A. Traffic impact studies are required for certain activities, to enable the Borough to assess the effect on the transportation system in and around the Borough and to:
(1) Ensure that proposed uses do not adversely affect the transportation network.
(2) Identify any traffic problems associated with site access.
(3) Determine traffic problems on private, Borough, county or state roads in the project traffic study area.
(4) Assist in the protection of the safety of the motoring public, air quality, and energy conservation.
B. TIS requirement.
(1) Thresholds. A TIS shall be required for all subdivisions and land developments that, at buildout, are projected to generate 50 or more trip-ends per project peak hour or 500 trip-ends or more per day based on the latest edition of Trip Generation published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. A TIS shall also be required for additions to a use, changes of use and replacements of nonconforming uses that increase the total traffic (i.e., existing plus new traffic) above the peak hour or daily thresholds.
(2) Other projects. The Council may also, based on the recommendation of the Planning Commission and information supplied in a site plan or permit application, make a finding that there are potential traffic issues due to the nature of the specific business or site. The finding shall specifically set forth the basis of the Council's concerns and the specific issues involved. A TIS may be required in such instances to address those specific traffic issues even though the total traffic is less than the specified thresholds. The scope of such a TIS shall, however, be confined to such issues.
C. Professional requirements. The TIS shall be prepared by a registered professional traffic engineer or transportation planner with verifiable experience in preparing such studies.
D. Study methodology and area.
(1) Methodology. The TIS shall be in accord with the Institute of Transportation Engineers' recommended methodology and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation guidelines.
(2) Study area. The study area for the traffic study shall be based on engineering criteria and an understanding of existing traffic conditions at the site. It shall represent that area likely to be affected by the development, where highway users are likely to experience a change in the existing level of service. The study limits shall be initially agreed upon by the developer, his engineer and the Borough's Engineer. The study area shall be specifically subject to the approval of the Council with the advice of the Borough Engineer and/or a qualified traffic engineer.
E. Study contents. The TIS shall contain the following elements:
(1) The study area boundary and identification of the roadways included within the study area.
(2) A general site description, including:
(a) Size, location, existing and proposed land uses and dwelling types, construction staging, and completion date for the proposed project.
(b) Existing land uses, approved and recorded subdivision and land developments, and subdivisions and land developments proposed but not yet approved and recorded in the study area that are agreed upon by the developer, his traffic engineer, and the Borough's Engineer as having bearing on the development's likely impact.
(c) Within the study area, a description of existing roadways and intersections (geometrics and traffic signal control) as well as improvements contemplated by government agencies or private parties.
(3) An analysis of existing conditions, including:
(a) Daily and peak hour(s) traffic volumes. Schematic diagrams depicting daily and peak hour(s) traffic volumes shall be presented for roadways within the study area. Turning movement and main-line volumes shall be presented for the three peak-hour conditions (a.m., p.m. and site generated). However, only main-line volumes are required to reflect daily traffic volumes. The source and/or method of computation for all traffic volumes shall be included.
(b) Volume/capacity analyses at critical points. Utilizing techniques described in the Highway Capacity Manual Transportation Research Board Special Report 209 (1985 or latest edition) or derivative monographs, an assessment of the relative balance between roadway volumes and capacity are to be described. The analysis shall be performed for existing conditions (roadway geometry and traffic signal control) for the appropriate peak hours.
(c) Level of service at critical points. Based on the results obtained in the previous subsection, levels of service (A through F) shall be computed and presented, along with a description of typical operating conditions at each level of service.
(d) Accident locations. A tabulation of accident locations during the most recent three-year period.
(4) An analysis of future conditions without the proposed development. The future year(s) for which projections are made will be specified by the Borough and will be dependent on the timing of the proposed development. The following information shall be included:
(a) Daily and peak-hour(s) traffic volumes. This section shall clearly indicate the method and assumptions used to forecast future traffic volumes. Regardless of the methods and other assumptions used, no TIS shall assume less than two-percent-per-year growth in traffic levels without the proposed development unless there are particular limitations applicable to a given highway that prevent such growth from being realized (e.g., a dead-end road with no room for further development). Schematic diagrams depicting projected future daily and peak-hour(s) traffic volumes shall be presented for the roadways within the study area. Projected turning movement and main-line volumes shall be presented for the three peak-hour conditions (a.m., p.m. and site generated). The source and/or method of computation for all projected traffic volumes shall be included.
(b) Volume/capacity analyses at critical locations. The ability of the existing roadway system to accommodate future traffic (without site development) shall be described in this section. If roadway improvements or modifications are committed for implementation, the volume/capacity analysis shall be presented for these conditions.
(c) Levels of service at critical points. Based on the results obtained in the previous subsection, levels of service (A through F) shall be determined.
(5) Trip generation. The amount of traffic generated by the site shall be presented in this section for daily and the three peak-hour conditions (a.m., p.m. and site generated). The trip-generation rates used in this phase of the analysis shall be justified and documented to the satisfaction of the Council. Trip Generation (latest edition) published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers shall be used unless the Council approves other studies.
(6) Trip distribution. The direction of approach for site-generated traffic shall be presented in this section for the appropriate time periods. As with all technical analysis steps, the basic method and assumptions used in this work shall be clearly stated in order that the Borough can replicate these results.
(7) Traffic assignment. This section shall describe the utilization of study-area roadways by site-generated traffic. The proposed traffic volumes shall then be combined with the projected future traffic volumes without the project to describe main-line and turning movement volumes for future conditions with the site developed as the applicant proposed.
(8) Analysis of future conditions with development. This section shall describe the adequacy of the roadway system to accommodate future traffic with development of the site. Any unique characteristics of the site or within the study (i.e., holiday shopping) affecting traffic shall be considered. If staging of the proposed development is anticipated, analysis for each stage of completion shall be made. The following information shall be included:
(a) Daily and peak-hour(s) traffic volumes. Main-line and turning-movement volumes shall be presented for the highway network in the study area as well as driveways for the appropriate time periods.
(b) Volume/capacity analysis at critical points. A volume/capacity analysis comparable to those required above for existing conditions and projected future conditions without the project shall be performed for the appropriate peak hours for future conditions with the site developed as proposed.
(c) Levels of service at critical points. As a result of the volume/capacity analysis, the level of service on the study-area roadway system shall be computed and described in this section.
(9) Recommended improvements. If the analysis indicates that unsatisfactory levels of service (levels of service D, E or F) as described in Highway Capacity Manual (Transportation Research Board Special Report 209, 1985 or latest edition) will occur on study-area roadways, a description of proposed improvements to remedy deficiencies shall be included in this section. Such proposals shall not include committed projects by the Borough and state that have been described and analyzed as required above. The following information shall be included:
(a) Proposed recommended improvements. Describe the location, nature and extent of proposed improvements to assure sufficient roadway capacity. Accompanying this list of improvements shall be preliminary cost estimates.
(b) Signs. Specific recommendations shall be included for the placement of traffic control signs (e.g., stop signs, speed limit signs, no parking signs, etc.) conforming to state and Borough regulations.
(c) Volume/capacity analysis at critical points. Another iteration of the volume/capacity analysis shall be described which demonstrates the anticipated results of making these improvements.
(d) Levels of service at critical points. As a result of the revised volume/capacity analysis presented in the previous subsection, levels of service for the highway system with improvements shall be presented.
(10) Conclusion. The last section of the report shall include a clear, concise description of the study findings.
(11) Implementation. All traffic improvements or improved levels of service shall be incorporated into the subdivision plan and/or land development plan and implemented and installed at the applicant's expense as permitted by law.
