(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to ensure that applicants for new construction, , major subdivisions, additions and/or expansions to existing , and/or changes of use consider and mitigate the impact of the on the existing and/or proposed roadway system. A traffic impact analysis (TIA) will ensure that the transportation network has adequate capacity to handle projected transportation demand associated with the project, identify problems with the transportation system, delineate solutions to identified problems, and identify improvements to be incorporated into the proposed .
(B) Traffic impact analysis required. All proposals and applications for new construction, redevelopment, , additions and/or expansions to existing or sites, major subdivisions, changes of use, and/or any other proposed which will result in peak hour vehicle trips equal to or greater than 75 peak hour trips or which will result in daily vehicle trips equal to or greater than 750 daily trips using trip generation rates from the most recent edition of the Trip Generation Manual published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers include an analysis of the traffic to be generated with a TIA. The traffic impact analysis (TIA) be submitted to staff with the application or subdivision application. In addition to the foregoing, the Zoning Administrator have the discretion to require a TIA when a development's expected traffic will substantially affect an intersection or roadway segment already identified as operating at a failing level of service, when a
may create a hazard to public safety, or when a
will substantially change the off-site transportation system or connections to it. Notwithstanding the above a TIA
not be required if the
to be developed has been the subject of a TIA within the previous 3
and the projected trip generation of the newly proposed
is equal to or less than the previous TIA performed and the trip distribution has not significantly changed.
(C) Traffic impact analysis submission guidelines.
(1) Any TIA, whether required or voluntary, must be prepared by a licensed North Carolina engineer and submitted as part of a
and/or subdivision application. Prior to conducting the TIA, the developer and/or engineer that will be conducting the TIA must meet with town staff and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to identify certain assumptions and scope that
be addressed in the TIA, including but not limited to establishing the study area, the trip distribution, the traffic counts to be utilized, approved
in the area, additional hours of analysis (other than A.M. or P.M. peak). and resolve any other questions specific to the site.
(2) An executive summary
be provided in the TIA outlining the following: a) detailed description of the proposed
; b) number of access points proposed and studied; c) existing and future Level of Service (LOS) for studied intersections and
segments including the LOS at the time of build-out; d) existing traffic counts for
(s) and intersection(s) studied and dates/times counts were conducted; e) A.M. and P.M. peak hour vehicle trips for pre-
and post-
conditions; f) average daily vehicle trips for pre-
and post-
conditions; g) existing traffic accident counts; h) any recommended improvements.
(3) The TIA
address the following: a) proposed land use; b) site access and site distances at all proposed access points; c) impacts on the transportation system from the proposed
; d) physical improvements or enforceable management strategies to mitigate negative impacts.
(4) The TIA
take into consideration proposed and planned NCDOT roadway improvement projects and
roadway and pedestrian/bicycle transportation projects.
(5) The TIA
identify the improvements necessary to maintain level of service (LOS) D for
and intersections as defined in the Highway Capacity Manual.
(6) The TIA
conduct a pedestrian and bicycle analysis. Continuity and adequacy of pedestrian and bicycle facilities
be provided to the nearest attraction (existing or planned) within ¼ mile of the boundary of the
site. Destinations of significance include public transportation stops, schools, parks, activity centers, major bicycle facilities and corridors, and high-density population centers.
(7) When calculating vehicle counts for commercial and industrial
where the projected traffic primarily consists of trucks, tractor trailers, and other large commercial vehicles, the following formula
be used to equate truck trips to regular passenger vehicle trips. A passenger car equivalent (PCE)
be provided in addition to truck traffic counts. Truck trips
be converted to passenger vehicle trips using a 2.0 PCE factor for two-axle trucks, 2.5 PCE factor for 3-axle trucks, and 3.0 PCE factor for 4-axle trucks and larger trucks. The PCE
be used to determine if a TIA is required for
primarily expected to generate truck traffic.
(8) The
may require special/specific analysis in the TIA relative to the proposed
.
(D) Improvements required. In those cases where the or the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) requires improvements to be constructed in order to accommodate additional traffic generated by the proposed , the improvements be funded and/or constructed by the developer in accordance with the standards and direction provided by the or the NCDOT. The improvements be complete and in place prior to issuance of any certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion/compliance required for any phase or portion of the project. The may require additional mitigation, onsite improvements, and/or offsite improvements provided the improvements are acceptable by NCDOT. However, a TIA not be utilized as a means for the to require the developer to make needed transportation improvements remote from and not affected by the for which the TIA is submitted.
(1) Left turn lane, right turn lane, acceleration/deceleration lanes, and/or right turn taper. Improvements may be required based on requirements of the NCDOT Policy on and Driveway Access to North Carolina Highways or other NCDOT standards.
(2) Additional right-of-way. If a proposed falls along a projected to be widened or improved by NCDOT or an adopted town plan, additional right-of-way along the frontage be dedicated as deemed acceptable by NCDOT.
(3) Offsite improvements. If a segment or intersection is currently performing at LOS D or better and is projected to perform at LOS E or F at the time of build-out of the proposed , improvements must be made to maintain the segment or intersection at LOS D. If a segment or intersection is currently performing at LOS E or F and is projected to continue to perform at the same LOS (E or F) at the time of build-out of the proposed , the TIA demonstrate how an LOS D could be achieved and also specify what improvements must be made to ensure that the segment or intersection LOS is not degraded any further than the current levels. The town may require improvements be made to preserve the existing LOS.
(4) Other necessary improvements. Additional improvements may be required based on the TIA recommendations related to topographic/environmental conditions, sight distance, offsets, conflicting movements, existing traffic accident counts, circulation, and other potential traffic issues resulting from the proposed . Additionally, the may require additional improvements deemed necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of the town's citizens and transportation network users.
(Ord. 2018-02, passed 2-8-2018; Am. Ord. 2021-06, passed 4-22-2021; Am. Ord. 2022-16, passed 9-8-2022)