[Added 4-3-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-3; amended 11-4-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-03]
A traffic impact study shall enable the Township to assess the likely traffic impact of a proposed development on the various components of the transportation system. The requirements of this article are separate from, but function together with, the Act 209 (Transportation Impact Fee) Ordinance and Transportation Capital Improvement Program adopted by the Township. The study shall:
A. 
Address the safe and efficient circulation of vehicles and pedestrians on the site;
B. 
Identify the impacts of traffic generated by development at the site's accesses to public roads within the Township;
C. 
Provide appropriate mitigation for safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians on a site and at a site's access to public roads within the Township; and
D. 
Identify the impact of the development on the surrounding roadway network in order to ensure that the necessary improvements are made to the surrounding roadway network, which shall be at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
Traffic impact studies shall be required, as established by this article, for all preliminary subdivision and land development applications when a residential land development is projected to yield 25 or more new building lots or when land development is projected to generate 200 new ADT (average daily trips), or 20 or more new peak-hour trips, as established in the most recent edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) publication, Trip Generation Manual.
B. 
Separate applicability standards may be established, as applicable, in the Township Zoning Ordinance related to conditional uses, special exceptions, or any request for rezoning.
The Board of Supervisors may waive the requirements of a traffic impact study based on the unique circumstances of a project and/or the advice of the Township Engineer and/or Traffic Engineer.
When two or more developments are located in the same influence area, the Board of Supervisors may request a joint traffic study. The cost of the joint study shall be shared among the applicants, and the study will include a fair-share cost estimate of any recommended off-site roadway and/or intersection improvements, as well as an assessment of each development's access(es).
The traffic impact study shall be prepared under the supervision of a professional engineer with previous traffic study experience in the preparation of traffic impact studies. The professional engineer must be currently registered in the State of Pennsylvania, and preferably possess a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer certificate. All studies must be signed and sealed by the selected professional engineer.
The developer shall reimburse the Township for reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Township to review any traffic impact study and/or plans related to the proposed development when submitted as part of a land development application, conditional use application, special exception application, or other request for zoning.
The traffic impact study shall be submitted to the Township as part of the preliminary subdivision and land development application. The submission of the preliminary subdivision and/or land development plan application shall be deemed incomplete if the required traffic impact study is not included with the submission. Similarly, if required as part of a zoning application, the traffic impact study shall also be submitted and the application deemed incomplete if the required traffic study is not included in the submission.
The following terms or phrases shall have the meanings indicated when used in this article:
ACT 209 TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE TERMS
The Act 209 Transportation Impact Fee Ordinance has requirements separate from, but related to, the requirements of this article. This article references the following specific elements of the Act 209 Ordinance:
A. 
LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS REPORTThe current adopted development plan for the transportation service area(s) which forms the basis of the transportation impact fee(s).
B. 
TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANThe current adopted transportation capital improvement program of the Township, containing both future nondevelopment and development capital improvements identified in the Township's Roadway Sufficiency Analysis Report.
C. 
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE(S)The current adopted fee(s) imposed by the Township in each transportation service area, based upon new trips generated by the development during the weekday afternoon peak hour, to fund transportation capital improvements necessitated by, and attributable to, new development, which are specifically identified in the Township's Transportation Capital Improvement Plan.
LEVELS OF SERVICE
As defined by the Highway Capacity Manual, levels of service, ranging from A to F, measures the operational conditions within a traffic stream in terms of such factors as speed, travel time, delay, freedom to maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort, and convenience.
MAJOR INTERSECTIONS
All combinations of intersections of state highway with state highway, or with Township roadways classified as collector roads or higher.
MAJOR ROADWAYS
All designated state highways within the Township, plus Township roadways, with the classification of collector road or higher.
NEW TRIPS
Two-way trips added to the roadway network surrounding the site. New trips are calculated as total trips generated by the development net of pass-by trips (trips already on the roadway network) to the development.
QUEUE ANALYSIS
An analysis that identifies the maximum stacking of vehicles in each traffic lane, measured in feet. The analysis shall utilize a methodology acceptable to the Township and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
STUDY AREA
The study area shall be the area of land, and specific roadways and intersections, within the Township that are likely to be affected by the development (from a traffic standpoint) in the reasonable opinion of the Township.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AREA(S)
Geographically defined portions of the Township, not exceeding seven square miles in area.
TRIP GENERATION
The total count of trips to and from the subject development per unit of land use (e.g., dwelling unit, square footage, etc.) as established by the most recent edition of ITE's Trip Generation Manual. For land uses not listed in this publication, or for those land uses with limited available trip generation data, the selected consultant preparing the study shall seek guidance from the Township prior to completion of the study. For applications involving an expansion or relocation of an existing facility, actual trip generation characteristics of the existing land use may be utilized, as appropriate, and subject to acceptance by the Township. Other local sources of trip generation data may be acceptable, subject to the approval of the Township.
VOLUME/CAPACITY ANALYSIS
An analysis that compares the volume of a traffic facility to its capacity. The methodology for the analysis shall adhere to the most recent edition of the Highway Capacity Manual, or other methodology acceptable to the Township and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
Prior to the initiation of the traffic study, the applicant shall receive approval of the scope of the study area from the Township. As part of the scoping request, the applicant shall provide a preliminary trip generation table for the proposed study peak hours along with a map illustrating the proposed study intersections for inclusion. The minimum requirements of the scope of the traffic study area potentially affected by the proposed development (inclusive of specific roadways and intersections) are as follows:
A. 
Development driveways (accesses). All existing and proposed driveways (accesses) for the development intersecting public Township and PennDOT roadways, plus adjacent roadways, intersections, and driveways, on adjacent properties, which may be directly affected by vehicular and pedestrian traffic from the development.
B. 
Expansion of the study area is required for the following conditions:
(1) 
Nonresidential developments with significant deviation in density, intensity, or trip generation from the Land Use Assumptions Report. If the Township determines that the applicant's development falls in this category, the scope of study area shall minimally include all major roadways and intersections within the transportation service area where the development is located, which accommodates 10% or more of development traffic.
(2) 
Any development which generates more than 1,000 new peak-hour trips. If the Township determines that the applicant's development falls in this category, the scope of study area shall include all major roadways and intersections within a one-mile radius where the development is located, but within the municipal boundaries of the Township, which will accommodate 10% or more of development traffic.
C. 
The time periods for analyses shall include the weekday morning and weekday afternoon commuter peak hours at a minimum for all development projects. For all commercial retail uses and/or other special uses, the time periods shall also include the weekday midday and/or Saturday midday peak hour, if deemed applicable by the Township.
At any time, an applicant for a proposed development may prepare and submit a traffic study to substantiate its opinion that the development's trip generation is different than that established by the Township for purposes of determining the development's transportation impact fee, in accordance with its adopted Act 209 Ordinance; or to justify allocation of its impact fee to specific projects contained in the Township's adopted Capital Improvement Plan, or to otherwise implement transportation capital improvements not contained in the adopted Capital improvement Plan. The approval by the Board of Supervisors is required for the use of any impact fees for projects not identified in the adopted Capital Improvement Plan.
Nothing in this article shall relieve the applicant, with regard to a proposed development which will access a state highway within the Township, from complying with PennDOT's Policies and Procedures for Transportation Impact Studies Related to Highway Occupancy Permits. The applicant must coordinate the scope of any traffic study required by the Township and PennDOT, so that such studies are concurrently submitted for review.
A traffic impact study shall contain, but not be limited to the following:
A. 
Executive summary. A brief (maximum two pages) executive summary shall be provided, summarizing the traffic impact study's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
B. 
Site and project description. This description shall identify the site, proposed land use(s), the surrounding area, and the transportation setting, including:
(1) 
A description of the size, location, proposed land uses, construction staging, and completion date of the proposed development. Also, the description shall include the characteristics of site users with respect to their transportation characteristics and needs, including typical peak periods of travel, use of other travel modes, and vehicle composition.
(2) 
The existing and proposed uses of the site shall be identified in terms of zoning classification.
(3) 
A complete description of access and circulation for the development, including, but not limited to, locations of access points and methods of traffic control.
(4) 
Description of the adjacent external roadway system within the study area. Major intersections in the study area shall be identified and illustrated, as applicable.
(5) 
All existing and proposed public transportation services and facilities within the study area and the surrounding area shall be documented. The nearest public transportation system shall also be identified.
(6) 
A description of all internal roadways, existing and proposed parking facilities, and traffic control devices on all internal roads and intersections shall be provided.
(7) 
A complete description of the pedestrian/bicycle environment both internal to the site, as well as within 1,000 feet of the site, measured from the boundary of the parcel, shall be documented.
(8) 
All future committed or proposed roadway and intersection improvements within the study area shall be noted. The responsible party and anticipated project schedule shall be identified for each future improvement. Projects on the Township's adopted Transportation Capital Improvement Plan should not be listed unless the Township has indicated that the improvements will be in place before the proposed build-out year of the development.
C. 
Existing traffic conditions. Existing traffic conditions shall be documented for all major roadways and intersections established as part of the approved study area, and shall be based on the following:
(1) 
Existing peak-hour turning movement traffic volumes and pedestrian count data shall be recorded at all study area intersections, and shall encompass both the peak highway and development hours. Daily traffic volumes on the major study roadways shall be documented in the report. The report shall provide figures illustrating the peak-hour turning movement traffic volumes, and documentation regarding all traffic counts, as well as any adjustments to the counts due to seasonal variations or balancing between intersections.
(2) 
A volume/capacity analysis based on existing traffic volumes shall be performed during the peak highway and development hours for all study roadways and intersections. The level-of-service results of the volume/capacity analysis shall be presented graphically.
(3) 
A summarization of the most recent crash data for a minimum of three full calendar years within the study area shall be provided, at select locations at the discretion of the Township. The applicant should contact the Township regarding this requirement, as it will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Because of confidentiality and liability issues related to the crash analysis, this information must be provided in a separate letter and cannot be referenced or included in the study.
D. 
Future conditions without the proposed development. An evaluation of the anticipated future traffic volumes, and the ability of the roadway network to accommodate area traffic without the proposed development, shall be provided for the approved study area roadways and intersections. The analysis shall be completed for each study peak hour for the development completion year (design year) and any interim years if development phases are proposed. This evaluation shall include the following:
(1) 
Peak-hour traffic volumes shall be projected for the design year(s) based on traffic growth information compiled by PennDOT, DVPRC, or the County for the Township. Projected traffic volumes shall also include anticipated traffic growth associated with other significant area proposed developments which will be completed, or partially completed, by the design year(s), or developments under construction. All assumptions and methodologies utilized to forecast the future traffic volumes shall be clearly documented. Figures shall be provided in the report illustrating the peak-hour turning movement traffic volumes for this future condition, and trip generation, distribution, and assignment assumptions shall be provided as well for other area development projects within the study area.
(2) 
A volume/capacity analysis based on future without-development traffic volumes shall be performed during the peak highway and development hours for all study roadways and intersections. The level-of-service results shall be presented graphically.
(3) 
Roadway and intersection improvements committed to implementation by others prior to the design year(s) shall be included in the future without-development analysis. The selected consultant shall seek guidance from the Township in determining the appropriateness of future roadway and intersection improvements, especially those in the Township's Transportation Capital Improvement Program.
E. 
Development trip generation. Estimates of vehicle trips generated by the proposed development shall be completed for the design year(s) peak highway and development hours, and on a daily basis. A table should be provided which clearly identifies total trips and total new trips. Pass-by trip and internalization assumptions, as applicable, should be clearly identified and discussed. All relevant calculations of these trips shall be documented. Current versions of ITE's Trip Generation Manual and Trip Generation Handbook should be utilized, if appropriate to the development's land uses. Trip generation estimates based upon alternative sources (e.g., local counts of similar uses) should be clearly documented; including reasons for their use versus use of ITE published data. If the development will be completed in phases, development trip generation should be provided by phase. Necessary improvements shall be made prior to development. However, the Township, at its discretion, may instead require necessary improvements to be provided as the phases occur to ensure impacts are addressed with each phase.
F. 
Development traffic distribution and assignment. Traffic volumes generated by the proposed development shall be distributed and assigned throughout the study area for each of the study peak hours. Documentation of all assumptions used in the distribution and assignment of traffic shall be provided.
G. 
Future conditions with the proposed development and no improvements. In order to access the magnitude of the proposed development's impact on the off-site study area intersections and roadways, as well as the site access(es), an analysis shall be completed for the design year(s) with development of the site and no improvements.
(1) 
Daily and peak hour traffic volumes shall be projected for the design year(s). Projected traffic volumes shall be calculated by adding the assigned development trip generation to the future traffic volumes with development on the study roadway and intersection network, including the site access(es). Figures shall be provided in the report illustrating the resultant peak-hour traffic volumes with the proposed development with proposed improvements, including all turning movements.
(2) 
A volume/capacity analysis based on future with-development traffic volumes with proposed improvements shall be performed during the peak highway and development hours for all study roadways and intersections including the site access(es). The level-of-service results shall be presented graphically.
(3) 
A queuing analysis (maximum or 95th percentile queues) shall be performed during the peak highway and development hours for each study intersection, including the site access(es). The results of the queuing analysis shall be presented graphically, and the available storage lengths for all existing and proposed intersection approach lanes shall be identified to determine the adequacy of these facilities to accommodate the anticipated future vehicular traffic queues.
(4) 
All movements at all site accesses shall function at Level-of-Service D or better with future with-development traffic volumes. If signalized, the intersection(s) overall shall also function at Level-of-Service D or better.
H. 
Mitigation criteria. Based on the results of the future conditions with the proposed development and no improvements, the need for mitigation improvements will then be evaluated further based upon the following criteria:
(1) 
Intersections and/or roadways involving state highways. At all state highways and intersections involving state highways, the need for mitigation will be based on PennDOT's criteria as contained in their Policies and Procedures for Transportation Impact Studies Related to Highway Occupancy Permits and shall follow PennDOT's mitigation policy.
(2) 
Township-maintained intersections and/or roadways. Improvements at study area intersections and/or roadways, other than the proposed site access(es), shall be presented for future with-development traffic volumes as noted below:
(a) 
If the future without-development conditions function at LOS D or better overall and on all individual lane groups, then the future with development conditions shall be mitigated to operate at Level-of-Service D or better overall and on all movements.
(b) 
If future without-development conditions function at Level-of-Service E overall or on any individual lane groups, then improvements shall be identified such that future with- development Level-of-Service conditions will be no worse than Level-of-Service E.
(c) 
If future without-development Level-of-Service conditions are F, future with development Level-of-Service F conditions shall have no greater volume/capacity ratios and delays than future without-development conditions.
(d) 
If the existing storage lengths or spacing between intersections is inadequate to accommodate the anticipated vehicular queue with development of the site, then appropriate mitigation measures shall be provided.
I. 
Proposed improvements. A description of improvements proposed to remedy and otherwise mitigate traffic deficiencies and traffic impacts, as established by the analyses, shall be provided as follows:
(1) 
The description of improvements shall describe their location, nature, and schedule, as well as the party responsible for the improvements. The listing of recommended improvements shall include improvements both internal and external to the site, as appropriate.
(2) 
All design recommendations shall be consistent with the design requirements of Lower Salford Township and/or the guidelines of PennDOT, as appropriate, including the following:
(a) 
Available safe-stopping sight distance measurements shall be performed for each access, and recommendations shall be provided for any access location that does not provide sufficient sight distance in accordance with the applicable requirements, which may include relocation of the proposed access, specific traffic controls, provision of separate turn lanes, roadway geometric improvements, or turning restrictions;
(b) 
The necessity for auxiliary turn lanes at each site access intersection shall be identified based on the current design guidelines of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; and
(c) 
All access points and pedestrian crossings shall be examined as to the need for, and feasibility of, installing traffic signals or other traffic control devices, pursuant to the guidelines and traffic signal warrants of PennDOT.
J. 
Future conditions with the proposed development and recommended improvements. A description of the adequacy of the study area roadways and intersections to accommodate future traffic with development of the site with proposed improvements shall be provided. The analysis shall be completed for each study peak hour for the development completion year, and any interim years, if development phases are proposed. The evaluation shall include the following for any study area intersections and/or roadways where mitigation is required:
(1) 
A volume/capacity analysis based on future with-development traffic volumes with proposed improvements shall be performed during the peak highway and development hours for all study roadways and intersections including the site access(es). The level-of-service results shall be presented graphically.
(2) 
A queuing analysis (maximum or 95th percentile queues) shall be performed during the peak highway and development hours for each study intersection, including the site access(es). The results of the queuing analysis shall be presented graphically, and the available storage lengths for all existing and proposed intersection approach lanes shall be identified to determine the adequacy of these facilities to accommodate the anticipated future vehicular traffic queues.
K. 
Conclusions and recommendations. This last report section shall include a matrix comparing levels of service on each study roadway, site access intersection, and other study intersections, if appropriate, for each of the following: existing conditions, future conditions without development, and future conditions with development, showing levels of service both without and with improvements. If the development is to be phased, all interim future conditions should be summarized. A summary of all recommended improvements should also be provided, including the party responsible for each. Appropriate summaries should be provided indicating that all future vehicular queues can be provided within existing intersection approach lane limits or with the future improvements to be provided by the applicant or others.