Transportation Concurrency: Best Practices Guide

This guide presents practical guidance for local transportation concurrency management systems based on a sampling of current and best practices. As such, it is an important first step toward greater understanding of how to implement transportation concurrency. However, further research is needed to advance the state of the practice, including more detailed study of the evolution of concurrency management systems and how best to accomplish concurrency as a local government transitions from simple to more complex systems and multimodal options. The guide also provides technical assistance on strategies for addressing the changes to Florida’s concurrency requirements made during the 2005 and 2007 legislative sessions. These changes include Florida Statutes Sections 163.3180(5) regarding transportation concurrency exception areas, 163.3180(6) regarding de minimis transportation impacts, 163.3180(10) regarding compatibility of level of service standards and coordination of methodologies, 380.06(24) regarding statutory exemptions from DRI requirements, and 163.3180(16) regarding transportation proportionate fair share. The guide will also assist local governments in the evaluation and appraisal of local comprehensive plans. In particular, Section 163.3191(2)(p) requires “an assessment of the extent to which changes are needed to develop a common methodology for measuring impacts on transportation facilities for the purpose of implementing [the local government’s] concurrency management system in coordination with the municipalities and counties.” Guidance on evaluating the transportation impacts of comprehensive plan amendments is provided in the Appendix. The guide begins in Chapter 1 with an overview of concurrency management in Florida and issues in current practice. Chapter 2 addresses the planning process for concurrency and considerations for establishing level of service standards, applying concurrency alternatives, and developing a concurrency management system. Chapter 3 includes a detailed look at the process for implementing transportation concurrency and the mechanics of a concurrency tracking system. Chapter 4 discusses transportation impact assessment, including the implications of various ways of measuring “impact area” and a suggested traffic impact assessment methodology for concurrency. The chapter concludes with a sample application of the methods presented. Recognizing that transportation concurrency is best accomplished through coordination, Chapter 5 provides strategies for improved multi-jurisdictional coordination in establishing level of service standards and managing concurrency. The chapter also provides guidance on how to address the statutory exemptions from DRI requirements allowed under s. 380.06(24), Florida Statutes. The chapter concludes with a series of attachments providing guidance on implementing transportation concurrency in a multi-jurisdictional context. These include a sample methodology for evaluating and mitigating cross jurisdictional impacts, an example application illustrating the concepts discussed in the guide, and two model interlocal agreements for coordination in concurrency management. Although it addresses multi-jurisdictional coordination, the sample methodology in Attachment 1 can also serve as a guide for any local government wishing to update its own concurrency management methods and procedures. A sample concurrency management spreadsheet to complement the guide is available on the Florida Department of Community Affairs website at www.dca.state.fl.us. + Read more