WAC 468-58-080
Guides for control of access on
crossroads and interchange ramps. (1) Fully controlled
highways, including interstate.
(a) There shall be no connections to abutting property or
local service or frontage roads within the full length of any
"off" or "on" interchange ramp from a fully controlled limited
access highway. Such ramp shall be considered to terminate at
its intersection with the local road which undercrosses or
overcrosses the limited access facility, provided that in
urban areas "off" and "on" ramps may be terminated at local
streets other than crossroads where necessary to service
existing local traffic.
(b) There shall be no direct connections from the limited
access facility in rural areas to local service or frontage
roads except through interchanges.
(c) In both urban and rural areas access control on a
fully controlled highway shall be established along the
crossroad at an interchange for a minimum distance of three
hundred feet beyond the centerline of the ramp or terminus of
transition taper. If a frontage road or local road is located
in a generally parallel position within three hundred fifty
feet of a ramp, access control should be established along the
crossroad and in addition for a minimum distance of one
hundred thirty feet in all directions from the center of the
intersection of the parallel road and crossroad.
(d) Full control of access should be provided along the
crossroad from the centerline of a ramp or terminus of a
transition taper for a minimum distance of three hundred feet.
Upon determination by the department, full control of access
may be provided for the first one hundred thirty feet from the
centerline of the ramp or terminus of a transition taper and
partial control or modified control of access may be provided
for the remainder of the distance to the frontage road or
local road for a total minimum distance for the two types of
control of three hundred feet. Type A, B, C, D, E, and F road
approaches, as defined hereafter under subsection (3) of this
section, "general," may be permitted on that portion of the
crossroad on which partial or modified control of access is
established.
(2) Partially controlled highways.
(a) There shall be no connections to abutting property or
local service or frontage roads within the full length of any
"off" or "on" interchange ramp from a partially controlled
limited access highway. Such ramp shall be considered to
terminate at its intersection with the local road which
undercrosses or overcrosses the limited access facility,
provided that in urban areas "off" and "on" ramps may be
terminated at local streets other than crossroads where
necessary to service existing local traffic.
(b) In both urban and rural areas access control on a
partially controlled highway shall be established along the
crossroad at an interchange for a minimum distance of three
hundred feet beyond the centerline of the ramp or terminus of
transition taper. If a frontage road or local road is located
in a generally parallel position within three hundred fifty
feet of a ramp, access control should be established along the
crossroad and in addition for a minimum distance of one
hundred thirty feet in all directions from the center of the
intersection of the parallel road and crossroad.
(c) Access control limits at the crossroads on a
partially controlled highway should be established along the
crossroad at a grade intersection for a minimum distance of
three hundred feet from the centerline of the nearest
directional roadway. If a parallel road is located within
three hundred fifty feet of said grade intersection, access
control should be established along the crossroad and in
addition for a minimum distance of one hundred thirty feet in
all directions from the center of the intersection of the
parallel road and crossroad. Type D, E, and F approaches may
be permitted closer than one hundred thirty feet from the
center of the intersection only when they already exist and
cannot reasonably be relocated.
(d) Access control limits at intersections on modified
control highways should be established along the cross road
for a minimum distance of one hundred thirty feet from the
centerline of a two-lane highway or for a minimum of one
hundred thirty feet from centerline of the nearest directional
roadway of a four-lane highway. Type D, E, and F approaches
should be allowed within this area only when no other
reasonable alternative is available.
(3) General.
(a) Access control may be increased or decreased beyond
or under the minimum requirements to fit local conditions if
so determined by the department.
(b) Type A, B, C, D, E, and F approaches are defined as
follows:
(i) Type A approach. Type A approach is an off and on
approach in legal manner, not to exceed thirty feet in width,
for sole purpose of serving a single family residence. It may
be reserved by abutting owner for specified use at a point
satisfactory to the state at or between designated highway
stations.
(ii) Type B approach. Type B approach is an off and on
approach in legal manner, not to exceed fifty feet in width,
for use necessary to the normal operation of a farm, but not
for retail marketing. It may be reserved by abutting owner
for specified use at a point satisfactory to the state at or
between designated highway stations.
(iii) Type C approach. Type C approach is an off and on
approach in legal manner, for special purpose and width to be
agreed upon. It may be specified at a point satisfactory to
the state at or between designated highway stations.
(iv) Type D approach is an off and on approach in a legal
manner not to exceed fifty feet in width for use necessary to
the normal operation of a commercial establishment. It may be
specified at a point satisfactory to the state at or between
designated highway stations.
(v) Type E approach is a separated off and on approach in
a legal manner, with each opening not exceeding thirty feet in
width, for use necessary to the normal operations of a
commercial establishment. It may be specified at a point
satisfactory to the state at or between designated highway
stations.
(vi) Type F approach is an off and on approach in a legal
manner, not to exceed thirty feet in width, for the sole
purpose of serving a wireless communication site. It may be
specified at a point satisfactory to the state at or between
designated highway stations.
The state shall only authorize such approach by the
issuance of a nonassignable permit. The permit allows site
access for the normal construction, operation and maintenance
of the wireless communication site for the permit holder and
its contractors but not its subtenants. If a sale or merger
occurs that affects an existing wireless communication site,
the new wireless communication provider will be authorized to
utilize said approach upon the state's receipt of written
notice of the sale or merger action. The wireless
communication site access permit may be canceled upon written
notice for reasons specified in the wireless communication
site access permit general provisions. The permit will only
be issued if it meets all state criteria, including, but not
limited to, design and safety standards.
Only one wireless communication site access user per
permit shall be allowed, but more than one permit may be
issued for a single Type F approach.
Each permitted access user shall be required to pay to
the state five hundred dollars annually in compensation for
use of the state-owned access rights, at the time of the
issuance of the permit and each year thereafter.
Since the state is the owner of the access, Type F
approach permits shall not be issued pursuant to chapter 47.50 RCW and shall not confer a property right upon the
permittee(s). An applicant for a Type F approach permit shall
pay a nonrefundable access application fee when application is
made in the amount of five hundred dollars for investigating,
handling and granting the permit.
An application for wireless communication site access
permit shall receive a response from the department of
transportation within thirty working days from date of receipt
of said application.
(c) Under no circumstances will a change in location or
width of an approach be permitted unless approved by the
secretary. Noncompliance or violation of these conditions
will result in the immediate closure of the approach.
(d) Commercial approaches shall not be permitted within
the limits of access control except where modified access
control has been approved by the department.
(e) All access control shall be measured from the
centerline of the ramps, crossroads or parallel roads or from
the terminus of transition tapers. On multiple lane
facilities measurement shall be from the centerline of the
nearest directional roadway.
