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All traffic studies for projects in the City of Anaheim, Orange County, must be organized and include these parameters at a minimum

All traffic studies for projects in the City of Anaheim, Orange County, must be organized and include, at a minimum, the information provided in the following outline.

A. Introduction

1. Site Location and Study Area Boundaries

  • Description: Briefly describe the proposed development and its general geographical location.
  • Study Area Limits: Provide the study area limits mutually agreed upon by the developer, their engineer, and the City during the scoping meeting.

2. Existing Land Uses and Project Proposals

  • Proposed Project: Identify the proposed project and, if applicable, the existing or previously proposed land use(s) associated with the site.
  • Specific Land Use: Present the specific land use proposed, as various uses and land use densities may be permitted under existing general plan or zoning designations with varying degrees of impact.

3. Committed and Proposed Developments in the Vicinity of the Proposed Project

  • Vicinity Information: Identify land uses in the vicinity of the study area, including both approved and proposed developments.
  • Assessment Needs: City staff will identify the need to assess impacts associated with these developments during the scoping meeting.

4. Existing and Proposed Roadways and Intersections

  • Description: Identify and describe the roadways within the study area and their role in providing circulation and access to the project.
  • Details to Include: Number of lanes, driveway locations, ultimate right-of-way, intersection geometrics, bus stops, and traffic controls.

Vicinity Map

  • Provide a vicinity map depicting the project site, study boundaries, existing lane configurations, traffic controls, and any additional pertinent features.

B. Trip Generation

  • Calculation Methods: Use the Anaheim Traffic Analysis Model (ATAM) and/or ITE rates as directed by the City. If the generation rates do not sufficiently address the proposed land use, other documented sources may be used with prior City approval.
  • Summary Table: Provide a table summarizing the types of land use, corresponding generation rates and land use units, and the resulting a.m. peak, p.m. peak, and total daily trip ends generated by the project.

C. Trip Distribution/Assignment

  • Description: Describe trip distribution and directional approach for vehicle trips to and from the site, including specific roadways utilized by site-generated traffic.
  • Methodology and Assumptions: Clearly state the basic methodology and assumptions used to develop trip distribution and assignments.
  • City Input: The City’s Traffic Engineering staff will have significant input into these areas.
  • ATAM Runs: Use Anaheim Traffic Analysis Model runs to obtain trip distribution for the project in the study area.
  • Preliminary Approval: Trip distribution and assignment assumptions must be approved by the City Traffic and Transportation Manager before inclusion in the study report.

D. Existing and Projected Traffic Volumes

  • Existing Traffic Volumes: Use traffic volume data collected within the previous 24 months. Provide raw data from non-City sources in the traffic study appendix, identifying the source.
  • Future Traffic Volumes: Summarize five specific categories in a single table throughout the analysis:
    1. Existing traffic conditions: Data collected within the previous 24 months.
    2. Existing + Approved + Ambient Growth: Cumulative existing traffic conditions plus all approved developments within the study area.
    3. Existing + Approved + Ambient Growth + Project: Cumulative traffic conditions of existing plus approved developments and proposed project traffic.
    4. Future Conditions Without Project: Short-range impact analysis (3 to 7 years) without the project.
    5. Future Conditions With Project: Short-range impact analysis (3 to 7 years) including project traffic.
    6. General Plan Development: Build-out of all developments anticipated in the City’s General Plan or implied by the City’s Zoning Ordinance using ATAM Year 2025 or later projections.
    7. General Plan Development + Project: Cumulative traffic conditions of General Plan Development plus the proposed project.

E. Volume/Capacity Analysis

  • Analysis Locations: Conduct capacity analysis at identified mid-block segments, intersections significantly impacted by the project, and all proposed access points to the project.
  • Calculation Methods: Use the Intersection Capacity Utilization (ICU) method unless otherwise approved by the City Traffic and Transportation Manager. Pre-approval is required for using the Operational or Planning Analysis methodologies from the latest Highway Capacity Manual (HCM).
  • Volume/Capacity Ratios: Use a minimum clearance interval of 0.05 and lane capacities of 1700 vehicles per hour of green time for through and turn lanes.
  • Service Levels: Maintain a volume/capacity ratio of 0.90 (Level of Service D) as the lowest acceptable service level at intersections following mitigation measures. Mitigate to maintain LOS “D” at intersections and LOS “C” or better on arterial highway links.
  • Future Conditions: Identify individual vehicular volumes for existing conditions and various categories of projected volumes. Provide volume/capacity calculations showing the impact of proposed improvements.
  • Traffic Signal Warrants: Base justification for new traffic signals on Caltrans Traffic Manual warrants, and include calculations in the appendix.
  • Intersection Evaluations: Evaluate capacity and spacing for new public streets, full access driveways, or private streets intersecting arterial streets.

Significant Traffic Impact

  • Definition: An impact is deemed “significant” based on the following table:

    Level of Service Final V/C Ratio Increase in V/C Ratio
    >0.700 — 0.800 ≥ 0.050  
    D (>0.800 — 0.900) ≥ 0.030  
    E, F (>0.900) ≥ 0.010  

  • Final V/C Ratio: The future V/C ratio at an intersection considering impacts with the project, ambient growth, and related projects, but without any proposed mitigation.

F. Phasing Analysis

  • Multi-phase Projects: Document the impact of each development phase on an individual basis. Submit phasing analysis as a supplemental submittal after General Plan Amendment approval but before additional Planning Department approval actions.

G. Parking Studies

  • Requirements: Required to support variances from parking code requirements or reciprocal parking use. Use parking rates from Chapter 18 of the Anaheim Municipal Code. If not addressed, provide documentation of how proposed rates were obtained.
  • TDM Plans: Encourage developers to implement Transportation Demand Management Plans (TDMs) to reduce peak hour and total vehicular trips. Address the potential reduction in traffic through a TDM plan in the traffic study.
  • TDM Plan Details: Provide:
    1. Detailed description of TDM plan components and implementation.
    2. Case studies or empirical data supporting traffic reduction.
    3. Volume/Capacity calculations illustrating circulation benefits.
    4. Enforcement measures.
    5. Compliance with South Coast Air Quality Management District Regulations.

H. Mitigation Measures

  • Improvement Description: Include the location and nature of proposed improvements to mitigate deficiencies.
  • Volume/Capacity Calculations: Show the impact of proposed capacity improvements.
  • Implementation Feasibility: Assess feasibility, including right-of-way acquisition.
  • Design Standards Consistency: Ensure consistency with design standards.
  • Timing: Provide a timeline for proposed improvements.
  • Level of Service Chart: Submit a chart showing Levels of Service for all studied intersections pre- and post-project, with and without mitigation.
  • Sketch Plans: Include sketch plans depicting mitigation measures for roadway, parking, and access points. Provide a schedule for phased development improvements.

Equitable Share Calculation

  • Formula: Use the following formula to calculate the project's equitable share:

    P=TTB−TEP = \frac{T}{TB - TE}P=TB−TET​
    • P: The equitable share for the proposed project’s traffic impact.
    • T: The vehicle trips generated by the project during peak hour of adjacent street (vph).
    • TB: General Plan build-out forecast traffic volume (vph).
    • TE: Existing traffic volume plus approved projects not yet constructed or occupied (vph).

  • Cost Estimation: Estimate rights-of-way and construction costs of improvements needed at General Plan build-out and submit for City review and approval.

Executive Summary

  • Summary: Provide a clear, concise summary of study findings and proposed mitigation measures.

 

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