Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine announced approval of a regulation Friday that will give the commonwealth’s Department of Transportation more input in local land-use decisions.
The regulation requires local jurisdictions to submit rezoning proposals to VDOT so the agency can perform traffic-impact analyses. Each analysis will spell out for the locality the proposed development’s impact on nearby roads.
The General Assembly unanimously passed legislation during the 2006 session authorizing the studies.
The regulations specify what changes must be submitted for VDOT’s review and what information the agency must send back to local governments. Local officials would then use the information in deciding whether to approve a rezoning request to allow new development. The regulation takes effect July 1.
“Improving the link between land-use and transportation decisions is a critical priority as we continue to work on Virginia’s transportation challenges,” Kaine said.
