{"id":3029,"date":"2021-09-15T10:44:44","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T13:44:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/planning.gov.bm\/?page_id=3029"},"modified":"2021-09-15T10:44:54","modified_gmt":"2021-09-15T13:44:54","slug":"traffic-impact-assessments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/planning.gov.bm\/index.php\/traffic-impact-assessments\/","title":{"rendered":"Traffic Impact Assessments"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Traffic Impact Assessments and Traffic Impact Statements<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Introduction<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Transport systems are a key component of sustainable development because of their dependence on the use of natural resources and their potentially damaging effect on the physical environment.\u00a0 An evaluation of traffic impacts has become an important consideration in the assessment of planning applications for development projects in many countries where planning principles are increasingly based upon the principles of sustainable development.<\/span><\/p>

An assessment of potential traffic impacts is by way of a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA).\u00a0 Historically, TIAs have been used to determine expected traffic increases and to assess the effect on adjacent roads, junctions and accesses.\u00a0 The basis of assessment has traditionally been the private car and the improvements needed to cater to the private car.\u00a0 However, TIAs are now being used more in the context of sustainable development with policy initiatives aimed at promoting a more integrated approach to transport planning and greater consideration given to public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.<\/span><\/p>

In Bermuda, there have been a number of traffic studies conducted by or on behalf of the Government.\u00a0 These studies have been largely focused on the traffic movements in and around the City of Hamilton.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

With the significant growth in the number of vehicles on Bermuda\u2019s roads and traffic congestion related issues, the need to integrate transportation issues into the planning process has become increasingly important.\u00a0 Since, most new developments result in changes to vehicle and\/or pedestrian movements, more recently the Department of Planning has been asking developers to conduct traffic studies as part of major development proposals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Traffic issues were seen as a key issue for the City of Hamilton Plan 2001, and the City of Hamilton Plan 2001 introduced the requirement for the submission of traffic impact studies for developments comprising a gross floor area of 50,000 sq. feet or more.\u00a0 Similarly, the Ministry of Transport\u2019s National Transportation Management Report 2002 recognized the important relationship between transportation planning and land use planning, and recommended that applicants be required to submit traffic impact studies as well as environmental impact statements for all major development projects.<\/span><\/p>

Under section 3 and the First Schedule of the Development and Planning Act 1974, the Development Applications Board (the Board) is authorized to determine applications for planning permission.\u00a0 In its assessment and determination of a planning application, it is essential that the Board has all the pertinent information relating to a proposed development to ensure that a development does not have any adverse impacts on the natural, human or built environments of a site or its surrounding area, and to ensure that any such impacts are reduced and appropriately mitigated.\u00a0 This includes information regarding the traffic impacts of a development.<\/span><\/p>

This planning policy guidance note has been prepared to assist developers in providing the necessary information for projects which may require a Traffic Impact Assessment and a Traffic Impact Statement.\u00a0 It is based on the UK Institution of Highways and Transportation Guidelines on Traffic Impact Assessment (1994).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen is a TIA and a TIS required?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

The carrying out of a TIA and the submission of a TIS are usually required for large scale development proposals. \u00a0However, there may be other types of development or changes of use which may require a TIA.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Policy TPT.2, chapter 12 of the Bermuda Plan 2018<\/a> outlines the criteria under which a proposal may require a TIA and a TIS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Policy TPT.2 The Board may require the submission of a Traffic Impact Statement for large scale developments comprising a gross floor area of 50,000 sq. ft. or more, or in other instances where the characteristics of the site or the particulars of the proposal justify the Board carrying out a careful examination of the potential traffic impacts of the development prior to the determination of the application.<\/span><\/p>

If a proposal is also required under policy ENV.4, chapter 6 of the Bermuda Plan 2018<\/a> to submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the details of the TIS may be included as part of the EIS.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are the main steps in conducting a TIA and submitting a TIS?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

There are 8 main steps in the process of conducting a Traffic Impact Assessment and submitting a Traffic Impact Statement, although not every development proposal is required to go through every step of the process.<\/span><\/p>

This<\/a> flow diagram illustrates the main steps in the TIA\/TIS process and those parties involved in each.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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One of the main purposes of the TIA\/TIS process is to fulfil the need for early preliminary consultations with parties which have an interest in the likely traffic effects of a proposed development.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nWhile a developer is under no formal obligation to consult interested parties about a proposal before the submission of a formal planning application, for certain development proposals it may be prudent to do so, particularly where the potential traffic impacts are significant.\u00a0 Discussing the feasibility of a proposal with the Highways Section of the Ministry of Works and Engineering prior to lodging a planning application, for instance, may lead to major cost savings for a developer or potential developer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\n\nThe timing of preliminary consultations is at the developer’s discretion but it is advantageous if these consultations take place as soon as the developer is in a position to provide sufficient information about the proposal to form a basis for discussion.<\/span>\n\nScreening<\/strong><\/span>\n\nSelf screen<\/strong><\/span>\n\nA developer can determine whether a TIA\/TIS is required for a proposal by conducting a \u2018self-screen\u2019 of the proposal as follows:-<\/span>\n