Access Management

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• Access Management

Metropolitan Council Workshop March 23, 2006
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Outline

• What is access management?
• Why manage access?
• Mn/DOTs Access Category System Spacing
  Guidelines
• Local transportation planning
• Local regulations

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Access Management

• The planning, design, and implementation of land
  use and transportation strategies that maintain a
  safe flow of traffic while accommodating the
  access needs of adjacent development
• Balances access and mobility

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The Metro Area Is Growing
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Congestion Is Increasing
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Plan Ahead
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Access Management Benefits Your Community

• Reduce congestion and crashes
• Improve travel times
• Preserve highway capacity
• Support economic activity
• Ensure safe access to all development
• Expand business
  market area
• Protect neighborhoods
• Enhance community
  appearance

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Met Council Policy

• The Metropolitan Councils transportation policy
  recognizes access management as a strategy that
  can significantly improve the capacity and safety
  of highways
• The Local Planning Handbook specifies
• Use of access management on regional highways and
  A minor arterials
• Incorporate Mn/DOT or county guidelines into
  municipal transportation plans
• Incorporate guidelines into ordinances

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Mn/DOT Access Category System

• Different roads serve different purposes

• Zoning the highway
• Highway categories based on functional
  classification, strategic importance and land use
• Access varies by highway category and access type

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Primary Access Categories

• 1 High Priority IRCs
• 2 Medium Priority IRCs
• 3 Regional Corridors
• 4 Principal Arterials in Metro Area and Primary
  Trade Centers
• 5 Minor Arterials
• 6 Collectors
• 7 Specific Access Plans

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Primary Access Categories
www.oim.dot.state.mn.us/access/categories.html
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Access Subcategories

• Freeway Interstate highways
• Full Grade Separation
• Existing and planned for full-grade separation
• Rural - Planned for long-term low density uses
• Urbanizing Developed and developing urban areas
  beyond the traditional urban core
• Key areas for access management!
• Urban Core Fully-developed and downtown area

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Access Subcategories
Freeways and Grade-Separated Highways

• Applies regardless of land use
• Access only at grade separated interchanges

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Access Subcategories

• Rural Areas
• Not planned for urban development
• Ag or natural areas
• Scattered low-density development
• Sparse network of supporting roads

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Access Subcategories

• Urban Core Area
• Fully developed CBDs, 1st ring suburbs, and older
  town centers
• Fine-grained grid
• Small lots
• Sidewalks
• On-street parking
• Pedestrians

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Access Subcategories

• Urbanizing Areas
• Developed, developing or redeveloping suburban
  areas
• Parallel supporting
  streets and service roads
• Area of greatest
  concern and opportunity
• Potential congestion and
  safety problems
• Best opportunity for a
  complete road network

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Access Subcategories
www.oim.dot.state.mn.us/access/categories.html
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Access Types

• Mn/DOT considers use and intensity
• Type 1 - Up to three
  single family units
• Types 2 and 3
• Private commercial,
  residential, or
  institutional driveways
• Type 2
• Type 3 100 trips/day
• Type 4 and 5 All public streets

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Access Guidelines
Public Street Intersection Spacing and Private
Driveway Allowance
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Access Guidelines

• Rural
• Sparse, incomplete road network
• Isolated signals
• Some direct private highway access will be
  necessary
• Urbanizing
• Connected street system with ¼ to ½ mile spacing
• Spacing allows turn lanes and signal coordination
• Discourage direct private access to major
  roadways
• Urban Core
• Connected street system with block-length spacing
• ¼ mile signal spacing
• Reduce mid-block driveways during redevelopment

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Access Management Priorities

• Major roadways
• Principal and A Minor Arterials
• Urbanizing and major redevelopment areas
• Area of greatest concern and opportunity
• Interconnected road networks are crucial
• Direct private access provided by local roads
• Address access in conjunction with development or
  redevelopment
• Consider interim solutions

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Partnerships are Key

• Mn/DOT is responsible for the highway
• Local governments (particularly cities) are
  responsible for land use

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Partnership Opportunities

• Development review
• Permit review
• Local plans
• Local ordinances
• Highway projects
• Corridor studies

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Development Review

• Ask Mn/DOT to review all subdivisions and site
  plans for proposed development adjacent to state
  highways
• Reviewed using access guidelines
• Mn/DOT issues driveway permits and authorizes
  public street intersections
• Permit required for new access or change in use
  of existing access

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Plat Review is Required

• MS 505.03 requires local governments to submit
  all plats abutting a state highway to Mn/DOT for
  review and comment
• Required even if the plat does not propose
  highway access
• For the most timely review, submit plans early
• Similar provision for plats on county roads
• Site plan review recommended, but voluntary

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Early Review is Best

• Review access EARLY in the process
• Makes more options available
• Lets the developer know state and local
  requirements up-front
• Saves time and money
• Incorporate Mn/DOT or county comments into local
  requirements for approval
• Submit plans to Tod Sherman
• Tod.Sherman_at_dot.state.mn.us or 651-582-1548

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Local Planning

• Address access management in the comprehensive
  plan
• Implement access management through
• Subdivision ordinance
• Zoning ordinance

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Comprehensive Plans

• Consider land use, transportation, and access
  together
• Establish an access category system
• Identify Mn/DOT highway categories
• www.oim.dot.state.mn.us/access/categories.html
• Include access management policies
• Contact Mn/DOTs Metro District for review of
  changes to comprehensive plans

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Policies

• Grandfather existing non-conforming access
• New subdivisions consistent with spacing
• Redevelopment/change in use consistent to
  degree possible
• Limit direct private access on major roads
• Develop a coordinated and interconnected road
  system

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Subdivision Ordinance

• All new subdivisions must conform
• Establish and adopt access categories
• Incorporate Mn/DOT guidelines by requiring
• Proper street spacing
• Street connectivity
• Access via local streets or service roads
• Turn lanes
• Set requirements for traffic studies

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Zoning Ordinance

• Addresses established lots Two possible
  approaches
• General site plan criteria or overlay ordinance
• Adopt access categories
• Grandfather existing non-conforming access
• Address non-conforming access as redevelopment
  occurs
• Determine when traffic studies are needed
• Require turn lanes
• Meet ordinance standards to extent possible
• Respect access rights
• Consider interim options
• Modifications can be done administratively, no
  variance

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Access Rights

• Abutting property owners have a right to
  reasonably convenient and suitable access
• May be indirect, via local supporting road
  network
• Not most convenient
• Not anywhere on site
• May be access to roadway in one direction, such
  as right-in/right-out only with median
• Expansion or change in use of an existing parcel
  is an opportunity to review access
• Zoning can require reasonable changes

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Site Design Techniques

• Provide internal access and connect local streets
• Provide direct access via local streets or
  service roads

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Site Design Techniques

• Locate driveways and service roads away from
  intersections and turn lanes

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Site Design Techniques

• Encourage shared and cross access easements

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Site Design Techniques

• Ensure there is adequate internal circulation and
  room for vehicles to maneuver on the site

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Site Design Techniques

• Require driveways to have adequate throat length,
  radius, and grade

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Site Design Techniques

• Ensure there are adequate bicycle and pedestrian
  connections between parking lots and building
  entrances

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You Can Manage Access and Have Growth Too!
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For More Information

• Cindy Carlsson
• Mn/DOT Office of Investment Management
• 651-296-8761 or cindy.carlsson_at_dot.state.mn.us
• Tod Sherman
• Mn/DOT Metro District
• 651-582-1548 or tod.sherman_at_dot.state.mn.us
• http//www.oim.dot.state.mn.us/access