Proposed Text
CHAPTER 71
MINIMUM STANDARDS OF ENTRANCES TO STATE HIGHWAYS (REPEALED)
24VAC30-71-10. Definitions. (Repealed.)
The following words and terms when used in this chapter
shall have the following meanings unless the content clearly indicates
otherwise:
"Accessible route" means a continuous unobstructed,
stable, firm and slip-resistant path connecting all accessible elements of a
facility (may include parking access aisles, curb ramps, crosswalks at
vehicular ways, walks, ramps and lifts) that can be approached, entered and
used by persons with mobility impairments. An accessible route shall, to the
maximum extent feasible, coincide with the route for the general public and
shall be a minimum of three feet (0.9 meter) wide.
"Board" means the Commonwealth Transportation
Board, Commonwealth of Virginia.
"Central office" means the office in downtown
Richmond that contains the administrative functions, including preconstruction
activities, and executes command responsibility and control over all Virginia
Department of Transportation activities.
"Clear zone" means the total roadside border
area, starting at the edge of the traveled way, that is wide enough to allow an
errant driver to stop or regain control of a vehicle. This area might consist
of a shoulder, a recoverable slope, a nonrecoverable slope, and a traversable
slope with a clear run-out area at its toe, or a combination of these. (See
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Millennium (2000) edition, effective
January 17, 2001).
"Commercial entrance" means an entrance serving
all entities other than an individual private residence. (See private
entrance.)
"Commissioner" means the Commonwealth
Transportation Commissioner, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth
Transportation Board.
"Commonwealth" means the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"Crossover" or "median opening" means
an area located between opposing traffic, usually paved, to provide for
crossing, left turn or U-turn maneuvers, on four- or more lane divided
highways.
"Department" means the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT).
"Design speed" means the maximum safe speed that
can be maintained over a specified section of highway when conditions are so
favorable that the design features of the highway govern, as defined in the
American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials' AASHTO's 2001
edition of A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets.
"District office" means the office in each of the
nine construction districts located throughout the state that implements the
construction and maintenance operations of the Virginia Department of
Transportation.
"Engineer" means the engineer representing the
Virginia Department of Transportation.
"Functional intersection areas" means the
physical area of an at-grade intersection plus the boundary of the longitudinal
limits of the auxiliary lanes (left and right turn lanes) of all the approaches
of the intersection. The functional lengths include maneuver distance plus any
required storage lengths of all turning bays.
"Operating speed" means the highest overall speed
at which a driver can travel on a given highway under favorable weather
conditions and under prevailing traffic conditions without at any time
exceeding the safe speed as determined by the design speed on a
section-by-section basis, as defined in the American Association of State
Highway Transportation Officials' (AASHTO's) 2001 edition of A Policy on
Geometric Design of Highways and Streets.
"Private entrance" means an entrance that serves
up to two private residences and is used for the exclusive benefit of the
occupant.
"Private subdivision road or street" means a road
or street that serves more than two individual properties, is privately owned
and maintained, and requires a commercial entrance permit.
"Right-of-way" means that property within the
entire area of every way or place of whatever nature within the system of state
highways under the ownership, control or jurisdiction of the board, that is
open or that is to be open within the future for the use of the public for
purposes of travel in the Commonwealth. The area set out above includes not
only the traveled portion but the entire area inside and outside the traveled
portion, from boundary line to boundary line, and also parking and recreation
areas that are under the ownership, control or jurisdiction of the board.
"Sight distance" means, for crossovers and
commercial entrances, (intersection sight distance), the unobstructed distance
measured from the driver to an object. For sight distance calculations, height
of the driver's eye is considered to be 3.5 feet (1.08 meter) and the height of
object is also considered to be 3.5 feet (1.08 meter) above the roadway.
"System of state highways" means all highways and
roads under the ownership, control, or jurisdiction of the board including, but
not limited to, the primary, secondary, and interstate systems.
24VAC30-71-20. Procedure for obtaining permits. (Repealed.)
All applications for permits shall be obtained from and
submitted through the office of the resident engineer for the county in which the
work is to be performed. The applicant shall submit plans and application form
for all proposed installations in sufficient time to permit the department to
review them and make any necessary studies and changes. The plans shall include
detailed and complete information concerning the location of the work, the type
pavement, the roadway geometrics and other facts about the highway.
The resident engineers are authorized to issue private
entrance permits. District administrators or their designees are authorized to
issue commercial entrance permits (except outdoor theaters), permits for
individual logging roads, permits for median crossovers, and permits for
private entrances.
Any waiver of the required sight distance may only be
granted by the chief engineer for program development or the state location and
design engineer after a traffic engineering investigation has been conducted.
However, a significant (i) increase of traffic in and out of the entrance, (ii)
change in character of the traffic or peak hour volume, or (iii) operational
safety problem may require upgrading or reconstruction, or both, of the
entrance or closing the entrance. This language is not intended to be
exclusive.
Permits cover not only the actual performance of work as
approved, but also cover the subsequent maintenance, adjustment or removal of
work. All permits shall be issued to the owners of the facilities or, in cases
where continuing bonds are required, permits may be issued jointly to the owner
and his contractor (as agent). The central office shall maintain permanent
records of all permits issued.
24VAC30-71-30. Appeal procedure. (Repealed.)
Permit applications shall be processed in a timely fashion.
Applicants shall be notified in writing of the action taken on applications. If
the permit is granted, issuance of the permit shall satisfy that requirement.
If the permit is denied, notification of denial shall be made by certified
mail, return receipt requested.
If the resident engineer either denies a permit sought or
imposes conditions upon the issuance of a permit with which the applicant
disagrees, an appeal may be made to the district administrator.
The district administrator or chief engineer for program
development, as the case may be, is authorized to consider and render a ruling
on unresolved differences of opinion between the applicant and the resident
engineer concerning the interpretation and application of these requirements.
To utilize the appeal process, the applicant shall provide
the district administrator with a written request for review, setting forth a
brief description of the unresolved issues within 30 days of receipt of the
denial. The district administrator shall advise the applicant in writing within
60 days of the receipt of the appeal of his decision.
24VAC30-71-40. Drive-in theaters. (Repealed.)
Certain conditions as set forth in § 33.1-12(15) of the
Code of Virginia shall first be met in order to construct entrances to drive-in
theaters.
24VAC30-71-50. Entrance design. (Repealed.)
All entrance design and construction shall comply with the
department's design and construction criteria set forth in the documents
incorporated by reference in 24VAC30-71-170.
In the event that construction plans have been adopted that
will ultimately change a highway, the permittee may be required to construct
entrances that shall be compatible with the roadway's ultimate design. The
determination to require curb and gutter or other features at the proposed
driveway shall be the responsibility of the engineer.
Ordinances or entrance standards established by counties or
cities that exceed those of the Virginia Department of Transportation supersede
those of the department.
The permittee shall be required to supply sufficient
information for the department to determine entrance design features to
adequately serve the roadway facility as well as the proposed development.
Detailed engineering plans and traffic analysis plans from a licensed design
professional may be required by the department.
To ensure the efficiency of all commercial entrance designs
certain general requirements shall be satisfied by each permittee.
Consequently, potential applicants interested in using any individual designs
shown in this chapter should first familiarize themselves with the
prerequisites specified in 24VAC30-71-60 through 24VAC30-71-150.
24VAC30-71-60. Bonds, guarantee fees and irrevocable letters
of credit. (Repealed.)
All bonds prepared on form MP-20 shall indicate what permit
the bond is for and define what type of work the bond covers, listing permit number
and indicating whether it is a continuing bond or a performance bond. The
estimated amount of the bond shall be the amount the resident engineer
anticipates it will take to complete or restore the work should the permittee
fail to complete the work.
A guarantee fee is a cash amount paid by the proposed
permittee in advance of permit issuance to cover the performance of work within
highway right-of-way. When work covered by the permittee is completed to the
satisfaction of the resident engineer, the guarantee fee is refunded in its
entirety to the permittee. Should the permittee fail to complete the work to
the satisfaction of the resident engineer, then all or whatever portion of the
guarantee fee that is required to complete work covered by permit or restore
the right-of-way to its original condition shall be retained by the department.
An irrevocable letter of credit may be used instead of a
guarantee fee or performance bond. This letter of credit is furnished by a bank
and is used to verify a line of credit that will be set aside to provide for
coverage of work performed by the permittee or his agent in accordance with the
approved permit. (For more information on permit charges, see the Land Use
Permit Manual, 24VAC30-150-10 et seq.)
24VAC30-71-70. Location. (Repealed.)
To prevent undue interference with free traffic movements,
entrances shall be avoided within functional intersection areas, traffic
circles or roundabouts, railroad grade crossings, interchanges or similar areas
of traffic congestion. It is essential that designs allow unimpeded traffic
movements entering or exiting. Parking and storage spaces shall be located a
sufficient distance from the entrance to prevent interference with vehicles
attempting to enter or exit the facility or cause disruption to the fronting
road. Managing appropriate access is critical to the function of an entrance.
To reduce the number of points of access to state highways,
joint use entrances are recommended if agreement can be reached by the owners.
For a joint use entrance to be approved by the department, a copy of the
property owner's recorded agreement shall be submitted to the department. The
department encourages cross-access easements from adjoining properties.
24VAC30-71-80. Construction. (Repealed.)
The type and depth of pavement shall be clearly indicated
on the permit application. The pavement of entrances, turn lanes, and tapers
shall be of stable material that is at least comparable to the pavement of the adjacent
roadway.
On-site parking shall be designed so as not to interfere
with sight distance and to prevent vehicular overhang on state right-of-way.
Interior curbing should be set a minimum of two feet (0.61 meter) outside or
beyond the right-of-way line and should extend the entire length of the parking
area. When parking areas abut curbing sections with sidewalk, parked vehicles
shall be kept a sufficient distance from the curbing by the use of parking
bumpers, or other means, to prevent vehicle overhang over the sidewalk. The
engineer shall determine the need for additional curbing along the right-of-way
to the adjacent property line.
Mountable curb (standard CG-3 or CG-7 in the English
(effective February 2001) or metric (effective January 1997) measurement
versions of the Road and Bridge Standards, Volumes I and II) is required when
constructed within the clear zone of a road with a design speed greater than 40
miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour) in rural areas and 45 miles per hour
(70 kilometers per hour) in urban and suburban areas.
All curbing and entrance gutters used to construct
commercial entrances shall be installed in accordance with the Virginia
Department of Transportation's Road and Bridge Standards, English (effective
February 2001) or metric (effective January 1997) measurement versions, and all
material shall meet the department's certification.
The property owner or developer of commercial or industrial
entrances or subdivision road entrances shall be responsible for the entire construction
of the entrance in accordance with the provisions of the required permit.
24VAC30-71-90. Drainage. (Repealed.)
Entrances shall be constructed so as not to impair drainage
within the state's right-of-way, and so that surface water shall drain from the
state's roadway.
Where deemed necessary by the engineer, copies of a complete
drainage layout, based on a drainage study by a licensed design professional,
shall be furnished by the permittee, along with his plans. This layout shall
include the ultimate development and clearly show how the permittee proposes to
handle the drainage and run-off from his development.
Pipe ends of culverts shall be reviewed independently by
the engineer and grading or treatment at pipe ends shall be done in such a
manner as to minimize any hazard the pipe ends or structures may present to an
errant vehicle.
24VAC30-71-100. Crossovers or median openings. (Repealed.)
Crossovers or median openings between the main through
lanes shall not be permitted at entrances being constructed under provisions of
a permit unless determined necessary by the department, and then only in
accordance with the current policy on crossovers or median openings as outlined
in this chapter and the department's Road Design Manual, English or metric
measurement versions (effective July 1998). All crossover or median opening
locations shall be approved by the district traffic engineer.
Crossovers or median openings that do not meet the
standards as outlined in the department's Road Design Manual, English or metric
measurement versions (effective July 1998), shall be reviewed by the state
mobility management engineer and the state location and design engineer.
If the department determines that a crossover or median
opening is permissible, the permittee shall be responsible for the entire cost
and construction, including turn lanes, traffic signal system, or both, as
deemed necessary by the engineer.
24VAC30-71-110. Auxiliary lanes, acceleration lanes, right
turn lanes and left turn lanes. (Repealed.)
The need for auxiliary lanes, acceleration lanes, right
turn lanes and left turn lanes shall be jointly determined by the district traffic
engineer and resident engineer in accordance with the guidance in Appendix C
included in the English or metric measurement versions (effective July 1998) of
the Road Design Manual. The design and construction of these lanes shall
conform to the criteria shown in the Road Design Manual (effective July 1998).
24VAC30-71-120. Curb ramps for persons with mobility
impairments. (Repealed.)
Ramps in curb sections shall be provided as required in §
15.2-2021 of the Code of Virginia. The standard drawing for depressed curb ramp
(CG-12 A, B and C) as shown in the Road and Bridge Standards, English
(effective February 2001) or metric (effective January 1997) measurement
versions, or applicable insertable sheet shall be utilized in the design.
24VAC30-71-130. Sight distances. (Repealed.)
The following shall be utilized to evaluate intersection
sight distance. The sight distance requirements pertaining to commercial
driveways are not classified as vertical and horizontal, but are intersection sight
distance requirements being composed of both vertical and horizontal
components. Vertical sight distance shall be determined from an object mounted
3.5 feet (1.08 meters) above the grade of the vehicle path simulating a vehicle
traveling the through lanes of the roadway. The sight distance shall be
measured from an eye height of 3.5 feet (1.08 meters) to the object. Horizontal
sight distance shall be determined from an eye height of 3.5 feet (1.08 meters)
with the object being 3.5 feet (1.08 meters). For more information on sight
distance, see AASHTO's 2001 edition of A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways
and Streets.
On a typical two lane road with a horizontal curve,
numerous objects restrict sight distance. These include, but are not limited
to, cut slopes, buildings, vegetation, signs, and vehicles. Landscaping in
these areas shall conform to the AASHTO's 2001 edition of A Policy on Geometric
Design of Highways and Streets. It is possible to have sight distance in the
winter and not in the spring or summer due to the growth of vegetation. These
obstructions should be considered when reviewing a commercial entrance permit.
A divided highway may have similar problems. It is critical to obtain at least
the minimum commercial entrance sight distance from the entrance as well as the
left turn position into the entrance. Any waiver of the required sight distance
may only be granted by the chief engineer for program development or the state
location and design engineer after a traffic engineering investigation has been
conducted. Refer to the Guidance Document Instructional and Informational
Memorandum (IIM) LD-227.1, dated January 15, 2003, for requirements concerning
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approval of sight distance waiver.
Table 1 shows specific information about sight distances
and speeds along major roads:
Table 1
Sight Distances Along Major Roads at Intersections with
Minor Roads, Crossovers or Median Openings, and Commercial Entrances
(English Measurements)
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sight Distances Along Major Roads at Intersections with
Minor Roads, Crossovers or Median Openings, and Commercial Entrances
(Metric Measurements)
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Legal speed limit may be used at the engineers' discretion.
Where the operating speed on the respective segment of highway is determined to
be lower than the legal speed limit, and, in the judgment of the engineers, the
operating speed shall not create hazards for either a driver at a connection or
on the major roadway and the legal speed limit cannot and, in all probability,
shall not be obtained in the foreseeable future as a result of improvement or
reconstruction, the sight distance requirements for the operating speed may
then be applied. Where the operating speed on the respective segment of highway
is determined to be higher than the legal speed limit, the engineer may
require, in the interest of public safety, that the sight distance requirement
for the operating speed be applied. The operating speed shall be determined by
a traffic engineering study at the location in question. In all cases when the
operating speed is used in lieu of the speed limit, full documentation of its
determination shall be attached to the permit assembly. For roadways with
design speeds lower or higher than those shown, refer to the Road Design Manual
(effective July 1998).
** For median widths greater than 60 feet (18 meters), each
roadway can be considered as a separate two, three, or four lane roadway. (See
the 2001 edition of AASHTO's A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and
Streets.)
+ For three-lane major roads, where crossing two opposing
travel lanes, use the four-lane sight distance. When crossing one opposing
travel, lane, use two-lane sight distance.
24VAC30-71-140. Tenure of commercial entrances. (Repealed.)
A. Tenure of all commercial entrances to highways is finite
and is not meant to be transferred from one owner to another. If department representatives
determine that an entrance is substandard or that safety, use, or maintenance
of the entrance has changed significantly enough to require corrections, then
necessary changes shall be made or the entrance may be closed at the direction
of the commissioner or his representative. It should also be noted that once an
entrance has been constructed (regardless of date), the permittee or his
successors or assignees shall be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of
the entrance as stated above.
B. Commercial entrances may require reconstruction or
upgrading, or both, when department representatives determine after review that
the following conditions exist:
1. Safety. When the entrance has been determined to be
unsafe in its present condition for public use because of physical erosion of
the entrance, increase in motor vehicle traffic, or some other condition is
found to exist.
2. Use. When traffic in and out of the entrance has changed
significantly to require upgrading or reconstruction, or both. Such changes may
include, but are not limited to changes in traffic volume, character of the
traffic or peak hour traffic. This language is not intended to be exclusive.
3. Maintenance. When the entrance becomes unserviceable due
to heavy equipment damage, reclamation by natural causes, or increased traffic
volume, etc.
C. Commercial entrances shall be reviewed periodically for
substandard conditions as outlined above and when the property is being
considered for sale, has been rezoned, or when there is a change in commercial
use either by the property owner or by a lessee. Department personnel shall
work closely with the various local and county governments to protect the
department's interest and the interest of the traveling public through zoning ordinances
for commercial, subdivision and private entrance requirements, and to obtain
their assistance in policing changes in ownership that might affect the
department's requirements for the entrances. These periodic reviews are
necessary to provide both patron and through-highway-traffic users a safe means
of travel.
The department is responsible for the maintenance of that
portion of the entrance within the normal shoulder as shown in Figure 1.
24VAC30-71-150. Developer participation in traffic signal
cost. (Repealed.)
The following guidelines have been developed in an effort
to obtain an equitable method of determining developer responsibility for participation
in funding traffic signal work necessitated by land development:
1. Where the proposed development will generate sufficient
traffic to warrant signalization, the total cost for design, materials, timing
plans, and installation shall be borne by the developer.
2. Where development-generated traffic and existing highway
traffic must be combined to meet the requirements for either the major or minor
movements for any hour or hours, the developer shall bear 50% of the total cost
for design materials, timing plans, and installation.
3. Where an existing traffic signal must be modified to
accommodate traffic movements to or from the development, the developer shall
bear the total cost for any design, materials, timing plans, installation, and
relocation required to accommodate the development traffic.
For large developments, such as regional shopping centers
and corporate complexes, the department reserves the right to require that the
developer design or have designed the traffic signal, including timing plans,
and to install or have installed a complete working traffic signal system.
Designs and installations shall be in accordance with the current departmental
specifications and standards and shall be approved by the engineer.
24VAC30-71-160. Commercial/private entrance design
illustrations. (Repealed.)
The details set forth in the illustrations contained in
this section may be reduced or modified if approved by the district administrator
or engineer. All entrance widths in the following illustrations shall be
determined at the throat of the entrance, not the right of way line.
V0190037.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190038.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190039.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190040.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190041.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190042.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190043.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190044.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190045.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190046.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190047.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190048.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see Virginia
Administrative Code print product.
V0190049.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
For Commercial/private entrance design illustrations, see
Virginia Administrative Code print product.
V0190050.JPG,SIZE-37 PICAS,TYPE-DPI
24VAC30-71-170. Documents incorporated by reference. (Repealed.)
A. The document entitled, "A Policy on Geometric
Design of Highways and Streets," 2001, American Association of State Highway
%50 Transportation Officials, is incorporated by reference and made a part of
this chapter.
This document may be obtained from the American Association
of State Highway %50 Transportation Officials, 444 North Capitol Street N.W.,
Suite 249, Washington, DC 20001; E-mail address: info@aashto.org.
B. The Millennium (2000) edition of the Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) (effective January 17, 2001) and revisions,
including rulings thereto, is incorporated by reference and made a part of this
chapter. It is available in electronic form on the Federal Highway
Administration website and can be found at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov. It can
also be ordered from: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, P. O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 (Stock # 050-001-00332-5
(MUTCD, errata and Revision 1).
C. The following VDOT documents are incorporated by
reference and made a part of this chapter:
1. Road and Bridge Standards (English measurements),
effective February 2001, Location and Design Division;
2. Road and Bridge Standards (metric measurements),
effective January 1997, Location and Design Division;
3. Pavement Design Guide for Subdivision and Secondary Roads
in Virginia, effective September 2000, Materials Division;
4. Road Design Manual (English and metric measurements),
effective July 1998, Location and Design Division;
5. Road and Bridge Specifications (English measurements),
effective 2002, Scheduling and Contract Development Division;
6. Road and Bridge Specifications (metric measurements),
effective 1997, Scheduling and Contract Development Division.
The documents identified in this subsection may be obtained
by writing to the attention of the division noted by each document at the
Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia
23219, or via the Internet at http://virginiadot.org/business/default.asp.
C. VDOT regulations referenced throughout this chapter may
be obtained from the Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 E. Broad
Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or by accessing the Virginia Administrative
Code website at http://leg1.state.va.us/000/reg/TOC24030.HTM.
FORMS (24VAC30-71) (Repealed.)
Permit Application (rev. 10/03).
Land Use Permit Surety Bond, MP-20 (rev. 4/99).