TRAFFIC STANDARDS CODE

Columbus City Codes tit. 43, ch. 4309

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 4309.01 Purpose.

4309.01 - Purpose. This Traffic Standards Code is enacted to preserve and promote the public health, safety and welfare by means of regulations to provide for adequate transportation facilities to serve growth, development and redevelopment. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.03 Definitions.

4309.03 - Definitions. For purposes of Chapter 4309 the following definitions shall apply: "Design Year" means the anticipated completion year of a proposed Development assuming full build-out and occupancy or ten years beyond the current year, whichever is later. "Columbus Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan Roadway" means a roadway listed within the Columbus Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan, as adopted per City Ordinance No. 1950-2019, and as amended or updated by Columbus City Council. "Development" means the construction or alteration of buildings, structures, parking facilities, or roadways within: • a parcel or parcels of land; or • a parcel of land to be subdivided into multiple parcels of land and public right-of-way. "Director" when used without clarification means the Director of the Department of Public Service or designee. "Memorandum of Understanding" means a memorandum requested by the Director when applications or plans for a Development demonstrate a likelihood of requiring a Traffic Impact or Access Study. The Memorandum of Understanding, with which the Director concurs, confirms topics, procedures, assumptions, data sources, report contents, tables, Design Years, time periods analyzed, and other items to be addressed in the Traffic Impact or Access Study. Detailed requirements for the Memorandum of Understanding are found in the Development Traffic Studies Rules and Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 4309.04 of this Chapter. "Satisfactory Level of Service" means a minimum level of service of "D" for the overall intersection and a minimum level of service of "E" for each individual movement at an intersection, as defined in the current version of the Highway Capacity Manual as published by the Transportation Research Board. For an unsignalized intersection, a volume-to-capacity ratio of less than 1.00 may be approved by the Director in lieu of the level of service requirements defined in the previous sentence. "Traffic Access Study" means a report determining and recommending necessary improvements to allow any Development access points to the nearby Transportation System. "Traffic Impact Study" means a report determining and recommending necessary improvements to the nearby Transportation System to maintain Satisfactory Levels of Service and safety for a proposed Development. "Transportation System" means a network of infrastructure to serve the needs of vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic, bicycle traffic, or transit and may include roadways, bridges, guardrail, curbing, sidewalks, shared-use paths, roadway drainage facilities, curb ramps, crosswalks and appurtenant elements, traffic signals and appurtenant elements, roundabouts, signs, pavement markings, transit stop facilities, parking facilities, street lighting, street trees, landscaping, or other necessary utility facilities. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 2, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.04 Process.

4309.04 - Process. The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the preparation of a Traffic Impact Study and a Traffic Access Study. The proposed rules and regulations shall be promulgated by filing the same with the City Clerk for publication in the City Bulletin pursuant to Section 121.05 of Columbus City Codes. (Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 1, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.05 Traffic Impact Study.

4309.05 - Traffic Impact Study. (A) A Traffic Impact Study shall be required for the following if the Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates the traffic generated by the following results in 200 or more estimated non-pass-by trip ends at the peak hour of the land use: (1) All new Developments; (2) The expansion of an existing Development; or (3) All Developments requesting: (a) Rezoning; (b) Zoning Variance; (c) Special Permit; or (d) Preliminary subdivision plat approval. (B) A Traffic Impact Study may be required for Developments if the Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates the traffic generated will add 100 or more non-pass-by trip ends at the peak hour of the land use at a single, adjacent intersection or based on other factors contained in the current version of the Multimodal Transportation Impact Analysis for Site Development recommended practice report of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. (C) A revised or new Traffic Impact Study may be required when Development plans described in the Memorandum of Understanding change significantly from the time the original Traffic Impact Study is approved. This may include: (1) Land use change; (2) Access location change; (3) Significant land use change close to the site; or (4) Any other significant change to the site. (D) Traffic Impact Studies shall maintain a Satisfactory Level of Service and safety. (E) Traffic Impact Studies shall ascertain the level of specific improvements required to mitigate the impact of any Development access points and to mitigate the impacts of Development traffic at the required off-site intersections. (F) The Director may waive requirements imposed upon the developer to prepare a Traffic Impact Study when the preparation of a study would create unnecessary or duplicate analysis when considering the following factors, including but not limited to: (1) Existing roadway infrastructure; (2) Planned capital improvement projects; (3) Proximity of buildings to right-of-way at potential study intersections that may render additional right-of-way dedication and modification of lane configurations at such potential study intersections infeasible; and (4) Previous studies in the vicinity of the site (either privately or publicly funded). (G) Detailed requirements for Traffic Impact Studies are found in the Development Traffic Studies Rules and Regulations developed pursuant to Section 4309.04 of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 2, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.06 Traffic Access Study.

4309.06 - Traffic Access Study. (A) A Traffic Access Study is required when the Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates a likelihood that a Development will increase traffic, but the increase is not significant enough to require a Traffic Impact Study as described under Section 4309.05 of this Chapter. (1) Traffic Access Studies shall maintain a Satisfactory Level of Service and safety; and (2) Traffic Access Studies shall ascertain the level of specific improvements required to mitigate the impact of any Development access points. (B) A Traffic Access Study may be required if the Development meets one or more of the following site modification criteria AND meets one or more of the following location criteria: (1) Site modification criteria: (a) New construction; (b) Expansion of an existing building; or (c) Change of use of an existing building that represents a significant increase in trip generation of the site. (2) Location criteria: (a) The Development is on a Columbus Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan Roadway; (b) The Development is on a roadway on the High Crash Prioritization List or High Injury Network, as established by rules and regulations promulgated by the Director; (c) The Development is on an arterial or collector roadway not contained on the Columbus Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan; or (d) The Development is on a collector or local roadway proximate to a signalized intersection, roundabout, or other arterial roadway intersection. (C) The Director may waive requirements imposed upon the developer to prepare a Traffic Access Study when the preparation of a study would create unnecessary or duplicate analysis when considering the following factors, including but not limited to: (1) Existing roadway infrastructure; (2) Planned capital improvement projects; (3) Proximity of buildings to right-of-way at potential study intersections that may render additional right-of-way dedication and modification of lane configurations at such potential study intersections infeasible; or (4) Previous studies in the vicinity of the site (either privately or publicly funded). (D) Detailed requirements for Traffic Access Studies may be found in the Development Traffic Studies Rules and Regulations developed pursuant to Section 4309.04 of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 1, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.07 Development Requirements—Vehicular Modes.

4309.07 - Development Requirements—Vehicular Modes. (A) Favorable staff recommendations concerning approval of rezonings zoning variances, or staff approval of special permit applications, preliminary subdivision plats, and Development plans are contingent, in part, upon assumption by the developer of financial responsibility for the necessary roadway infrastructure as defined in the Traffic Impact Study or Traffic Access Study. The amount of roadway infrastructure required shall be roughly proportional to the Development's contribution to traffic growth within the limits of the Traffic Impact or Access Study at the study's Design Year. (B) If requested by developer, the Director may waive requirements imposed on developer for necessary roadway infrastructure, as described under Section 4309.07(A), when: (1) The Director determines that the identified improvements are not in the best interests of the city due to physical and/or environmental limitations or if the City chooses to finance the improvements; or (2) A determination is made by the Director that the enforcement of these requirements for roadway improvements would result in a gross inequity. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 2, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.08 Development Requirements—Non-Motorized Modes.

4309.08 - Development Requirements—Non-Motorized Modes. (A) Favorable staff recommendations concerning approval of rezonings, zoning variances, or staff approval of special permit applications, preliminary subdivision plats, and Development plans are contingent, in part, upon assumption by the developer of financial responsibility for the necessary pedestrian infrastructure pursuant to Sections 4309.08(B) and (C). The amount of pedestrian infrastructure required shall be roughly proportional to the Development's contribution to the pedestrian traffic growth. (B) Additional off-site pedestrian infrastructure maybe required by the City if a Development exceeds any of the following thresholds: (1) residential: 50 units; (2) retail and/or restaurant uses: 20,000 square feet; or (3) other nonresidential (including mixed use Developments): 30,000 square feet. (C) If the thresholds in Section 4309.08(B) are exceeded, a determination is required whether the existing off-site pedestrian facilities provide at a minimum, but not limited to: (1) Adequate off-site pedestrian connections to access the existing sidewalk network; (2) Adequate off-site pedestrian connections to access the nearest transit stop for each cardinal direction of travel in the vicinity of the site; and (3) Adequate crosswalk facilities within the vicinity of the site. (D) If requested by developer, the Director may waive the requirements imposed on developer for necessary roadway infrastructure, as described in this Section, when: (1) The Director determines that the identified improvements are not in the best interests of the city due to physical and/or environmental limitations or if the City chooses to finance the improvements; or (2) A determination is made by the Director and/or their designee that the enforcement of these requirements for pedestrian infrastructure would result in a gross inequity. (Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 1, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.13 Documentation, Review and Revision.

4309.13 - Documentation, Review and Revision. Each Traffic Impact Study and Traffic Access Study shall be reviewed by a review team of staff members appointed by the Director. A Traffic Impact Study or Traffic Access Study which is judged incomplete by the aforementioned review team will be returned to the applicant for additional work. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 2, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.15 Qualifications of preparer.

4309.15 - Qualifications of preparer. (A) Traffic Impact and Access Studies shall be prepared by an Ohio registered professional engineer with training and experience in traffic engineering -including operations and safety analysis. (B) The engineer who prepared the Traffic Impact or Access Study shall sign and seal such study. (C) The preparer shall not be a member of the Traffic Impact Study or Traffic Access Study review team. Neither shall the preparer be related to a review team member nor hold a financial interest in the project under study. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 2, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.17 Right-of-Way Requirement.

4309.17 - Right-of-Way Requirement. (A) An applicant for a rezoning, zoning variance, special permit, or preliminary subdivision plat approval shall dedicate rights-of-way for roadways along and through subject properties as stipulated in the Columbus Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan. (B) The Director may establish a right-of-way dedication exception policy to evaluate situations where the enforcement of these right-of-way dedication requirements could result in a gross inequity. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 2, 12-4-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 4309.19 Public record.

4309.19 - Public record. Each Traffic Impact Study and Access Study shall become part of the public record upon initial submittal to the Director's study review team. (Ord. No. 0455-2010, § 122, 4-5-2010; Ord. No. 2802-2023, § 2, 12-4-2023)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT43PLENCO_CH4309TRSTCOFetched: 10/27/2026