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Traffic Impact Studies
A traffic study is required when a proposed development project has a potential to create a significant transportation-related environmental impact or a detriment to public safety. A traffic study provides the following information:
- Identifies potentially significant traffic impacts (as part of the project's environmental impact report)
- Identifies possible mitigation measures for those impacts.
- Identifies and evaluates any changes to the circulation network proposed by a development.
- Evaluates how the project elements will affect traffic operations, in context of site design, driveway locations, turn movements permitted to and from the project site, locations of nearby traffic signals, and potential to create unsafe traffic conditions.
Traffic study results are also used to identify and assist in the design of specific transportation improvements like roadway and intersection design required with a project. These improvement requirements are incorporated into the conditions of project approval.
When is a Traffic Study Required?
When any of the below criteria is met, a traffic study is conducted:
- The project will generate more than 100 new trips during the peak traffic hours of the adjacent roadways (AM, PM, or Midday).
- The project will generate more than 50 new peak hour trips, and if a transportation facility (i.e., a roadway and/or intersection) located on a main access route to the site is currently operating at an unacceptable Level of Service. (The City General Plan established LOS C as acceptable.)
- The project may have a potential to create a hazard to public safety.
- The project could substantially change the off-site transportation system (including facilities for vehicles, buses, light rail, pedestrians, bikes, etc.) or connections to it.
The final determination regarding the need for traffic study is based on the potential for creating significant traffic and circulation related impacts together with the above-mentioned aspects.
