Washington Administrative Code › Title 468 - Transportation, Department of (See Title 88) › Chapter 468-51 - Highway access management access permits-Administrative process › Section 468-51-040 - Connection categories

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
All connections, public or private shall be determined by the
				department to be in one of the following categories:
(1) "Category I - Minimum connection"
			 provides connection to the state highway system for up to ten single family
			 residences, a duplex, or a small multifamily complex of up to ten dwelling
			 units, which use a common connection. The category shall also apply to
			 permanent connections to agricultural and forest lands, including field
			 entrances; connections for the operation, maintenance, and repair of utilities;
			 and connections serving other low volume traffic generators expected to have an
			 average weekday vehicle trip ends (AWDVTE) of one hundred or less.
(2) "Category II - Minor connection" provides
			 connection to the state highway system for medium volume traffic generators
			 expected to have an AWDVTE of one thousand five hundred or less, but not
			 included in Category I.
(3)
			 "Category III - Major connection" provides connection to the state highway
			 system for high volume traffic generators expected to have an AWDVTE exceeding
			 one thousand five hundred.
(4)
			 "Category IV - Temporary connection" provides a temporary, time limited,
			 connection to the state highway system for a specific property for a specific
			 use with a specific traffic volume. Such uses include, but are not limited to,
			 logging, forest land clearing, temporary agricultural uses, temporary
			 construction, and temporary emergency access. The department reserves the right
			 to remove any temporary connection at its sole discretion and at the expense of
			 the property owner after the expiration of the permit. Further, a temporary
			 connection permit does not bind the department, in any way, to the future
			 issuance of a permanent connection permit at the temporary connection
			 location.
(5) "Nonconforming
			 connection" designation may be issued for Category I through IV permits after
			 an analysis and determination by the department that a conforming connection
			 cannot be made and a finding that the denial of a connection would leave the
			 property without a reasonable means of access to the public road system. In
			 such instances, the permit shall be noted as nonconforming and contain specific
			 restrictions and provisions, including limits on the maximum vehicular use of
			 the connection, the future availability of alternate means of reasonable access
			 for which a conforming connection permit could be obtained, the removal of the
			 nonconforming connection at the time the conforming access is available, and
			 other conditions as necessary to carry out the provisions of chapter 47.50
			 RCW.
(6) "Variance connection"
			 means a special nonconforming or additional connection permit, issued for a
			 location not normally permitted by current department standards, after an
			 engineering study demonstrates that the connection will not adversely affect
			 the safety, maintenance or operation of the highway in accordance with its
			 assigned classification. This permit will remain valid until modified or
			 revoked by the permitting authority.
(7) "Median opening" includes openings
			 requested for both new connections and for existing connections. New median
			 openings proposed as part of a new driveway connection shall be reviewed as
			 part of the permit application review process. Request for the construction of
			 new median openings to serve existing permitted connections shall require a
			 reevaluation of the location, quantity, design of existing connection, and
			 traffic at the existing connections. The property owner must file a new
			 connection permit application, for the proper connection category, showing the
			 new proposed median opening location and design and its relationship to the
			 existing or modified driveway connections. Nothing contained herein shall be
			 construed to prohibit the department from closing an existing median opening
			 where operational or safety reasons require the action. The department shall
			 notify affected property owners, permit holders and tenants, in writing, thirty
			 days in advance of the closure of a median opening unless immediate closure is
			 needed for safety or operational reasons.
Statutory Authority: Chapter 47.50 RCW. 99-06-034 (Order
				  187), § 468-51-040, filed 2/25/99, effective 3/28/99. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   47.01.101 and chapter 47.50 RCW. 92-14-044,
				  § 468-51-040, filed 6/24/92, effective
				  7/25/92.