the trips generated by the
prior use, and if no safety or capacity problems exist.
- No improvements can be
implemented beyond what the applicant has agreed to provide.
The applicant may appeal the
decision of the Director of Transportation regarding the requirement for,
or the composition of, a TIA to the City Manager in writing within ten
(10) days of the date of that decision. The City Manager’s decision
shall be made and communicated to the applicant within ten (10) days of
receipt of the written appeal.
Approval:
A TIA, when required, shall
be prepared by an individual, group, firm or corporation having demonstrated
professional emphasis and experience in transportation planning, engineering,
and in the preparation of similar analyses. The TIA document must bear
the seal and signature of a licensed professional engineer.
The submitted TIA must be
approved by the High Point Department of Transportation. Said approval
is valid for a period of time not to exceed eighteen months. Likewise,
significant changes in the development proposal or surrounding conditions
may require revision to or resubmittal of the TIA.
Required Meeting:
Prior to initiating a required
TIA, the applicant is required to schedule and participate in a pre-application
conference with the High Point Department of Transportation staff in order
to increase understanding of the required elements and format for the
TIA.
Format:
A TIA prepared for a specific
site proposal should follow the chapter outline as indicated in Table
A-1. Wherever additions or modifications are appropriate for a specific
site, they should be made.
Table
A-1
Traffic
Impact Analysis Outline
*A brief
narrative for each chapter of the TIA follows.
1. INTRODUCTION
- Site and Study Area
Boundaries
- Existing and Proposed
Site Uses
- Existing and Proposed
Nearby Uses
- Existing and Proposed
Roadways and Intersections
2. ANALYSIS
OF EXISTING CONDITIONS
- Daily and Peak Hour(s)
Traffic Volumes
- Capacity Analyses at
Critical Points
- Levels of Service at
Critical Points
3. ANALYSIS
OF FUTURE CONDITIONS WITHOUT DEVELOPMENT
- Daily and Peak Hour(s)
Traffic Volumes
- Capacity Analyses at
Critical Points
- Levels of Service at
Critical Points
4. TRIP
GENERATION
5. TRIP
DISTRIBUTION
6. TRAFFIC
ASSIGNMENT
7. ANALYSIS
OF FUTURE CONDITIONS WITH DEVELOPMENT
- Future Daily and Peak
Hour(s) Traffic Volumes
- Capacity Analyses at
Critical Points
- Levels of Service at
Critical Points
8. RECOMMENDED
IMPROVEMENTS
- Proposed Recommended
Improvements (on & offsite)
Should indicate recommended
responsible parties.
- Capacity Analyses at
Critical Points
- Levels of Service at
Critical Points
9. CONCLUSION
Chapter
1. Introduction
A. Site and Study
Area Boundaries
Include a brief description
of and a map displaying the size of the land parcel, the general terrain
features, and the location within the jurisdiction and region. In addition,
identify the roadways that afford access to the site and are included
in the study area. The exact limits of the study area should be based
on engineering judgment and an understanding of the existing traffic
conditions in the site vicinity. In all instances, however, the study
area limits will be discussed with the applicant and his traffic engineer
and will be determined by the Director of Transportation. The definition
of the study area should result, subsequent to the initial staff review
of a developer’s rezoning application or preliminary site plan,
at which time a traffic impact analysis will be required. If the project
is being completed in phases, describe the total project and the phases.
The study should include an analysis for each phase of the proposed
development.
B. Existing and Proposed
Site Uses
Identify the existing and
proposed uses of the site in terms of the various zoning categories.
In addition, identify the number and the type of residential units,
and type and amount of commercial, industrial, or office uses in accordance
with ITE trip generation categories.
C. Existing and Proposed
Nearby Uses
Include a complete description
of the existing land uses in the vicinity of the site, as well as their
current zoning. Also state the proposed developments of adjacent land
using the city’s comprehensive land use plan and any other pertinent
planning documents. This is especially important where large tracts
of undeveloped land are in the vicinity of the site and are within a
prescribed study area.
D. Existing and Proposed
Roadways and Intersections
Describe and provide diagrams
of the existing roadways and intersections (including road geometrics,
lane usage, traffic control, and intersection condition diagrams) within
the study area as well as improvements contemplated by the city and
state. This includes the nature of the improvement project, its extent,
the implementation schedule, and the agency or funding source responsible.
Chapter
2. Analysis of Existing Conditions
A. Daily and Peak Hour(s)
Traffic Volumes
Present diagrams depicting
daily and peak hour traffic volumes for roadways within the study area.
Present turning movement and mainline volumes for the peak hour conditions
(a.m., p.m., lunch, and site-generated). Present only mainline volumes
to reflect daily traffic volumes. Also present the source and/or the
method of computation for all traffic volumes. The City of High Point
Transportation Department will make available to the applicant at no
cost, existing traffic counts and other information it may possess that
is relevant to the particular TIA analysis area.
B. Capacity Analyses
at Critical Points
Utilizing techniques as described
in the current edition of The Highway Capacity Manual, assess the relative
balance between roadway volumes and capacity. Analyze existing conditions
(roadway geometrics and traffic signal control) for all peak hours.
C. Level of Service
at Critical Points
Based on the results obtained
in the previous section, determine and present levels of service (A
through F). Include a description of typical operating conditions at
each level of service.
Chapter
3. Analysis of Future Conditions Without Development
Describe the anticipated traffic
volumes in the future and the ability of the roadway network to accommodate
this traffic without the proposed zoning or subdivision request. The future
year(s) for which projections are made and associated growth factors will
be specified by the Department of Transportation and will depend on the
timing of the proposed development.
A. Future Daily and
Peak Hour(s) Traffic Volumes
Indicate clearly the method
and assumptions used to forecast future traffic volumes so that the
city staff can replicate these calculations.
B. Capacity Analyses
at Critical Locations
Describe the ability of the
existing roadway system to accommodate future traffic (without site
development) for all peak hours using the current edition of the Highway
Capacity Manual. (If roadway improvements or modifications are committed
for implementation by the developer, present the capacity analysis for
these conditions.)
C. Levels of Service
at Critical Points
Based on the results obtained
in the previous section, determine the levels of service (A through
F).
Chapter
4. Trip Generation
Present and diagram the amount
of traffic generated by the site for daily and three peak hour conditions
(a.m., lunch, p.m.) In addition, those trips that result from "passerby
trips" must be calculated based on a factor to be provided by the
High Point Department of Transportation. Trip generation rates to be used
should be those presented in the current edition of, Trip Generation,
Institute of Transportation Engineers. Deviation from these rates must
be justified and documented to the satisfaction of the Director of Transportation.
Chapter
5. Trip Distribution
Present and diagram the direction
of approach for site-generated traffic for the appropriate time periods.
The basic method and assumptions used must be clearly stated so that the
city staff can replicate these results.
Chapter
6. Traffic Assignment
Describe the utilization of
study area roadways by site-generated traffic. Combine the proposed traffic
volumes with the anticipated traffic volumes from chapter 3 to describe
and diagram mainline and turning movement volumes for future conditions
with the site developed as proposed. Clearly state the basic method and
assumptions used.
Chapter
7. Analysis of Future Conditions with Development
A. Future Daily and
Peak Hour(s) Traffic Volumes
Present and diagram mainline
and turning movement volumes for the highway network in the study area,
as well as driveways and internal circulation roadways for the 24-hour
and peak hour periods.
B. Capacity Analysis
at Critical Points
Perform a capacity analysis
for all peak hours for future conditions with the site developed as
proposed using the current edition of the Highway Capacity Manual.
C. Levels of Service
at Critical Points
As a result of the capacity
analysis, compute and describe the level of service on the study area
roadway system.
Chapter
8. Recommended Improvement
In the event the analysis
indicates that unsatisfactory levels of service will occur on study area
roadways, describe the improvement proposed to remedy deficiencies. The
proposals would identify committed projects by the city and state that
were described in chapter 1 and reflected in the analysis contained in
chapters 2 and 3.
A. Proposed Recommended
Improvements
Clearly describe and diagram
the location, nature, and extent of proposed improvements to ensure
sufficient safety and roadway capacity. This section should make clear
recommendations of installation responsibility for said improvements.
Accompanying these recommendations should be a suggested time schedule
for implementation of the improvements.
B. Capacity Analysis
at Critical Points
Describe the anticipated
results of making these improvements.
C. Levels of Service
at Critical Points
As a result of the revised
capacity analysis presented in the previous section, present the levels
of service for the roadway system with improvements.
Chapter
9. Conclusion
The last chapter of the report
should be a clear, concise description of the study findings. This concluding
chapter should serve as an executive summary. |
