Transportation, Operations, Maintenance

Rule R918-6

Maintenance Responsibility at Intersections, Overcrossings, and Interchanges Between Class A Roads and Class B or Class C Roads

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 36345
Filed: 06/11/2012 06:55:08 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this rule is to assign maintenance responsibility between the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the local government entity for roadway and roadside features at the intersection of state and local roads, including grade-separated interchanges, overcrossings, undercrossings and at-grade intersections.

Summary of the rule or change:

This rule clarifies responsibilities for maintenance of specific features at intersections of state and local roads and is intended to establish consistency and eliminate confusion with regard to these responsibilities. The rule addresses most routine maintenance activities including signals, park strips, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, curb and gutter, pavement, islands, striping and messages, lighting, signs, crash cushions, sweeping, graffiti, cattle guards, weed control, landscaping, drainage facilities, and structure maintenance. Localized deviations are allowed where unusual circumstances or geometry call for it and when mutually agreed to by the entities involved. Written agreements are encouraged for significant deviations from the rule.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 72-3-102
• Section 72-1-201
• Section 72-1-208
• Section 72-3-104
• Section 72-3-103
• Section 72-6-105
• Section 72-3-109

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

It is anticipated that adoption of this rule will result in additional net cost to the state budget in the amount of $120,000 annually due to: 1) Pavement Messages: $150,000 annual increased cost to UDOT, because UDOT will now be responsible for STOP bars and crosswalks on the local legs of signalized intersections; 2) Pavement Maintenance: $20,000 annual savings to UDOT, mainly because the local governments will be responsible for pavement maintenance underneath bridges; 3) Signs: $20,000 annual increased cost to UDOT for replacement and repairs of STOP and YIELD signs facing traffic on local streets, and for UDOT accountability for retroreflectivity of those same signs; 4) Graffiti: $10,000 annual savings to UDOT, because local governments will be responsible for graffiti removal in areas that are better accessible to them; and 5) Landscaping: $20,000 annual savings to UDOT, because responsibility for most landscape maintenance will be shifted to local governments (apart from such maintenance that UDOT performs by agreement). All other maintenance activities identified in the rule are unchanged, because the rule merely clarifies existing practice in those cases. There is no net increase in cost to the taxpayer because costs are merely shifted between the state budget and the various local government budgets.

local governments:

It is anticipated that the combined budgets of local governments will see a net savings of $120,000 annually based on the division of responsibilities as explained above under "State budget".

small businesses:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to small businesses because the rule only applies to UDOT and local government entities.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities because the rule only applies to UDOT and local government entities.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There is no anticipated compliance costs for affected persons because the rule only applies to UDOT and local government entities.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There is no anticipated fiscal impact on businesses because the rule only clarifies responsibility for maintenance of intersections on public streets and only applies to UDOT and local government entities.

John Njord, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Transportation
Operations, Maintenance
CALVIN L RAMPTON COMPLEX
4501 S 2700 W
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84119-5998

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Christine Newman at the above address, by phone at 801-965-4026, by FAX at 801-965-4338, or by Internet E-mail at cwnewman@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/31/2012

This rule may become effective on:

08/07/2012

Authorized by:

John Njord, Executive Director

R918. Transportation, Operations, Maintenance.

R918-6. Maintenance Responsibility at Intersections, Overcrossings, and Interchanges between Class A Roads and Class B or Class C Roads.

R918-6-1. Authority.

Section 72-1-201 assigns to the Utah Department of Transportation general responsibility for the maintenance of the state transportation system, and directs the department to make policy and rules governing the same, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act. Sections 72-3-102 , 72-3-103, and 72-3-104 assign maintenance responsibility for Class A Roads (state roads), Class B Roads (county roads), and Class C Roads (city streets), to the state, counties, and municipalities, respectively. Section 72-1-208 directs the department to cooperate with counties and municipalities in the maintenance of highways and allows the department to provide maintenance services to them under terms mutually agreed upon. Section 72-3-109 delineates the division of responsibilities for state highways within cities and towns. Section 72-6-105 provides that the department may enter into written agreements with counties and municipalities for the maintenance of any highway.

 

R918-6-2. Purpose and Background.

(1) The purpose of this rule is to assign maintenance responsibility between the department and the local government entity for roadway and roadside features at the intersection of state and local roads, including grade-separated interchanges, overcrossings, undercrossings, and at-grade intersections.

(2) In general, the department is responsible for the maintenance of all state roads, including roadside features associated with those roads, except as otherwise delineated in state law. Likewise, county and municipal governments are responsible for roads under their jurisdiction. Where state roads intersect with roads under local jurisdiction, confusion sometimes arises regarding the maintenance responsibility for specific features at those locations. This rule is intended to clarify which jurisdiction has responsibility for which elements at those locations, and to address the large majority of such situations. Sometimes, however, unusual circumstances or geometry may render a logical division of responsibilities difficult. In those cases, formal agreements between the parties involved are appropriate and encouraged. The language in this rule was developed to encourage consistency regarding maintenance responsibilities between the department and local government. It is recognized the traveling public may benefit in some cases from deviations from the guidelines set forth in this rule to meet the capabilities and skills available individually at the department's maintenance sheds and/or local road departments. In such cases, Region Directors of the department and local officials should together evaluate the guidelines and deviate from them as necessary and as mutually agreed upon, to meet the needs of a specific situation. Open and frequent communication supported by a written agreement is strongly encouraged.

 

R918-6-3. Definitions.

For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions apply.

(1) "Local road" means any road under the jurisdiction of any public entity other than UDOT. The entity may be a county, a municipality, or an agency of the federal government.

(2) "Overcrossing" means a grade-separated intersection where no access between the intersecting roadways is provided, and where the state road or interstate highway crosses over the local road.

(3) "Undercrossing" means a grade-separated intersection where no access between the intersecting roadways is provided, and where the state road or interstate highway crosses under the local road.

(4) "Grade-separated interchange" means an intersection where the state road or interstate highway and the local road are separated from each other by one or more structures, and where access between the two roads is provided by means of entrance and exit ramps.

(5) "At-grade intersection" means a surface street intersection that may be signalized or unsignalized, where one or more of the intersecting streets are state routes;

(6) "Department", or "UDOT", means the Utah Department of Transportation.

(7) "Full control of access", means access to adjoining land that is designated as no access or limited access by means of the right-of-way instrument.

 

R918-6-4. General Maintenance Responsibilities.

(1) Signal Systems. Maintenance responsibility for all signal systems on state roads, and components that are required for the functionality of those systems, belongs to UDOT. This includes detection and signing on the local legs of the intersection.

(2) Park Strips, Sidewalks, and Pedestrian Ramps. Maintenance responsibility for park strips and sidewalks, including that portion of pedestrian access ramps behind the curb, belongs to the local government. Replacement and upgrading as part of road improvement projects may be done by UDOT.

(3) Curb and Gutter. Maintenance responsibility for curb and gutter belongs to UDOT for state routes, and to the local government for local routes. UDOT responsibility on the local leg extends to the point of tangency of the curb radius.

(4) Snow Removal. Responsibility for snow removal from the roadway belongs to UDOT for state routes, and to the local government for local routes. UDOT is responsible for snow removal on ramps at interchanges on state routes.

(5) Pavement Maintenance. Responsibility for roadway pavement maintenance belongs to UDOT for state routes, and to the local government for local routes. This includes the pavement surface on or under bridges. For at-grade intersections, UDOT is responsible for pavement maintenance through the intersection, bounded by a line extending to the point of tangency of the edge of oil, or of the curb return if a curb exists, on the local leg. If the geometry of the approach is unusual, such as angled instead of rounded, UDOT responsibility shall extend to a point agreeable to both parties. In no case, however, shall UDOT responsibility extend beyond the right-of-way line. UDOT is responsible for pavement maintenance on ramps at interchanges on state routes.

(6) Traffic Islands. Responsibility for traffic islands belongs to UDOT for state routes, and to the local government for local routes. For at-grade intersections, UDOT is responsible for island maintenance through the intersection. Maintenance responsibility for any landscaping within traffic islands is described in R918-6-4(15).

(7) Pavement Striping and Messages. Responsibility for pavement striping and marking belongs to UDOT for state routes, and to the local government for local routes. Local jurisdiction responsibility includes stop bars and crosswalks on the local legs of unsignalized intersections. At signalized intersections, UDOT is responsible for stop bars and crosswalks on all legs, and the local government is responsible for lane lines and other markings or messages on the local legs.

(8) Highway Lighting. Responsibility for maintenance, including payment of power bills, repairs and replacement when necessary, of highway lighting is divided as follows.

(a) UDOT is responsible for:

(i) mainline interstate, interchange, and underpass lighting;

(ii) cross street underpass lighting at interchanges with on/off ramps;

(iii) sign lighting on state routes or along the interstate corridor;

(iv) traffic signals on state routes or interstate corridor off ramps;

(v) un-signalized intersection lighting at on or off ramp intersecting cross street; and

(vi) signal-attached lighting at non-traditional signalized intersections, such as Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDI), and Single Point Urban Interchanges (SPUI).

(b) Local government is responsible for:

(i) street lighting along state routes, other than interstate;

(ii) cross street underpass lighting where no interchange on or off ramps occur;

(iii) all decorative lighting requested by the municipality or county including street, bridge, and underpass lighting; and

(iv) lighting at traditional signalized intersections along state routes.

(9) Signs. Responsibility for signs belongs to UDOT for signs facing traffic on state routes, and to the local government for signs facing traffic on local routes, with the exception that UDOT is responsible for traffic control, route marker, junction, and guide signs associated with a state route but facing traffic on a local route. For STOP and YIELD signs on the local legs of unsignalized intersections, the local government is responsible for initial installation and non-safety critical maintenance such as minor vandalism, graffiti, or leaning, and UDOT is responsible for safety critical maintenance such as replacement of knock-downs. At signalized intersections, UDOT is responsible for signs mounted on the signal mast arm. UDOT will coordinate the installation of signs on local routes with the local agency prior to sign installation. The local government is responsible for street name signs, except those mounted on signal mast arms.

(10) Crash Cushions, Barrier, Etc. Responsibility for crash cushions, barrier, guardrail, and end treatments, belongs to UDOT for those elements protecting traffic on state routes, and to the local government for those protecting traffic on local routes.

(11) Sweeping. Responsibility for roadway sweeping belongs to UDOT for state routes, and to the local government for local routes. UDOT is responsible for sweeping on ramps at interchanges.

(12) Graffiti. Graffiti removal from structures is the responsibility of the entity having the best access to the graffiti. In general, that is the entity having jurisdiction of the road underneath the structure.

(13) Cattle Guards. UDOT provides cattle guards within the rural area of the State at all freeway access points to fully controlled access highways, either on the cross road or the entrance ramps, as necessary to meet the requirements of the particular location. Responsibility for maintenance of these cattle guards belongs to UDOT. Where cattle guards exist along partially controlled access state roads, either across a local road or a private road, responsibility for maintenance of the cattle guard belongs to the local jurisdiction or to the private property owner.

(14) Weed Control. In accordance with Section 72-3-109, responsibility for weed control and mowing behind the curb or beyond the shoulder at at-grade intersections, both signalized and unsignalized, belongs to the local government. On facilities with full control of access, UDOT will be responsible for weed control and mowing to a point that ensures adequate sight distance.

(15) Decorative Landscaping. Responsibility for maintenance of landscaping beyond the baseline described in UDOT Aesthetics Guidelines, including irrigation systems, belongs to the local jurisdiction.

(16) Drainage Facilities such as catch basins, culverts, etc. In general, storm drain systems and culverts will be maintained by the owner of the drainage facility, unless otherwise stipulated in a cooperative agreement. Catch basins and their connector pipes at intersections will be maintained by the entity having jurisdiction for the road.

 

R918-6-5. Maintenance Responsibility at Overcrossings and at Interchanges where the State Route Crosses Over the Local Route.

(1) UDOT is responsible for:

(a) maintenance, repairs, and replacement of all structure elements, including decks, parapets, bent caps, beams, columns, footings, abutments, approach slabs, and slope protection;

(b) maintenance of drains on the structure;

(c) maintenance of retaining walls;

(d) fence maintenance on the structure and its approaches and ramps; and

(e) vegetation control, including mowing, along the state route, as demarcated by access control or Right-of-Way fencing.

(2) The local jurisdiction is responsible for:

(a) maintenance of drainage under the structure;

(b) vegetation control, including mowing, along the local route, as demarcated by access control or Right-of-Way fencing; and

(c) maintenance of decorative landscaping beyond the UDOT Aesthetics Guideline baseline, as described in R918-6-4(15).

(3) If the local entity proposes a pavement treatment that would decrease vertical clearance under the structure to less than the current standard, such work shall be done in consultation with UDOT.

 

R918-6-6. Maintenance Responsibility at Undercrossings and at Interchanges where the State Route Crosses Under the Local Route.

(1) UDOT is responsible for:

(a) major structure maintenance, including repair or replacement of parapets, bent caps, beams, columns, footings, abutments, approach slabs, and slope protection;

(b) deck maintenance where necessary to preserve the structural integrity of the bridge such as where the rebar is exposed;

(c) maintenance of retaining walls;

(d) maintenance of drainage under the structure;

(e) vegetation control, including mowing, along the state route, as demarcated by access control or Right-of-Way fencing; and

(f) fence maintenance under the structure.

(2) The local jurisdiction is responsible for:

(a) minor deck and parapet maintenance which includes maintenance of the wearing surface down to the first mat of reinforcing steel, and of any bituminous surfacing above that. This maintenance should include preventive sealing as well as repair of spalls and delaminations. If UDOT performs a deck rehabilitation project involving pothole patching, waterproofing membrane and asphalt overlay, the responsibility to maintain the asphalt wearing surface would also default to the local owner upon completion of the initial installation. If the local entity proposes a deck treatment that would add static load to the structure, such work shall be done in consultation with UDOT;

(b) maintenance of drains on the structure;

(c) fence maintenance on the structure and its approaches;

(d) vegetation control, including mowing, along the local route, as demarcated by access control or Right-of-Way fencing; and

(e) maintenance of decorative landscaping beyond the UDOT Aesthetics Guideline baseline, as described in R918-6-4(15).

 

KEY: maintenance, intersections, interchanges, structures

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 72-1-201, 72-1-208, 72-3-102, 72-3-103, 72-3-104, 72-3-109, 72-6-105.