When new objects are introduced into a balanced transport system, they disrupt the balance by increasing transport demand. Without appropriate countermeasures, this leads to increased delays, decreased average speed, and higher emissions.
To address this, developed cities employ a stage called Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) in the construction permit process. TIAs involve modeling the proposed object on the road network to assess its impact on the local transport system. Based on the assessment, adjustments can be made to improve the object’s technical and economic indicators or develop countermeasures such as reconfiguring traffic lights or establishing new transport infrastructure.
TIAs are crucial for city authorities to ensure high-quality transport services. Independent information about the projected impact allows officials and city council members to make informed decisions on project approval, rejection, or adjustment.
For a Traffic Impact Assessment, our specialists require information about the object’s characteristics, initial transport system conditions, planning decisions, and traffic volume measurements for model calibration.
The critical deviations in service quality parameters due to new objects are determined by local self-government bodies. Generally, if a new construction object increases public transport delay by 10-15% compared to the existing situation, it should raise concerns among decision-makers.
The application of Traffic Impact Assessments depends on the size and significance of the objects, as determined by the local self-government body.
Developers can proactively check their facilities’ future transport service satisfaction, even without explicit instructions from local government permit authorities, to prevent costly mistakes.
Many stakeholders in Ukrainian cities are already utilizing Traffic Impact Assessments to improve project quality and rectify errors. However, prevention is always easier than correction.
