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Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations

Coordinating State and Local Transportation Planning

What's New

Gov. Kaine announces publication of final regulation. Read the full press release here. PDF (PDF, 36 KB)

Read the final report on the activities of the Policy Advisory Committee here. PDF (PDF, 1.8 MB)

Read the final regulation here. PDF (PDF, 144 KB)

Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations Administrative Guidelines Word (Word, 2 MB) This document has been prepared to provide guidance on the details of §15.2-2222.1 of the Code and its supporting regulations that establish the rules, procedures, and deadlines for VDOT’s review of local government comprehensive plans/plan amendments and traffic impact analyses for certain rezoning applications, site plans and subdivision plats. The "Administrative Guidelines" is subject to revision during  implementation of the regulations.

The regulations are being implemented in phases of three VDOT districts each. The Northern Virginia, Salem and Richmond districts began implementation on July 1, 2007.  Culpeper, Staunton and Fredericksburg districts began implementation on Jan. 1, 2008

Information sessions for the VDOT districts in the final implementation group – Bristol, Lynchburg and Hampton Roads – have been set for March 2008. Persons in localities, planning and the transportation and development industries should attend.  Details about those information sessions are here.

Detailed training sessions  (PDF, 22 KB) for those directly involved with the implementation of the regulations are scheduled for the Bristol, Lynchburg and Hampton Roads districts. The sessions were previously held in the other six VDOT districts. Implementation begins on July 1, 2008.

Next Steps

The Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT’s) phased implementation plan includes extensive educational and outreach opportunities for local and private-sector stakeholders. During the implementation process, VDOT will continue to consult with the Policy Advisory Committee and establish a new Technical Committee, which will include local and private-sector representatives, to review the regulation and the implementation process, making adjustments as necessary. Technical Committee members  (PDF, 17 KB)

Additional information and updates will be made available on this Web site.

VDOT welcomes and encourages your comments. To comment, please click here.

VDOT Responses to Land Development Proposals

As required by the regulations, VDOT has responded to comments from localities. Those responses are below.

Contacts for VDOT residencies implementing Chapter 527 now are here.

PDFs

Falls Church Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Henrico County BJ's Wholesale Club (First submission)

Henrico County BJ's Wholesale Club (Second submission)

Henrico County Tree Hill

Manassas Comprehensive Plan (Bike/pedestrian system)

Botetourt County Orchard Marketplace

Bedford County Harmony


Background

Chapter 527 of the 2006 Acts of Assembly added § 15.2-2222.1 to the Code of Virginia. The amendment establishes procedures by which localities submit proposals that will affect the state-controlled transportation network to the VDOT for review and comment. The chapter also directs VDOT to promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of the statute.

The statute intends to improve how land-use and transportation-planning decisions are coordinated throughout Virginia by establishing standardized methodologies (definitions, analytical methods, etc.), procedures for analyzing transportation impacts and providing that information to citizens and policymakers.

Purpose

Specifically, the proposed Administrative Process Act (APA)-exempt regulation, Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations (24 VAC 30-155), sets forth procedures and requirements governing VDOT’s review of and submission of comments regarding comprehensive plans and amendments to comprehensive plans, rezoning proposals, and subdivision plats, site plans and plans of development and the accompanying traffic impact analyses.

The regulation also identifies when those documents must be submitted, and the documents and information that must be submitted to VDOT to facilitate the required review and submission of comments. The regulation also establishes the scope and nature of the review and a schedule of fees to be paid upon submission of a proposal to VDOT for review.

This regulation will provide additional information to assist policymakers and the public in planning, land-use and transportation decisions that promote enhanced quality of life for all Virginians.

The regulation includes standards for when traffic impact analyses must be submitted to VDOT for different types of development proposals as well as what must be contained in the analyses.


More Information


The draft regulation was developed with a Technical Advisory Committee and a Policy Advisory Committee, including representatives from local governments and other stakeholder groups, convened by the Secretary of Transportation.  As indicated to the Policy Advisory Committee, in particular the Department anticipated the bicycle, pedestrian and transit aspects of the regulation to undergo thorough review and possible revision. 

Though exempt from the APA, VDOT published the draft regulation to solicit input as the regulation is finalized. VDOT collected and considered comments on all aspects of the regulation.

A public hearing to discuss the regulation was held on Monday, Sept. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in VDOT’s Central Office Auditorium at 1221 E. Broad Street, Richmond.

Chapter 527 also requires that VDOT submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by Dec. 1, 2006, identifying the costs of conducting the reviews required by the chapter and recommending a reasonable fee schedule for such reviews. The fee schedule proposed in the draft regulation was intended to provide a basic framework upon which to solicit comment. The final fee structure is informed by the cost report. 

A presentation was made to the Commonwealth Transportation Board at its Dec. 14, 2006 workshop. 

Forms/Checklist

Note: All forms are less than 200KB in size and are in In Microsoft Word unless otherwise noted.



Page last modified: Saturday, May 10, 2008