Washington Administrative Code › Title 468 - Transportation, Department of (See Title 88) › Chapter 468-51 - Highway access management access permits-Administrative process › Section 468-51-020 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions of
				terms shall apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Application" means an application form
			 supplied by the department and completed by the applicant, a certified check or
			 money order for the required application fee, and related property site,
			 driveway, roadway, and traffic information.
(2) "Average daily traffic (ADT)" means the
			 volume of traffic passing a point or segment of a highway, in both directions,
			 during a period of time, divided by the number of days in the period and
			 factored to represent an estimate of traffic volume for an average day of the
			 year.
(3) "Average weekday vehicle
			 trip ends (AWDVTE)" means the estimated total of all trips entering plus all
			 trips leaving the applicant's site based on the final stage of proposed
			 development.
(4) "Conforming
			 connection" means a connection that meets current department location, spacing,
			 and design criteria.
(5)
			 "Connection" means approaches, driveways, turnouts, or other means of providing
			 for the right of access to or from controlled access facilities on the state
			 highway system.
(6) "Connection
			 category" means a permit category of all state highway connections, in
			 accordance with the type of property served and the estimated traffic generated
			 by the applicant's site based on rates accepted by the department.
(7) "Connection permit" means a written
			 authorization given by the department for a specifically designed connection to
			 the state highway system at a specific location for a specific type and
			 intensity of property use and specific volume of traffic for the proposed
			 connection, based on the final stage of proposed development of the applicant's
			 property. The actual form used for this authorization will be determined by the
			 department.
(8) "Controlled access
			 facility" means a transportation facility (excluding limited access facilities
			 as defined in
			 chapter
			 47.52 RCW) to which access
			 is regulated by the governmental entity having jurisdiction over the facility.
			 Owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have a right of
			 reasonable access to and from such facility at such points only and in such
			 manner as may be determined by the governmental entity.
(9) "Department" means the Washington state
			 department of transportation.
(10)
			 "Development approval" means an official action by a governmental land use
			 planning authority authorizing the developer or land owner to begin
			 construction of any permanent improvements on the property.
(11) "Governmental entity" means, for the
			 purpose of this chapter, a unit of local government or officially designated
			 transportation authority that has the responsibility for planning,
			 construction, operation, maintenance, or jurisdiction over transportation
			 facilities.
(12) "Joint use
			 connection" means a single connection point that serves as a connection to more
			 than one property or development, including those in different ownerships or in
			 which access rights are provided in the legal descriptions.
(13) "Limited access facility" means a
			 highway or street especially designed or designated for through traffic, and
			 over, from, or to which owners or occupants of abutting land, or other persons
			 have no right or easement, or only a limited right or easement of access,
			 light, view or air by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon such
			 limited access facility, or for any other reason to accomplish the purpose of a
			 limited access facility.
(14)
			 "Median" means the portion of a divided highway or divided connection
			 separating vehicular traffic traveling in opposite directions; not including
			 speed change lanes, storage lanes for left turning or U-turning vehicles, or
			 two way left turn lanes.
(15)
			 "Median opening" means either a full opening in a continuous median for the
			 specific purpose of allowing vehicles to make a left turn maneuver into or out
			 of a property abutting the highway, to facilitate U-turns, or to allow for a
			 vehicle to totally cross the road, or a directional opening allowing for left
			 turn maneuvers into the property and U-turn maneuvers, but not allowing for
			 left turns or cross movements out of the property.
(16) "Nonconforming connection" means a
			 connection not meeting current department location, spacing, or design
			 criteria.
(17) "Permit" means
			 written approval issued by the department, subject to conditions stated
			 therein, authorizing construction, reconstruction, maintenance, or
			 reclassification of a state highway connection and associated traffic control
			 devices on or to the department's right of way.
(18) "Permitting authority" means the
			 department or any county, municipality, or transportation authority authorized
			 to regulate access to their respective transportation systems.
(19) "Reasonable access" means an access
			 connection that is suitable for the existing and/or proposed property use and
			 does not adversely affect the safety, operations or maintenance of the highway
			 system.
(20) "Right of way (R/W)"
			 means a general term denoting land or interest therein, acquired for or
			 designated for transportation purposes. More specifically, land in which the
			 department, a county, or a municipality owns the fee simple title, has an
			 easement devoted to or required for use as a public road and appurtenant
			 facilities, or has established ownership by prescriptive right, or lands that
			 have been dedicated for public transportation purposes.
(21) "Shoulder" means the portion of the
			 highway contiguous with the traveled lanes for the accommodation of stopped
			 vehicles for emergency use, and for lateral support of base and surface courses
			 and for other uses as allowed by law.
(22) "State highway system" means all roads,
			 streets, and highways designated as state routes in compliance with
			 chapter
			 47.17 RCW.
(23) "Temporary connection" means a permitted
			 connection for a specific property use, conditioned to be open for a specific
			 purpose and traffic volume for a specific period of time with the right of way
			 to be restored by the permit holder to its original condition upon connection
			 closure.
(24) "Variance permit"
			 means a special nonconforming or additional connection permit, issued for a
			 location not normally permitted by current department standards, after an
			 engineering study demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the department, that the
			 connection will not adversely affect the safety, maintenance or operation of
			 the state highway in accordance with its assigned classification. This permit
			 will remain valid until modified or revoked by the permitting
			 authority.
Statutory Authority: Chapter 47.50 RCW. 99-06-034 (Order
				  187), § 468-51-020, filed 2/25/99, effective 3/28/99. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   47.01.101 and chapter 47.50 RCW. 92-14-044,
				  § 468-51-020, filed 6/24/92, effective
				  7/25/92.