Borough of Narberth, PA Special Reports and Studies

Intent. A transportation impact study (TIS) is intended to enable Narberth Borough to assess the transportation impacts of a proposed development or redevelopment. Specifically, its purpose is to:

(1)

Ensure a safe and efficient transportation network for all users, including drivers of vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users.

(2)

Identify any transportation problems that may be created or exacerbated in the existing transportation system as a result of the proposed development. Identify what needs to be improved in order for the development to rely on this existing infrastructure.

(3)

Identify solutions to potential problems and to present improvements to be incorporated into the proposal or into the transportation systems within the study area.

(4)

Assist in the protection of air quality and the conservation of energy and to encourage the use of environmentally sustainable transportation modes.

(5)

Ensure that TIS submissions to the Borough are consistent with the PennDOT Publication 282, Appendix A, "Policies and Procedures for Transportation Impact Studies," current edition, as amended.

Preparation of study. The Transportation Impact Study shall be prepared by a qualified traffic engineer and/or transportation planner in accordance with PennDOT Publication 46, Traffic Engineering Manual. All costs associated with the preparation of a TIS shall be borne by the applicant. The procedures and standards for the Transportation Impact Study are set forth below. The applicant may provide funds to the Borough to enable the Borough to hire a traffic engineer of its choice to conduct the study, if this procedure is deemed appropriate and approved by the Borough.

Applicability. A transportation impact study shall be submitted as part of all subdivision, land development, and conditional use applications for all development that meets any of the following conditions:

(1)

Any development proposals that generate 40 or more trips (on any mode) during the site peak hour, or 400 or more trips (on any mode) per day, regardless of the proposed land use.

(2)

Any proposed subdivision or land development with 30 or more lots or dwelling units.

(3)

Any proposed subdivision or land development with 30,000 or more square feet of total building gross floor area on the site.

(4)

Any subdivision or land development application whose site, in the opinion of Borough Council, has a significant impact on traffic flow and safety.

(5)

A TIS may also be required for zoning map or text amendments, special exceptions, variances, and/or any other pertinent proposal, or as requested by the Borough.

Coordination. Coordination with PennDOT and/or Lower Merion Township shall occur as appropriate. If required by PennDOT, the TIS prepared in accordance with the guidelines of PennDOT as part of an application for a state Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) shall be submitted to the Borough in fulfillment of the requirement for a TIS by Narberth Borough.

Trip generation. The anticipated number of peak-hour trips and trips per day shall be determined using the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) "Trip Generation Manual," most recent edition, as amended. The proposed use or development shall be identified using the appropriate ITE land use code. The appropriate ITE land use code shall be agreed upon by the applicant and the Borough.

Municipal scoping meeting. A municipal scoping meeting may be required to ensure that the parameters used in the TIS accurately reflect municipal conditions and expectations. The applicant should confirm the need for a municipal scoping meeting prior to submission. The scoping meeting will address the number and locations of proposed access points, project schedule and phasing, number of intersections of local streets with arterial or urban collector streets, additional intersections to be included in the analysis, specific ITE trip generation land use codes, pass-by volumes, modal splits, any trip adjustments to be used, design horizon year, growth factor, and other area developments and programmed roadway improvements to be included in the future conditions analysis as well as potential opportunities to implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) activities. Agreement on all scoping parameters shall be obtained prior to initiation of the Transportation Impact Study. The municipal scoping meeting may be held in conjunction with the PennDOT scoping meeting, if applicable.

If a municipal scoping meeting is not held, the applicant shall include, at minimum, analyze the three intersections of a local street with arterial or urban collector streets that are closest to the proposed development.

Study area. The study area for a transportation impact study (TIS) shall be defined at the scoping meeting but, at a minimum, shall include all development site access locations, all intersections within 1/2 mile of all development access locations and the three closest intersections involving an arterial or urban collector roads. Additional intersections may be added per the scoping meeting. The study area should also identify all transit routes and transit stops within 1/2 mile of the proposed development and the location of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.

(1)

Proposals that will generate more than 1,000 new average daily trips shall expand the study area to include all intersections within one mile of the development access locations that involve an arterial or urban collector and all transit routes and transit stops within one mile.

(2)

All intersections identified in the study area should be examined, even if the intersections are located outside of the Borough.

(3)

Where doubt exists about what is included in the study area, the applicant's traffic engineer shall seek guidance from the Borough Engineer prior to the submission of the transportation impact study.

General requirements and standards. A transportation impact study shall contain the following information:

(1)

General site description. The site description shall include the size, location, proposed land uses, construction staging, and completion date of the proposed subdivision or land development. If the development is residential, types of dwelling units and number of bedrooms shall also be included. A brief description of other major existing and proposed land uses and developments within the study area shall be provided. The general site description shall also include probable socioeconomic characteristics of potential site users, if known, to the extent that they may affect the transportation needs of the site (i.e., number of senior citizens).

(2)

Transportation facilities description. The description shall contain a full documentation of all aspects of the proposed internal and proposed and existing external transportation system. This description shall include proposed internal vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian circulation; all proposed ingress and egress locations; all internal roadway widths and rights-of-way; roadway classifications; parking conditions; traffic channelization, traffic control and traffic calming devices; and any traffic signals or other intersection control devices at all intersections within or adjacent to the site. Data provided in the report should adequately document the following:

(a)

Traffic volume counts.

(b)

Land use context (in study area).

(c)

Sight distance and site access.

(d)

Photographs.

(e)

Pedestrian, bike, and transit facilities.

(3)

Existing conditions scenario. Full documentation shall be provided to adequately describe and evaluate transportation conditions throughout the study area including, but not limited to, peak hourly vehicle, heavy vehicle, transit vehicle, school bus, bicycle, pedestrian volume, and walking or bicycling school children; intersection turning movement counts; vehicle compliance with existing traffic controls (such as stop signs); capacity and vehicle level of service analysis; and the past five years of crash analysis.

(a)

Complete volume counts encompassing and documenting the peak traffic and peak development generated hours shall, at minimum, be required for the three intersections of a local street with arterial or urban collector streets that are closest to the proposed development.

(b)

For bicycle counts, it shall be noted whether the bicycle is riding in the cartway or on the sidewalk.

(c)

Intersection and driveway sight distances shall be measured within the study area.

(d)

A capacity analysis shall compare the actual or projected traffic volume of a roadway or intersection approach to its capacity (maximum number of vehicles that can pass a given point during a given time period). A volume/capacity (v/c) ratio results. The procedures described in the Highway Capacity Manual (Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine), latest edition, shall be followed.

(4)

Background traffic. Projections of traffic volumes at the project opening year and design horizon shall be made by applying a growth factor to existing base traffic volumes. Planned and permitted developments that will impact the study area shall be evaluated for addition to future traffic volume. Existing traffic counts to be used for traffic volume projections should not be older than five years from the current year of the study.

(5)

Traffic characteristics of the proposed development. The following characteristics of traffic generated by a proposed development shall be estimated based upon reasonable sources as agreed upon by Narberth Borough, PennDOT, and the applicant.

(a)

Trip generation. Total volume of traffic arriving at and departing from a site. This shall include projected vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle volumes, as well as transit ridership.

(b)

Modal split. The form or type of transportation used to reach or depart from a site.

(c)

Trip distribution. The arrival and departure pattern of traffic at a site.

(d)

Traffic assignment. Typical routes used to arrive at or depart from a site.

(6)

Future analysis. Future traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle volumes for the study area at the project opening year and design horizon year shall be projected in at least two scenarios: with and without the proposed development.

(7)

Vehicle level-of-service requirements. The TIS shall compare the operating LOS and delay for the design horizon year both with and without the development. An evaluation comparing the without development and with development scenarios shall be used to determine if the overall LOS has dropped. The impact of development on the level of service at all intersections within the study area shall be evaluated. This shall include the three intersections of a local street with arterial or collector streets that are closest to the proposed development. Level of service below "C" shall be considered deficient and a mitigation analysis shall be performed.

(8)

Pedestrian and bicycle facilities requirements. The TIS shall compare the provision and utilization of pedestrian and bicycle facilities for the design horizon year both with and without the development. An evaluation comparing the without development and with development scenarios shall be used to determine if an increase in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is needed. The impact of development on pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure at all intersections within the study area shall be evaluated. This shall include the three intersections of a local street with arterial or urban collector streets that are closest to the proposed development. An increase in pedestrian and bicycle trips demonstrating a need for additional pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure shall require mitigation analysis to be performed.

(9)

Mitigation analysis. If level of service requirements are not realized or if a need for additional pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is demonstrated, the study shall outline mitigation measures and demonstrate any changes to the level of service or accommodation of pedestrians and bicyclists achieved by these measures. Any alternatives or suggested phasing of improvements shall be described. The mitigation measures may include TDM strategies such as improved facilities for pedestrians, bicycles, and transit; recommendations such as sidewalk widening, traffic calming, changes in striping, turning lanes, changes to traffic controls, use of access management techniques, or a reduction in the proposed intensity of the use. Proposals for innovative transportation solutions and unconventional treatments are welcome. The responsibility and timing of all recommended roadway improvements shall be described within the transportation impact study.

(10)

Street improvements. The TIS shall include recommendations for improvements to bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and vehicle infrastructure bordering the site that will accommodate the additional trips generated by the proposed subdivision or land development; and cost estimates for the associated recommendations. In any location where signalization is considered, so too shall the addition of a roundabout or mini-roundabout be considered and studied.

(11)

Multiple phases. If the proposed subdivision or land development will occur in multiple phases, then calculations for the completion of each phase shall be provided in the TIS.

Time of submission. The transportation impact study shall be submitted to the Borough with the preliminary plan submission. Revisions to preliminary plans may constitute the need for resubmission of the transportation impact study for the revised conditions. The applicant shall coordinate the submission of plans and highway occupancy permit applications to PennDOT or Lower Merion Township with the Borough review process. An application that requires a TIS shall not be considered complete until the TIS is submitted.

Implementation. Borough Council shall review the transportation impact study to analyze its adequacy in solving any transportation problems that will occur due to the land development or subdivision. Borough Council may determine that certain improvements on and/or adjacent to the site, including those related to access or egress, are necessary requirements for land development or subdivision plan approval and may attach these as conditions to the approval. If Borough Council determines that such additional improvements are necessary, the developer shall have the opportunity to submit alternative improvement designs to obtain plan approval. When PennDOT or Lower Merion Township maintain the road upon which access from a development is sought, the Borough and applicant shall coordinate with the appropriate entity.

Emergency response organizations. The Borough shall submit all subdivision and land development plans and transportation impact studies, if required, to the Fire Department, Police Department, and any other emergency response organization having jurisdiction within the area of the proposed development for review and comment. If requested by any emergency response organization, Borough Council may require the applicant for a subdivision or land development to provide emergency signal preemption for any traffic signals located within or immediately adjacent to the development.