Alexandria's Transportation Planning Administrative Guidelines detail the expectations for multimodal transportation studies, which are used to quantify and assess the impacts of development proposals. These studies are required of developers whose projects reach certain development thresholds. The studies examine existing and future traffic, transit service, parking, and pedestrian and bicycle conditions. The depth and breadth of a required study is based on the number of new trips a proposed use creates during its peak hour of operation. Transportation study results are used to determine the mitigations required of a proposed development. One notable mitigation is participation in the City's Transportation Management Plan program.
Development applicants reference/use the following materials during the when preparing development proposals:
- Transportation Administrative Guidelines - outlines the expectations and requirements for multimodal transportation studies
- Transportation Screening Worksheet - determines if a development will require a multimodal transportation study
- Transportation Scoping Form - functions as an agreement with the applicant and the City regarding the depth and breadth of a required study
2016 - 2017 Review
The City examines its Administrative Guidelines every few years to ensure they align with industry standards, best practices, and technological advances. In 2016, the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations requested that that city review its Transportation Planning Administrative Guidelines. The 2016/2017 Guidelines Review process included the following elements:
- A third party review of the existing Guidelines from a firm within expertise in traffic impact studies associated with development;
- A review of existing Guidelines by firms who frequently submit multimodal transportation studies for the City;
- A review by the State's Department of Transportation (VDOT);
- The consideration of best practices from relevant sources such as the Institute of Traffic Engineers, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, National Association of City Transportation Officials, and the Urban Land Institute;
- Coordination with the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations, and a formal presentation to this group;
- Coordination with the Northern Virginia chapter of NAIOP, a commercial real estate development association that includes representatives;
- A white paper on alternative means of assessing transportation impacts in anticipation of future trends. View the white paper here.