One of the recommendations in the East Whiteland Township Comprehensive Plan Update (2016) is to update a Township-wide traffic study to identify needs and potential transportation improvements. The Township elected to update the study in accordance with the process to establish a transportation impact fee. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) authorizes municipalities to enact transportation impact fees for new development and prescribes a process for developing and calculating the fee. In Pennsylvania, the process to develop and calculate the fee is often referred to as an Act 209 Study. PennDOT’s Transportation Impact Fees Handbook provides an overview of the Act 209 process and requirements.

The Township initiated the Act 209 process in October 2016 by appointing members of the Transportation Impact Fee Advisory Committee (TIFAC) and establishing an interim fee of $1,000 per PM peak hour trip. The TIFAC assisted with establishing the Transportation Services Area (TSA) and selecting 43 study intersections. The Board of Supervisors approved three key elements in the Act 209 process including the Land Use Assumptions Report (LUAR), Roadway Sufficiency Analysis (RSA), and Transportation Capital Improvement Program (TCIP). The TCIP includes calculation of a transportation impact fee of $2,862 per afternoon peak hour generated by new development. At the end Board of Supervisors meeting on April 11, the Board will consider adoption. 

Transportation Impact Fee Ordinance