La. Admin. Code tit. 70 § I-1521

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-1521 - Access Connection Requirements

A. Location of Access Connections

1. The frontage of any parcel of property adjacent to a public highway shall be considered to be confined within lines drawn from the intersection of the property lines with the right-of-way lines of the highway to the roadway surface, and perpendicular to the axis of the highway; or if the axis is a curve, to the center of curvature; or a combination of the two. Those lines shall be known as boundaries.

2. In addition, the following constraints shall apply.

a. Full access should not be granted within the functional influence area of the intersection. The influence area shall be required by DOTD in accordance with its policies. For purposes of this Chapter, the functional influence area of an intersection shall be defined as the area beyond the physical intersection of two roadways and/or access connection points that:

i. comprises decision and maneuvering distances;

ii. comprises any required vehicle storage lengths, either determined by length of existing storage lanes, observed queue lengths, or anticipated post-development queue lengths, all as determined by the district traffic operations engineer;

iii. includes the length of road upstream from an oncoming intersection needed by motorists to perceive the intersection and begin maneuvers to negotiate it.

3. Access connections located near or within storage limits of existing or proposed right- or left-turn lanes with no alternate locations shall be located as far as possible from the intersection and may be granted right-in/right-out only access connection conditions.

4. If the subject property is located at the intersection of two routes, an access connection may be permitted on both routes however, one must be limited to right-in/right-out access. The determination of the access connection locations and restrictions on each shall be at the discretion of the DOTD according to this rule and other applicable DOTD policies.

5. The applicant shall provide sufficient on-site circulation to ensure the safe ingress and egress of vehicles on the site. This on-site circulation shall be contained within the owner's property boundaries and shall not encroach upon the right-of-way in any way. Adequate on-site vehicle storage shall be provided in order to prevent any overflow of queued/waiting traffic in the travel lane(s) of the adjacent roadway(s).

6. Access connections shall be designed and constructed so that a driver can maneuver entering, parking, and exiting without backing onto the adjacent roadway.

B. The granting of access shall adhere to the following decision hierarchy.

1. Each property or group of adjacent properties with a single owner or development plan should be granted no more than one access point, unless Paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Section are completed and approved. The DOTD reserves the right to limit access to adjacent properties to those access connections which already exist. All properties shall receive adequate access, but that may be accomplished through required access sharing with a neighboring property.

2. The owner shall be required to gain access through the appropriate governmental local authorities for access on a non-state route.

3. If shared access is required by the DOTD, a copy of the shared access agreement shall be submitted to the DOTD as part of the driveway permit and shall be signed by all involved property owners.

C. The construction of parking within the limits of the state right-of-way is specifically prohibited. Facilities which require parking shall provide such within the limitations of the facility and shall not encroach upon the right-of-way.

D. Access connections which extend or travel parallel to the roadway shall not be permitted. This includes access near gasoline pumps or other structures requiring vehicular access. Any such pumps or structures shall be located a minimum distance of 15 feet from the right-of-way line in order that all on-site access lanes shall be located outside of the right-of-way.

E. Gates, fences, signage, landscaping, or other decorative or access-control features (i.e. gated subdivision) shall not be located within the right-of-way. Any such access-control feature shall be located so that a minimum storage of two vehicles (50' storage length minimum unless greater distances are required by DOTD) is provided outside of the limits of the right-of-way. Gated access shall not be permitted as an approach to a traffic signal.

F. Display of merchandise for sale within the limits of right-of-way (including, but not limited to, automobiles, farm equipment, agricultural produce, fireworks, tents, etc.) or the storage of farm implements within the limits of right-of-way is strictly prohibited.

La. Admin. Code tit. 70, § I-1521

Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, LR 37:350 (January 2011), amended by the Office of Engineering, LR 40:1012 (May 2014).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 48:344.