Public hearing and first reading of an ordinance amending City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances Section 118-46(y) Traffic Impact Analysis.

This ordinance amends Section 118-46 of the New Braunfels Code of Ordinances concerning Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) requirements. The amendments refine existing provisions and introduce new ones related to capacity analysis, site accessibility, turn lane requirements, and the expiration of TIA approvals.

Key changes include:

• Capacity Analysis: Clarifies that capacity analysis must follow the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) and include traffic queuing estimates. Roadway analysis will include maximum daily traffic for local/residential collector streets and HCM or planning level analysis for others, as agreed upon by engineers.
• Site Accessibility: Requires assessment of access management, site circulation, parking, goods movement, and pedestrian/bicycle/transit connectivity. It also mandates geometric and pavement design analysis for construction traffic on streets less than 24 feet wide.
• Turn Lane Requirements: Turn lanes are required at intersections with buildout traffic movements of 500 daily trips or 50 peak hour trips. Design and construction must follow TxDOT requirements, with considerations for topographic limitations and right-of-way acquisition.
• Expiration of TIA: A TIA worksheet expires two years after approval. A TIA report expires three years after approval if progress isn't made or if the buildout year significantly differs from the analysis. Extensions may be granted by the city engineer.

These changes update the technical standards for how traffic impacts of new developments are analyzed. This could lead to more robust traffic mitigation measures being required for new projects, potentially improving traffic flow and safety in affected areas.

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