DESIGN DIVISION March 2020 Agenda Intr Introduction oduction - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

INTERST INTERSTATE A E ACCESS JUSTIFIC CCESS JUSTIFICATION ION REPORT (IAJR) REPORT (IAJR) ENGINEERING, OPERATION AND SAFETY ANALYSIS TXDOT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) DESIGN DIVISION March 2020

Agenda  Intr Introduction oduction  IAJR Pr IAJR Process ocess  IAJR Me IAJR Methodology thodology  IAJR R IAJR Repor port  IAJR R IAJR Re-e -evaluation luation  Quality Contr Quality Control  Questions/Comments? Questions/Comments? 2

Interstate Access Overview  Wh Why is y is Int Interstat tate A Access Management ccess Management im impor portant? ant?  Wh Why is y is IAJR req IAJR required? ired?  What is the IAJR P What is the IAJR Policy? licy? 3

Interstate Highway System  Backbone of the nations' surface transportation system  60+ years  Played major role in shaping nation’s economy & development  Led to increase in traffic demand  Demand for access  Interstate Highways in Texas  >3000 miles  > dozen of primary and auxiliary routes  4 of 10 longest Interstates Texas Interstate Highway System 4

The Interstate Highway Access Management  Need for access  New or modified  Support development  Access to other system  Access management  Location & Design  Safety & Operation  Challenges  Points of conflict  Balance between access and mobility 5

Legal Authority for the Interstate Access Policy United States Code (USC) – Title 23 Section 111 – Agreements relating to use of and access to rights-of - way – Interstate System “All agreements between the Secretary and the State transportation department for the construction of projects on the Interstate System shall contain a clause providing that the State will not add any points of access to, or exit from, the project in addition to those approved by the Secretary in the plans for such project, without the prior approval of the Secretary.” The USDOT Secre The USDO T Secretar ary has delegat y has delegated this authority t d this authority to the F the Federal Highw deral Highway Adminis dministrat trator or 6

FHWA Policy on Access Changes to the Interstate System Policy “ It is in the national interest to preserve and enhance the Interstate System to meet the needs of the 21st Century by assuring that it provides the highest level of service in terms of safety and mobility . Full control of access along the Interstate mainline and ramps , along with control of access on the crossroad at interchanges, is critical to providing such service. 7

FHWA Policy on Access Changes to the Interstate System Therefore, the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) decision to approve new or revised access points to the Interstate System under Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 111, must be supported by substantiated information justifying and documenting that decision . The FHWA's decision to approve a request is dependent on the proposal satisfying and documenting the following requirements: 1. 1. Operational and Operational and Saf Safety Analysis ty Analysis  Maintain the safety and operational integrity of the Interstate System 2. 2. Access and ccess and Design Design  Connects to a public road and provides for all traffic movements  Meet the current design standards 8

Introduction  Provide TxDOT Guidance based on FHWA Access Guide Purpose Purpose  Provide consistent point of reference for Districts, DES, and FHWA (Tx Div)  Improve probability and ease of acceptance by FHWA  Clarify importance of Early coordination with DES and FHWA  Title 23, United States Code, Highway Section 111 Legal Legal  State will not add any point of access w/o approval of Secretary Backg Background nd USDOT  Title 49, Code of Federal Regulation (CFR), Section 1.48  Secretary delegated the authority to FHWA  FHWA Policy Policy Policy  October 22, 1990 Ev Evolutio ution  February 1998  August 2009  May 2017 *Pending Issuance of this SOP as current  TxDOT Policy policy  October 19, 2018 Memo* 9

TxDOT’s Policy for IAJRs TxDO TxDOT’s T’s Policy f olicy for IAJRs r IAJRs  Incorporat Incorporates the tw es the two updat o updated points in oints in the FHW the FHWA Ma May y 2017 P 20 Policy licy  Ef Effects of re cts of revised access on Saf vised access on Safety and ty and Operations Operations  Access, Connection and ccess, Connection and Design Design  Retains the six tains the six points in points in the FHW the FHWA A August 2009 gust 2009 Policy licy  Need Need  Alt Alternativ rnatives es  Consist Consistency w/Local and ency w/Local and Regional Plans gional Plans  Potential future multiple Int ntial future multiple Interchange additions hange additions  Coor Coordination w/ Local dination w/ Local De Development/T pment/Transpor ansportation tation  En Envir vironmental R nmental Revie view Status Status 10

Attachment A TxDOT’s Policy for IAJRs 11

Requirements Which A Which Access Changes req ccess Changes require IAJRs? ire IAJRs?  Based on FHW Based on FHWA A Access Guide ccess Guide  Three types of Three types of delegation f delegation for access pr r access processing ocessing  FHW FHWA Headq Headquar arters Appr rs Approval al  FHW FHWA Division Of Division Office ce Appr Approval al  FHW FHWA Coor Coordination dination  Attachment ttachment B-1 B-1 lists access changes req lists access changes requiring FHW iring FHWA re revie view and and action action  Attachment ttachment B-2 lists B-2 lists changes no changes not req t requiring FHW iring FHWA re revie view and appr and approval al  Documentation req Documentation requirements dependent on the pr irements dependent on the project cont oject context 12

Access Changes Requiring IAJRs 13

Agenda  Intr Introduction oduction  IAJR Pr IAJR Process ocess  IAJR Me IAJR Methodology thodology  IAJR R IAJR Repor port  IAJR R IAJR Re-e -evaluation luation  Quality Contr Quality Control  Questions/Comments? Questions/Comments? 14

IAJR Process Ke Key S Stages PR PROJECT INITIA OJECT INITIATION TION Need and Purpose Methodology Traffic Forecast COORDINA COORDINATION TION Crash Data Access & Draft Design Exist Cond Traffic Submission Benefits/ Analysis Impacts TRANSPOR TRANSPORTATION TION REVIEW REVIEW & & COORDINATION COORDINA TION ANAL ANALYSIS IS APPROVAL APPR Recommendations Safety Analysis 15

Project Development & IAJR Timeline Preliminary Planning/Corridor Final Design and Letting & Letting & Engineering & Studies PS&E Construction Construction Schematics IAJR IAJR < 1 Y < 1 Year ars 12 – 12 – 24 Months 4 Months < 3 Y < 3 Year ars 16

IAJR Schedule Typical A pical Average Schedule erage Schedule 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Methodology Data Collection Traffic Forecasting Traffic Analysis Safety Analysis Draft Report TxDOT Review FHWA Review Months to Complete 17

TxDOT IAJR Process 18

IAJR Phase: 19

IAJR Phase: 20

IAJR Phase: 21

IAJR Phase: 22

IAJR Phase: 23

IAJR Phase: M&A Memo will be considered Final with concurrence of FHWA, DES, and District.. 24

IAJR Phase: IAJR & Schematic – Two Hard Copies Each IAJR, Schematic, Native Analysis Files – Electronic Copy 25

IAJR Phase: IAJR – Two Hard Copies Schematic – One Hard Copy IAJR, Schematic, Native Analysis Files – Electronic Copy 26

IAJR Phase: 27

IAJR Phase: IAJR, Schematic, Native Analysis Files – Electronic Copy 28

Documentation Relationship and Sequence  Schematic Schematic (Geome (Geometric Design + tric Design + Signing La Signing Layout) ut) FHWA Conditional IAJR – Adequate detail to determine impacts Acceptance Only * – Supports capacity and operational analysis No – Documents design criteria used – To be submitted to DES for review – Does not require FHWA review/approval (subject to NEPA PODI requirements) Schematic Approval ?  NEP NEPA Document Document – Requires a schematic Yes – Review/Approval does not require an approved IAJR FHWA IAJR  IAJR IAJR Approval * – FHWA approval requires: • Schematic (Geometric Design + Signing Layout) • NEPA approval (delegated to TxDOT) – FHWA conditional acceptance if NEPA * Only one FHWA letter will be issued, either conditional review/approval process incomplete acceptance or approval 29

Documentation Relationship and Sequence  PS&E PS&E FHWA Conditional IAJR Acceptance Only * – Must reflect the schematic – Must reflect the IAJR No – Ramp location change may trigger: NEPA • Additional analysis up to Schematic Approval including IAJR re- ? evaluation • Possible NEPA Yes amendment – Other design changes that impact the schematic may FHWA IAJR trigger NEPA re-evaluation Approval * (just be aware) PS&E 30

Agenda  Intr Introduction oduction  IAJR Pr IAJR Process ocess  IAJR Methodology IAJR Methodology  IAJR R IAJR Repor port  IAJR R IAJR Re-e -evaluation luation  Quality Contr Quality Control  Questions/Comments? Questions/Comments? 31