Comprehensive planning and development review processes

Vermont Business Magazine, Jul 01, 2005

The City of Montpelier and the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission (CVRPC) are currently developing a downtown Montpelier transportation improvement plan to accommodate future land development and transportation system changes envisioned in recent planning efforts. The most dramatic changes envisioned are the new buildings and streets identified in the Capital District Master Plan (CDMP). This includes new office and commercial buildings, new parking garages, a multi-modal center, and a new street.

As a first step, the City & CVRPC hired consultants Wilbur Smith Associates to build a downtown transportation and circulation model to measure traffic impacts associated with major development and transportation system changes. The model can also measure the effectiveness of different supply-side improvement strategies such as designating one-way street pairs, modifying intersection turn lanes, optimizing traffic signal timings, and adding pedestrian crossings. In addition, transportation demand management strategies designed to reduce vehicle travel to and through downtown such as intercept parking facilities at the peripheral to downtown, improved transit service, and work shift changes can be evaluated with the help of the model. An important feature of the model is the ability to evaluate how problems or improvements will effect adjacent areas of the street network. Also it has a simulation capability, so City Officials and the public can visualize traffic conditions in different scenarios.

The City choose to model the following scenarios:

Existing conditions;

Existing conditions with short term improvements;

Future 2010 conditions;

Future 2020 conditions without the build out of the Capital District Master Plan;

Future 2020 conditions with the build out of the Capital District Master Plan; and

Future 2020 conditions with the build out of the Capital District Master Plan and long term improvements.

Running each of the scenarios through the model identified and quantified problem areas with downtown Montpelier. In developing the downtown transportation improvement plan, the consultants conducted a screening process to assess different transportation improvement strategies relative to their ability to address the deficiencies identified in each scenario. The process was accomplished through the use of standard traffic engineering procedures such as capacity analysis, engineering judgment, practical experience, input from the Advisory Committee, and physical constraints in downtown. A hierarchical approach was used where the low cost /easier to implement strategies were identified first. If the low cost strategies did not work for future conditions, then more extensive and costly improvements were identified.

The model will be very useful in studying the transportation impacts of various land-use assumptions, and the ability of various improvements to the transportation system to deal with those changes. Therefore, the model could be used in the comprehensive planning process, to demonstrate likely issues involved with different land use scenarios and strategies, and to evaluate potential transportation solutions for each scenario. Future comprehensive plans for the City of Montpelier will include the model analysis of the above scenarios, as well as any new scenarios that are developed as part of that process.

Use of the model will be valuable to the Development Review process in a variety of ways. At the broadest level, the model can be used when substantial development proposals are made that differ from the land use assumptions identified in the City's Plans. In these situations, the developer could be responsible for updating the model. The City may choose to impose of fee for the cost of updating the model (using a City managed consultant) or allow the developer's consultant to update the model with the understanding that all revisions will be provided to the City.

Secondly, the conclusions of traffic reports made in support of a given development that is anticipated can be compared to the model predictions. If the assumptions and conclusions differ, the City will have grounds on which to question the applicant's information and conclusions. This ultimately should serve to ensure that decisions made within the Development Review process are based on the most reasonable and accurate assumptions available.

Third, the impacts of a given development may occur some distance from the actual site, and not be immediately obvious or predictable. The model will help planning staff detect impacts that may occur some distance from the study area, and provide a basis for considering mitigation requirements for these impacts.

Finally, applicants or the City could use the model to assess the effectiveness of specific solutions in dealing with anticipated transportation impacts. Proposals regarding signal timing, lane designation charges, specific geometries, etc, can be explicitly examined to determine the most promising solutions. This summer, the City will be making a substantial signal upgrade at one of the identified problem intersections.