The original regulations were the result of legislation championed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and unanimously approved by the 2006 General Assembly.

The proposed amended regulations, summary of the proposed changes and reasons for them, and ways to submit comments are available at www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/chapter527.
 
The original regulations took effect July 1, 2007. They are being implemented throughout Virginia in phases over 18 months.

Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner David S. Ekern established a technical committee of local government, private sector and VDOT representatives to review the regulations, implementation process and feedback received since spring 2007. The proposed modifications to the regulations are based on recommendations from the committee.

Final modifications will be recommended to Gov. Kaine after June 15. If approved, the final amended regulations would take effect June 30, 2008.

“We received excellent feedback during information sessions with local officials, developers, contractors and staff, and as we gained experience working with the regulations,” said Richard L. Caywood, VDOT’s Salem District administrator and chair of the technical committee. “The recommended modifications are based that feedback and experience, and they improve the regulations.”

For example, one proposed change clarifies that VDOT has the authority to accept traffic impact statements or studies prepared for rezonings that were approved by VDOT and the local governing body prior to the effective date of the regulations.

VDOT may also allow such studies to be updated to conform more closely to the new regulations.

The regulations establish uniform statewide standards to ensure that a traffic impact analysis is performed when land-use decisions with potentially significant impacts on the state-controlled transportation network are being considered by local governments.

They also formalize VDOT’s role in working with localities to analyze regional traffic impacts as local officials consider proposed comprehensive plans, rezonings and site plans.

The regulations were developed with significant input from an advisory committee comprised of representatives from local governments, the development community and other stakeholder groups.

Public comments were solicited through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and public hearings. VDOT also held a peer review with other states in which similar reviews are performed.

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NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: Details about the Chapter 527 Traffic Impact Analysis Regulations, including their history, public involvement efforts, responses to submitted land-development proposals, and advisory and technical committees, are available at www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/chapter527.