9.6.6.1. GENERAL.
The intent of this section is to provide the information necessary to allow the Board to assess the transportation effects and impacts of site-generated traffic associated with a proposed oil and gas project. The information in the Traffic Impact Assessment will be coordinated with the Adequate Public Facilities and Services Assessment and the draft EIR.
The isolated and cumulative adverse effects and impacts of the proposed project to the traffic shed need to be understood in relation to the existing and future required capacity of the County and State road system, and to ensure that traffic capacity will be provided at established levels of service so as not to hinder the passage of police, fire and emergency response vehicles, oil tankers to and from the project site, degrade the quality of life, or contribute to hazardous traffic conditions. This section establishes requirements for the analysis and evaluation of adverse transportation effects and impacts associated with proposed oil and gas projects.
The applicant shall make a cash, certified or bank check, or letter of credit, deposit, to cover all of the County’s expenses in reviewing the Traffic Impact Assessment, engaging consultants, and for a Hearing Officer to conduct the first public hearing on the Traffic Impact Assessment. The County will provide an estimate of the cost of conducting the study, which shall provide the basis for the initial deposit. The applicant shall make additional deposits if the initial deposit is inadequate to reimburse the County for the costs of the study, and the County shall refund any unexpended funds on deposit after the study is completed.
9.6.6.2. PURPOSE. See
§ 150B-9.6.6.2 PURPOSE for detailed information.
9.6.6.3. PREPARATION.
The applicant shall deposit with the application for the Oil and Gas Overlay Zoning District Classification such funds as are necessary for the County to engage a traffic consultant with experience in the preparation of traffic impact assessment.
9.6.6.4. TRAFFIC SERVICE STANDARDS. See
§ 150B-9.6.6.4 TRAFFIC SERVICE STANDARDS.
9.6.6.5. CONTENTS. A traffic impact assessment shall contain the following information:
9.6.6.5.1. Site description: The traffic impact assessment shall contain illustrations and narratives that describe the characteristics of the site and adjacent land uses as well as future oil and gas projects for all transportation to and from the site to the nearest interchange on I-25 or S-285. A description of potential uses and traffic generation to be evaluated shall be provided. A description of the proposed oil and gas project, including access plans, staging plans, and an indication of the number and location of well sites on all land in the same ownership shall be provided.
9.6.6.5.2. Study area: The traffic impact assessment shall identify the geographic area under study and identify the roadway segments, critical intersections and access points to be analyzed for all transportation routes from the site to the nearest I-25 or S-285 interchanges.
9.6.6.5.3. Existing traffic conditions: The traffic impact report shall contain a summary of the data utilized in the study and an analysis of existing traffic conditions, including:
(a) Traffic count and turning movement information, including the source of and date when traffic count information was collected;
(b) Correction factors that were used to convert collected traffic data into representative design-hour traffic volumes;
(c) Roadway characteristics, including the design configuration of existing or proposed roadways, existing traffic-control measures (e.g., speed limits and traffic signals), and existing driveways and turning movement conflicts in the vicinity of the site; and
(d) Identification of the existing LOS for roadways and intersections without project development traffic using methods documented in the Highway Capacity Manual or comparable accepted methods of the latest ITE (International Traffic Engineers) evaluation. LOS should be calculated for the weekday peak hour and, in the case of uses generating high levels of weekend traffic, the Saturday peak hour.
9.6.6.5.4. Horizon year(s) and background traffic growth:
The traffic impact assessment shall identify the horizon year(s) that were analyzed in the study, the background traffic growth factors for each horizon year, and the method and assumptions used to develop the background traffic growth. The impact of the project shall be analyzed for the year after the project is completed and 10 years after the development is completed.
9.6.6.5.5. Time periods to be analyzed: For each defined horizon year, specific time periods are to be analyzed. For oil and gas operations, this time period will be the weekday peak hours.
9.6.6.5.6. Trip generation, reduction and distribution: The traffic impact assessment shall summarize the projected peak hour and average daily trip generation for the proposed project and illustrate the projected trip distribution of trips to and from the site to the nearest interchange on I-25 or S-285, and should identify the basis of the trip generation, reduction, and distribution factors used in the study.
9.6.6.5.7. Traffic assignment: The traffic impact assessment shall identify projected design-hour traffic volumes for roadway segments, intersections, or driveways in the study area, with and without the proposed development, for the horizon year(s) of the study.
9.6.6.5.8. Impact analysis: The traffic impact assessment shall address the impact of traffic volumes of the projected horizon year(s) relative to each of the applicable traffic service standards and shall identify the methodology utilized to evaluate the impact. The weekday peak-hour impact shall be evaluated as well as the Saturday peak hour for those uses exhibiting high levels of weekend traffic generation.
9.6.6.5.9. At a minimum, the applicant shall be required at the time of development approval of the Oil and Gas Overlay Zoning District Classification to pay for applicant’s roughly proportional share of the cost for construction and operation and maintenance of all roads in the Capital Improvement Program for transportation facilities for the area in which the oil and gas project is located. If such roughly proportional share is insufficient to meet traffic adequacy, the applicant shall advance the cost of additional roadway system improvements and shall be reimbursed when additional oil and gas projects are approved.
9.6.6.5.10. Mitigation/alternatives:
In situations where the traffic LOS standards are exceeded, the traffic impact assessment shall evaluate each of the following alternatives for achieving the traffic service standards by:
(a) Identifying where additional rights-of-way are needed to implement mitigation strategies;
(b) Identifying suggested phasing of improvements where needed to maintain compliance with traffic service standards;
(c) Identifying the animated cost of recommended improvements;
(d) If the applicant fails to advance improvements required in (i) [subsection (a)] above, the application for the Oil and Gas Overlay Zoning District Classification shall be denied for lack of adequate transportation system capacity, safety, and design.
9.6.6.6. PROCESS FOR THE REVIEW AND PREPARATION OF A TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
This section provides an outline of the steps to be included in the preparation and review of a traffic impact assessment.
9.6.6.6.1. For the Galisteo Basin, the traffic impact assessment shall take into account the Capital Improvement Program for State and County road system improvement.
9.6.6.6.2. The traffic consultant shall meet with the applicant and the public to identify study issues, assumptions, horizon years, and time periods to be analyzed; analysis procedures; available sources of data; past and related studies; assessment requirements; and other topics relevant to study requirements.
9.6.6.6.3. Following initial completion of a traffic impact assessment, it shall be submitted to the Administrator for distribution to the County and State highway staffs involved in the construction and maintenance of public roadways serving the project.
9.6.6.6.4. Within 15 working days, County and State staff shall complete initial reviews to determine the completeness of the study and shall provide a written summary to the traffic consultant outlining the need for any supplemental analysis to adequately address the traffic service standards.
9.6.6.6.5. Following a determination that the technical analysis is complete, the traffic consultant shall prepare a report outlining recommendations that have been developed to address the findings and conclusions included in the study regarding the proposed development’s needs and impacts on the transportation system.
9.6.6.6.6. The traffic consultant’s recommendations will be presented to the Board as part of the proceedings for approval of the Oil and Gas Overlay District Classification application.
9.6.6.6.7. Mitigation based on the conclusions and findings resulting from the traffic impact report or analysis shall be required of the applicant. A development agreement, detailing the applicant’s responsibilities and the County’s responsibilities for implementing identified mitigation measures, shall be prepared following receipt of the traffic impact report.
