18.185.040 Analysis methodology.
A. All traffic analysis shall be prepared using analysis software programs following the most recent Highway Capacity Manual procedures.
B. Existing Condition. The following data shall be collected and reported:
1. An infrastructure inventory shall be conducted that addresses all travel modes (streets as well as pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities).
2. Traffic volumes shall be measured within the previous 12 months for the weekday peak traffic period. A weekend peak period analysis shall be required at the discretion of the community development director or his/her designee if weekends are the peak traffic period for either the existing street or the proposed development.
3. Existing peak hour intersection operations shall be evaluated and performance indicators including volume-to-capacity ratio and level of service shall be reported.
C. Background Condition. Analysis must include:
1. Background traffic forecasts shall be prepared for the peak hour for the buildout year of the proposed project. Background forecasts shall be based on a traffic growth rate agreed upon by the community development director or his/her designee. Trips generated by any permitted development that has not been constructed but has had a traffic impact analysis prepared shall be added to the background forecasts.
2. Background peak hour intersection operations shall be evaluated and performance indicators including volume-to-capacity ratio and level of service shall be reported.
D. Total Condition. Analysis must include:
1. Total traffic forecasts shall be provided for the peak hour for buildout year of the proposed project. Total traffic shall be calculated by adding the trips generated by the project to the background traffic forecast. Trip generation estimates for the proposed development shall be based on ITE’s Trip Generation Manual (latest published edition). The community development director or his/her designee may approve different trip generation rates when trip generation rates are not available in ITE’s Trip Generation Manual or different rates are justified. Trips generated by the proposed development shall be logically distributed and assigned to the street system based on analysis of local traffic patterns, the regional travel demand forecasting model, or on alternative methodology approved by the community development director or his/her designee.
2. Total peak hour intersection operations shall be evaluated and performance indicators including volume-to-capacity ratio and level of service shall be reported.
3. Safety considerations shall be evaluated. Potential safety problems resulting from conflicting turning movements between and among driveways, intersections, and internal traffic shall be addressed. Distance to the nearest driveways on both sides of streets fronting the site and in both directions from site access points shall be shown. On-site driveway stacking and queuing impacts shall be assessed. The potential for shared access with adjacent development shall be assessed. [Ord. 817 § 8-3L.940, 2006.]