The Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration (SHA) is continuing its work updating its Access Manual to make it more customer service-oriented, and continues to coordinate with counties and municipalities to seek their input. The most recent draft of most of the Access Manual is available here. However, the most recent draft of the traffic impact study (TIS) and mitigation guidelines, which SHA continues to receive input from a number of counties from, is available here.

SHA continues to solicit feedback on these guidelines, and will accept comments through the month of June. Comments may be sent to AMForum@sha.state.md.us. Please copy MACo Associate Director Barbara Zektick at bzektick@mdcounties.org on any county comments submitted. 

In general, the guidelines defer to counties’ Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs), where they exist – but SHA may require additional study or mitigation for any development that requires an SHA Access Permit and “generates 50 or more peak hour trips.” Specifically, the latest draft states:

Many counties/jurisdictions have established Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs) which outline their requirements for TIS report preparation. The following list summarizes situations regarding the appropriate application of county/jurisdictional APFOs and MDOT-SHA guidelines:

• At the discretion of the MDOT SHA District Engineer, a TIS may be required by MDOT-SHA for any proposed development that generates 50 or more peak hour trips, or any redevelopment that generates 50 or more peak hour trips over the existing site development.

• For those counties/jurisdictions that have not established their own APFOs relating to traffic impact studies, where MDOT-SHA determines the potential for a significant roadway safety concern where an MDOT-SHA Access Permit is needed, MDOT-SHA’s traffic impact study guidelines and procedures should be followed.

• In some cases, where MDOT-SHA determines the potential for a significant roadway safety concern attributable to the proposed development, or redevelopment may not be adequately addressed through County/jurisdictional APFOs, the following supplemental guidelines and procedures established by MDOT-SHA for traffic impact study report preparation and traffic mitigation may be necessary. Any questions with respect to applicability to these supplemental guidelines and procedures should be established during initial scoping for the TIS.

• In cases where no MDOT-SHA Access Permit is needed, the following guidelines and procedures established by MDOT-SHA may be used as guidance for the applicable county/jurisdiction where development or redevelopment is proposed.