Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations
Regulations Revised According to 2011 General Assembly Legislation
Chapter 870 of the 2011 Acts of Assembly directed VDOT to review and adopt appropriate revisions to the regulations. Multiple methods were used to collect public input on the regulations. Key revisions include:
- The trip generation threshold requiring the submittal of a rezoning proposal to VDOT is increased from 100 peak hour trips for residential and 2,500 daily trips for other land uses to a new 5,000 vehicle trips per day threshold for all land uses. The low-volume road threshold for residential developments is increased from 200 VPD to 400 VPD.
- A rezoning applicant will be able to submit a traffic impact analysis study prepared according to locality requirements that are certified by VDOT as meeting acceptable standards of professional practice.
The 2011 General Assembly amended §15.2-2222.1 of the Code to require VDOT’s review of a rezoning to be more limited in nature and scope if the rezoning is consistent with a locality’s comprehensive plan that has been reviewed pursuant to the regulations. The regulations were revised to conform to State law.
The General Assembly repealed subsection C of §15.2-2222.1 that required local submittal of certain site plans, subdivision plats, and plans of development to VDOT for review. The provisions in the regulations that applied to these land development documents were deleted.
All these changes to the regulations become effective December 31, 2011.
PDF's 
- Summary of Chapter 870 Revisions
- Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations 24 VAC 30-155 (Changes Noted)
- Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations 24 VAC 30-155
- Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations Administrative Guidelines This document provides details on the regulations including the rules, procedures, and deadlines for VDOT’s review of locality comprehensive plans/plan amendments and traffic impact analyses for certain rezoning applications.
Alternative Trip Generation Methodology for Mixed Use Developments
The Mixed Use Trip Generation Model V 4.0 methodology is available as an alternative for conducting trip generation studies associated with traffic impact statements for small area plans and for mixed use development.
- The Mixed Use Trip Generation Model Spreadsheet
- Additional Instructions on Use of the Spreadsheet
- Background on the Development of the Model
- Resources on Mixed Use Development Trip Generation
Background on the Regulations: Evaluating the Effects of Land Use on State Highways
Roads are a critical public resource and constitute a major investment of the public’s money. Traffic impacts caused by new development – a reduction in the traffic carrying capacity of the highways, more crashes and traffic congestion – can be very costly for state and local governments, as well as the broader community.
Chapter 527 of the 2006 Acts of Assembly added § 15.2-2222.1 to the Code of Virginia. The legislation requires localities to submit comprehensive plans, amendments to comprehensive plans, and traffic impact analyses on rezoning proposals that will substantially affect transportation on state highways to VDOT for review and comment. It 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
The Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations identifies the documents and information that must be submitted to VDOT to facilitate the required review and submission of advisory comments to the locality about the impacts on the transportation system and recommended improvements to lessen or negate the impacts. The regulation also establishes the scope of the review and a schedule of fees to be paid to VDOT to help cover its cost for the review.
This regulation provides additional information to assist policymakers and the public in planning and land-use and transportation decisions that promote enhanced quality of life for all Virginians.
Forms/Checklists
Note: All forms are less than 200 KB in size and are Microsoft Word documents unless otherwise noted.
- Pre-scope form (to be submitted by applicant prior to scoping meeting)
- Comprehensive plan submission checklist
- Rezoning submission checklist
- Rezoning small area submission checklist
- Traffic Impact Analysis checklist
- Traffic Impact Analysis low-volume road checklist
- Chapter 527 submission cover sheet (MS Word form)
- Chapter 527 submission cover sheet (paper form)
Web Site Data Base System for Traffic Impact Analysis Submissions to VDOT
VDOT’s LandTrack system offers transportation related information on development proposals submitted to VDOT for review and comment.
The public can examine traffic impact analysis studies and read VDOT’s comments on the impact a development will have on state highways in the community.
