For any major subdivision or land development
plan, the developer shall submit a feasibility report concerning the
availability and/or adaptability of water facilities for the proposed
land development. Said report shall be prepared by a professional
engineer and be submitted in conjunction with the preliminary plan
or land development plan for review by the Borough, the water company
and the local office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection. The feasibility report shall consist of an examination
of the proposed system(s) capacity and usage requirements, detailed
drawings of all proposed facilities, and the impact of such system(s)
on the existing public water supply system.
[Added 4-4-2006 by Ord. No. 2-2006]
A. A traffic impact study or an assessment of traffic
impact is required for all subdivisions/land developments which will
generate 250 average daily vehicle trips or more per day.
B. Borough staff, including the Borough Engineer, shall
hold “pre-study” meetings with the developer/developer's
engineer to review the proposed development and its potential impact
on the surrounding area. At this time, a mutual agreement shall be
made by the Borough and the developer on the following study elements:
type and intensity of development; number and length/area of new roads,
access drives, internal “ring” roads, internal access
points and parking accommodations; location of site access points;
limit of the study area; any capacity, safety, or access problems
previously documented for the existing roadways within the study area;
anticipated completion of the development (i.e., project horizon);
and the peak hour of the development.
(1) During this phase of the study process, Borough staff
may require the developer to conduct such a study for residential
developments which will generate less than 250 vehicle trips per day
if it is determined by the staff that there are severe capacity, safety,
or access deficiencies on the roadways within the study area.
(2) As a result of the review of the proposed development,
Borough staff may determine that not all of the traffic impact study
elements need to be addressed. In this case, an abbreviated version,
known as an “assessment of traffic impact,” may be conducted.
Such analysis, in the form of an executive summary, may be submitted
to the Borough as a form letter or technical memorandum. All study
element requirements waived by the Borough must be documented in the
summary.
C. Study elements.
(1) Report letter.
(a)
A brief overview of the development project
shall be provided.
(b)
The developer, the developer's engineer and
any other parties involved in the preparation of the traffic impact
study shall be mentioned in this letter.
(c)
Summarize key findings and recommendations of
the study.
(d)
This letter shall serve as the executive summary
of the study.
(2) Introduction/overview of the proposed development.
(a)
The following information shall be provided
in this section: characteristics of the development site; the type
and intensity of the development; number and length/area of new roads,
access drives, internal “ring” roads, internal access
points, and parking accommodations; location of site access points
onto existing roads; and construction staging (if applicable).
(b)
Also, the geographical limits of the study area,
along with a description of any features and landmarks, shall be provided.
(3) Base or existing traffic conditions.
(a)
Provide a description of each existing road
and intersection within the study area, to include right-of-way/cartway
width, posted speed limits, pavement condition, and current daily
traffic volume count [annual average daily traffic (AADT)]. AADT counts
for state roads can be obtained from the most current edition of the
PennDOT Roadway Management Information System (RMS) Report.
(b)
Intersection turning movement counts at all
site access points and key road intersections shall be conducted during
peak hours. The counts shall be provided on an intersection schematic
diagram. Depending on the complexity of the development, Borough officials
shall determine the number and the length of the peak hour periods
to conduct counts at the “pre-meeting.”
(c)
List all highway improvements that are guaranteed
by either the Borough or PennDOT for implementation by the “project
horizon” year.
(d)
Inventory existing public or private transportation
services available within one mile of the site (if applicable).
(e)
Conduct capacity analysis and determine levels
of service on the study area's roadways, intersections, as well as
the site's access points and internal circulation (if applicable)
of the site. The analysis shall utilize the techniques described in
the most current edition of the Highway Capacity Manual, Special Report
209.
(f)
Conduct gap or queen studies (if applicable)
for unsignalized and signalized intersections, respectively.
(g)
Examine the frequency of intersection and mid-block
accidents and identify hazardous locations. Specifically, conduct
an inventory of accidents over a three-year period. Identify accident
clustering.
(4) Background traffic growth/future traffic conditions
without development:
(a)
Determine the anticipated rate of growth per
year for the study area without the proposed development. The method
used to determine the growth rate must be approved by the Borough.
Information sources which may be used to calculate the growth rate
are previous regional transportation planning studies, traffic studies
done for planned or recently constructed developments within the study
area, the York County Comprehensive Plan, and population trend information
available through the York County Planning Commission.
(b)
Borough officials will determine the “project
horizon” year for the proposed development. Smaller, single-use
development may require a five-year horizon, while larger, more complex
developments which require extensive construction require longer project
horizons (5-20 years).
(c)
Calculate future “no-build” and
peak-hour volumes for roads and intersections within the study area.
Prepare intersection schematic diagrams with the calculated volumes.
(d)
Conduct capacity analysis to determine level of service (LOS) at critical locations. The analysis should take into consideration any guaranteed road improvements as mentioned in Subsection
C(3)(c) of this section.
(5) Analysis of future conditions with the proposed development.
(a)
Trip generation.
[1]
Estimate the total number of vehicle trips to
be generated by the site using the following trip-generation sources:
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual,
most current edition; ITE Transportation and Land Development Manual,
most current edition; or another trip-generation source approved by
either PennDOT or the Borough Engineer. All sources used to aid in
the calculation of trip generation must be referenced in the study.
[2]
For commercial (e.g., retail) uses, if the calculation
for either “pass-by” or diverted link trips is required,
the estimates must be justified in the report, based upon the ITE
Trip Generation Manual.
(b)
Trip distribution.
[1]
Determine the directional characteristics of
the site traffic flow using one of the following methods: existing
traffic or planning studies conducted in or in proximity to the study
area, proportion of volumes on the existing roadways that abut the
site, professional experience, or travel-demand forecasting techniques
(e.g., TransCAD Computer Model). The sources of information used to
calculate trip distribution shall be provided in the study.
[2]
For larger developments with proposed parking
facilities, the distribution of traffic flow shall be calculated for
access drives, internal “ring” roads, and internal reservoir
access points, as well as the parking facilities themselves. Potential
pedestrian circulation shall be treated in the same manner.
(c)
Trip assignment.
[1]
Assign vehicle trips to the mainline and turning movement volumes for future conditions within the development. Acceptable sources which can be used to assign the site-generated traffic are the same as mentioned in Subsection
C(5)(a)[1] of this section. The assignment methodology and the information sources shall be documented in the study text.
[2]
Trip assignments shall be made for applicable
internal vehicle and pedestrian movements.
(d)
Peak-hour volumes.
[1]
As a result of the above calculations, provide
mainline and turning movement counts for all site access points and
the existing roadway network within the study area. Internal vehicular
and pedestrian volumes, if applicable, shall also be provided. Schematic
diagrams showing these volumes shall be provided in the study text.
(e)
Capacity/level of service (LOS) analysis.
[1]
Perform capacity analysis and determine levels of service on the study area roadways and intersections for future traffic conditions with development. The analysis shall include the guaranteed improvements included in the analysis for the future scenario without development (see Subsection
C(4)(d). Compare the LOS results between future “build” and future “no-build” scenarios.
[2]
The Borough shall consider a course of corrective
action if the projected generation of vehicle trips from a development
decreases the LOS of the existing mainline or turning movements to
“E” or less.
(6) Transportation and development improvements.
(a)
If deficiencies are evident on the study area
roadways and at critical intersections, the developer or the developer's
engineer shall consult with the Borough to develop improvements to
remedy these deficiencies. A description, including cost and probable
funding of these improvements, accompanied with schematic layouts,
shall be provided in the text.
(b)
The same procedure shall be followed if deficiencies
or potential hazards are evident for internal traffic and pedestrian
circulation.
(c)
Examine the possibility of initiating or expanding
transit (public or private) service and transportation demand management
(TDM) programs (e.g., ride-sharing) within the study area. This effort
shall be coordinated with the Borough, the York County Transportation
Authority or an appropriate private transportation provider, and/or
the York County Planning Commission.
(d)
Capacity/level of service (LOS) analysis.
[1]
Test the proposed improvements for the improvement
in LOS for mainline and turning movements. The goal of this exercise
is to ensure that the roadway or intersection operates at an LOS no
worse than existing conditions. The guaranteed improvement tested
in the future scenario without development will be included in the
analysis in addition to the proposed improvements.
[2]
Test the traffic-mitigation benefits of transit and TDM improvement scenarios in addition to the improvements mentioned in Subsection
C(6)(d)[1] of this section, if applicable.