HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2008-01-15 Item 3C - Ordinance - WA State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Access Permitting STandards for SR 181To: Mayor Haggeron
From: Public Works Director
Date: January 9, 2008
Subject: WSDOT Access Management Permitting Standards
Adoption by Ordinance
ISSUE:
In 2007, the Washington State Legislature tasked Washington Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT)
and the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) with inventorying and assisting cities with
managing access on state highways within city limits.
BACKGROUND:
INFORMATION MEMO
Current state law requires cities to be the permitting authority for state managed access highways
within city boundaries (Chapters 468 -51 and 468 -52 of the Washington Administrative Code and
Chapter 47.50 of the Revised Code of Washington).
Current law only applies to SR -181 (West Valley Highway).
SR -99 (Tukwila Intl Blvd., formerly Pacific Highway South) has been turned over to Tukwila;
SR -900 (M.L. King Jr., Way) is limited access, 1 -5 is limited access, I -405 is limited access; and
SR -518 is limited access.
ACTION TAKEN:
An ordinance has been drafted to adopt the WSDOT access permitting standards on state
highways within the City of Tukwila limits.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve ordinance adopting the WSDOT access permitting standards on state highways within
the City of Tukwila limits
Attachments: Draft Ordinance
October 3, 2007 letter from WSDOT and AWC
Managed Access in Washington A Progress Report to the Legislature (September, 2007)
P:\BOB\Access Management \WSDOT Access Mgmt Info Memo.doc
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON; PROVIDING FOR HIGHWAY ACCESS MANAGEMENT,
ACCESS PERMITS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS PURSUANT TO
RCW 47.50; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary to provide regulation and control of
vehicular access and connection points of ingress to, and egress from, the state highway
system within the incorporated areas of the City of Tukwila.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. THAT RCW Chapter 47.50 is hereby adopted by reference to provide for
the regulation and control of vehicular access and connection points of ingress to, and
egress from, the state highway system within the incorporated areas of the City of
Tukwila.
Section 2. Pursuant to the requirements and authority of RCW 47.50, there is
hereby adopted by reference the provisions of Chapter 468 -51 and 468 -52 of the
Washington Administrative Code, together with all future amendments, in order to
implement the requirements of Chapter 47.50 RCW.
Section 3. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to
be invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the
remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to any other person or situation.
Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published
in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five days
after passage and publication as provided by law.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON,
at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of 2008.
ATTEST/ AUTHENTICATED:
Jane E. Cantu, CMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
Office of the City Attorney
G \Temp \XPGrpWise\ WSDOT Access Mgmt Ordinance.doc
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Published:
Effective Date:
Ordinance Number:
Washington State
1 Department of transportation
Paula Mammend, P.E.
Interim Secretary at Transportation
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310 H10M Park Amu. SE.
P.O Box arm
OyrrpY.14A 965044300
360405 -1000
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October 3, 2007
Mr. Jim Morrow
Director, Public Works, City of Tukwila
6300 Southcenter Blvd #100
Tukwila, WA 98188
Dear Mr. Morrow:
Beginning Ending
State Route Milepost Milepost
181 9.75 11.23
Current
Access
Classification
M3
RECEIVED
OCT 0 5 2007
1 UKWILA
PUBLIC WORKS
Planned
Access
Classification
Established
Access
Classification
RCW 47.50.030(3)
2 Limited access is established but access sights have not yet been entirely purchased.
A
ASSOUAT1O
0 1 }�7N U7
Ci T iE5
Assodst.e of Wightnaten Cu 1tl
1076 FtaNOn SUNK S.E.
Wm :a. WA 96501
3067534131
t400.5e24961
vrww.t.crpt erg
In its 2007 session, the Washington State Legislature tasked WSDOT with inventorying
how cities have implemented current laws for managing access on state highways within
their boundaries. The Association of Washington Cities and WSDOT are collaborating
to complete this task.
Established in 1991, current law requires cities and towns to be the permitting authorities
for state managed access highways within their boundaries. Current law also requires
cities and towns to adopt access permitting standards for these highways that meet or
exceed the state's access standards.'
The 2007 Washington State Legislature directed WSDOT to require your confirmation
that the City of Tukwila has adopted the required access permitting standards for the
following managed access state highways within its boundaries:
WSDOT
Region
Northwest
To provide the legislature with the best possible information about the status of access
management on state highways within cities, we strongly encourage you to:
Review the enclosed state access standards,
Review your jurisdiction's adopted ordinances,
Confirm by your signature on the enclosed form that your adopted access
permitting standards meet or exceed state access standards, or detail your
progress towards adopting the required standards if they have not yet been
adopted, and
Submit your confirmation and a signed copy of applicable
ordinance to WSDOT at the address indicated on the form no
later than November 30, 2007.
Mr. Jim Morrow
October 3, 2007
Page 2
In 20Q8 and 2009, WSDOT will submit reports to the legislature detailing each
jurisdiction's progress toward adopting the required access permitting standards. Our
intent is to help cities and towns successfully demonstrate to the legislature their
commitment to protecting the safety and capacity of the state highway system through
good access management practices.
Please refer to the enclosed managed access information sheet for more information
about access control on state highways and the progress report requested by the
legislature. If you have any questions, please contact Karena Houser at (360) 705 -7876
or HouserKawsdot.wa.aov.
Thank you for your help!
Sincerely,
leleatzA. r.,..41,„;‘..
Elizabeth Robbins
Transportation Planning Manager
Washington State Department of Transportation
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Enclosure
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MPO/RTPO
WSDOT Region Office
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Ashley Probart
Transportation Coordinator
Association of Washington Cities
Washington State
VI/ Department of Transportation
Managed Access in Washington
A Progress Report to the Legislature
I n its 2007 transportation budget, the legislature tasked the Washington
State Department of Transportation WSDOT) with reporting the progress
of local jurisdictions toward fulfilling their responsibilities under the highway
access management statutes enacted in 1991. WSDOT is working with a
number of stakeholders to complete this task, including the Community,
Trade and Economic Development Department (CTED), the Association of
Washington Cities (AWC), and the Washington State Association of Counties
(WSAC). Our intent is to help local governments successfully demonstrate to
the legislature their commitment to protecting the safety and capacity of the
state highway system through good access management.
Access Control on State Highways
Access control manages traffic movements onto and off of state highways to improve
system performance, minimize traffic conflicts, and increase traffic flow. Typical access
management techniques include minimum spacing between intersections and driveways,
dedicated turn lanes, and median treatments. Access control preserves a highway's safety
and capacity, reducing accidents by as much as 50 percent and increasing road capacity by
as much as 45 percent.'
In Washington, state highways are classified as either limited or managed access. The basic
policy for limited access highways was established in 1951 and is based on the purchase of
access rights from the owners of property abutting the highway. There are three levels of
limited access control with progressive restrictions. Approaches to all limited access routes,
except interstates, must be approved by the Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT). Interstate approaches are approved by the Federal Highway Administration.
Managed access legislation was enacted in 1991 to address the portion of the state
transportation system that was not established as limited access.' Managed access is based
on the premise that the access rights of a property owner are subordinate to the public's
right and interest in a safe and efficient highway system. A property owner's direct access
to a state highway may be restricted if reasonable access can be provided to another public
road
WSDOT consulted and cooperated with local and regional governments to implement
managed access legislation. WSDOT developed access design standards, adopted
permitting procedures, established a five -tier classification system, and assigned specific
highway segments to those classifications. The City Design Standards Committee,
consisting of the state aid engineer and six AWC appointees, participated in crafting the new
access management code and formally concurred with it in 1992. Additionally, about half
of cities and towns officially concurred with the access classifications WSDOT assigned to
the managed access highways within their boundaries.
1. Access Regulation A Balancing Act Between Access and Mobility. WSDOT. 2005.
2. RCW 47.52
3. RCW 47.50.010(2)
4. RCW 4750.010(3)
September, 2007
Managed Access Highway Classifications
Class One:
Mobility is primary function
Speeds of 50 to 65 mph
1,320 ft. minimum access spacing
No direct access if alternate public
road is available
Restrictive median for some multi-
lane configurations
Class Two:
Mobility favored over access
Speed of 35 to 50 mph in urban ar-
eas and 45 to 55 mph in rural areas
660 ft minimum access spacing
No direct access if alternative public
road is available
Restrictive median for some multi-
lane configurations
Class Three:
Balance between mobility and access
in areas with less than maximum
build out
Speeds of 30 to 40 mph in urban ar-
eas and 45 to 55 mph in rural areas j
330 ft. minimum access spacing i
Restrictive median may be warranted
Class Four.
Balance between mobility and access
in areas with near maximum build
out
Speeds of 30 to 35 mph in urban
areas and 35 to 45 in rural areas
250 ft. minimum access spacing
Non restrictive medians
Class Five:
Access needs generally have priority
over mobility needs
Speeds of 25 to 35 mph
125 ft. minimum access spacing
Non restrictive medians
WAC 468 -52 -040
State law splits the responsibility for state managed access highway permitting based
on the location of the state highway. In unincorporated areas, access permitting is
the responsibility of the WSDOT region offices. Cities and towns are the permitting
authorities for the state managed access highways within their boundaries Cities and
towns are required by statute to adopt access permitting standards for the state managed
access highways within their boundaries that meet or exceed WSDOT standards
The initial deadline for adoption was July 1, 1993. If cities fail to adopt the required
standards, WSDOT standards may be used as a default'
The Legislative Request
The legislature's 2007 transportation budget included a proviso directing WSDOT to
require local jurisdictions to confirm they have adopted access permitting standards for
state managed access highways. The standards must meet or exceed WSDOT standards,
as required by statute. The proviso also directed WSDOT to submit a report to the
IegisIature detailing local jurisdictions' progress toward adopting the standards.
A work group of stakeholders met in July and advised WSDOT to seek confirmation from
all 205 cities that contain managed access highways. WSDOT will contact the public
works directors of these cities by mail, provide them with a description of the managed
access highways within their boundaries, and request them to submit:
either a statement confirming their adoption of the required access permitting
standards or a description of their progress toward adopting the standards,
a statement concurring with the managed access classifications assigned to the
highways within their boundaries, if applicable, and
a copy of their access permitting standards ordinance.
The 76 cities that do not contain managed access highways will not be contacted.
In the interest of providing the best possible information to the legislature about the status
of access management in Washington, the work group also decided to survey counties
with managed access highways within their unincorporated areas. Although WSDOT is
the permitting authority for these highways, the county development permitting office
is often a point of first contact for developers who may require a state access permit.
The survey's intent is to help us understand how counties coordinate with the state on
development permitting for properties adjacent to state managed access highways. The
electronic survey will be distributed to county engineers by e-mail, except in San Juan
County which does not contain any managed access highways.
WSDOT is requesting city and county responses by November 30, 2007. This allows
ample time for cities that have not yet adopted appropriate access permitting standards to
do so prior to the December, 2008 final deadline. This will also allow WSDOT, CTED,
and AWC time to provide additional technical assistance to cities and towns that have not
yet adopted the required standards.
WSDOT will summarize the information provided by the cities and counties in a
preliminary report to the 2008 Legislature and a final report to the 2009 Legislature.
5. RCW 47.50.020(3)
6. RCW 47.50.030(3)
7. WAC 468 51-010
The Legislative Access Proviso:
"By December 1, 2008, the department
shall require confirmation from jurisdictions
that plan under the growth management
act, chapter 36.70A RCW, and that
receive state transportation funding
under this act, that the jurisdictions have
adopted standards for access permitting
on state highways that meet or exceed
departrnent standards in accordance
with RCW 47.50.030. The objective of
this subsection is to encourage local
governments, through the receipt of state
transportation funding, to adhere to best
practices in access control applicable to
development activity significantly impacting
state transportation facilities. By January
1, 2009, the department shall submit a
report to the appropriate committees of the
legislature detailing the progress of the local
jurisdictions in adopting the highway access
permitting standards."
ESNS 1094, Sec 222 (4)
For More Information
For more information about the access
proviso, please contact:
Karena Houser
WSDOT Transportation Planner
HouserK@wsdot.wa.gov
(360) 705 -7876
www.wsdot.wa.gov /planning
Ashley Probart
AWC Transportation Coordinator
AshleyP @awcnetorg
(360) 753 -4137
www.awcnet.org
Julia Murray
WSAC Policy Director
jmurray@wacounties.org
(360) 586 4219 ext 104
www.wacounties.org/wsac
For more Information about access con-
trol on state highways, please contact:
Barb De Ste. Croix, P.E.
WSDOT Access Hearings Engineer
DestecB@wsdot.wa.gov
(360) 705 -7251
www. wsdot.wa.gov /eesc /design/access