Commissioners back stricter traffic-count timing: staff to require counts within six months on three weekdays

Staff proposed amending the county's traffic-count requirement so that trip counts used in traffic-impact studies be conducted within six months of the date used in the study and on no fewer than three consecutive weekdays when schools are in session. The change is intended to ensure studies rely on current data and weekday conditions that reflect typical traffic patterns.

Why this matters: Commissioners said some previously submitted traffic studies relied on older counts and did not reflect current peak-period school or work traffic. Staff argued requiring recent counts and a consecutive-day sampling period improves study reliability.

Discussion and outcome: - Timing window: staff recommended counts be conducted within six months of the data date used in the traffic-impact study. Commissioner John sought a longer window or more days; commissioners discussed three versus five weekday counts. Several commissioners supported increasing to five weekdays to reduce outlier effects; staff noted three consecutive weekdays is currently in the draft but said they could consider five if the commission prefers. - Study area and scale: commissioners asked that staff confirm the geographic study area used in counts and that traffic studies account for adjacent developments and arterial impacts rather than only immediate intersections.

Next steps: staff will clarify the draft language to specify the number of weekdays required for counts (commissioners showed preference toward five workdays) and to ensure study-area guidance is explicit. The item was continued for revision and return.