Washington Administrative Code

It is the policy of the Washington state department of transportation (department) to permit bicycle racing on state highways in accordance with the conditions and regulations set forth in this chapter and the latest edition of the"Washington State Bicycle Racing Guidelines."[Sta…

Bicycles are defined in RCW 46.04.071. Bicycle racing means any contest of speed or competition conducted on bicycles. Bicycle racing permits riding with more than two riders abreast on a roadway. This chapter applies to all bicycle racing events conducted on state highways, incl…

No bicycle race event may be held on a state highway without an approved bicycle race permit. All persons or organizations (permittee) conducting any form of bicycle race on a state highway shall apply for a bicycle race permit from the applicable department region administrator.…

(1) Bicycle race permits shall be granted only under conditions that ensure reasonable safety for participants, spectators, and other highway users. Reasonable safety implies that race participants, spectators, and other highway users have been accommodated during the planning pr…

WAC 468-410-010The purpose of this section is to establish permitting requirements and conditions for special events conducted within a state highway right-of-way to ensure public safety and minimize disruption to highway operations.[Statutory Authority: RCW 47.36.030, 46.61.405(…

WAC 468-410-020For the purposes of this section:(1) "Department" means the Washington state department of transportation (WSDOT).(2) "Permittee" means any person, organization, or entity issued a special event permit under this section.(3) "Special highway use" or "special event"…

WAC 468-410-030(1) No person or organization may conduct a special event within a state highway right-of-way without first obtaining a special event permit issued by the department.(2) An application for a special event permit must be submitted to the department no fewer than 90 …

WAC 468-410-040(1) For events involving state routes or interstate facilities, the permittee must submit the required application using the department's prescribed "Application for Special Events on State Highways" form available on the department's official website.(2) The depar…

WAC 468-410-050(1) The department shall issue a special event permit only when the proposed event provides for reasonable safety of participants, spectators, and other highway users.(2) For purposes of this section, "reasonable safety" means that the event has been planned and wi…

WAC 468-410-060As a condition of permit issuance, the permittee shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the state of Washington, its officers, employees, and agents from any and all claims, actions, suits, damages, or liabilities arising out of or in connection with the issuan…

WAC 468-410-070The permittee shall maintain a copy of the approved special event permit at the event site for the duration of the event and shall make it available for inspection upon request by the department or law enforcement.[Statutory Authority: RCW 47.36.030, 46.61.405(1), …

WAC 468-420-010"Event signs, banners, and decorations" means any outdoor sign, banner, decoration, display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard, or other thing that is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform, any part of the advertisi…

WAC 468-420-020(1) Signs, banners, and decorations shall not interfere or obstruct the view of any traffic control device or impair the operation of transportation management systems or street illumination.(2) The sign, banner, or decoration shall not include commercial advertisi…

When requesting a transit vehicle stop zone outside of any incorporated city or town, the public transit agency shall be responsible for conducting a field review to evaluate accessibility to the proposed location. When the requested location is within the roadway, the transit ag…

The secretary of transportation or any assistant secretary or district engineer to whom the secretary has delegated the authority, may approve a transit vehicle stop zone that conforms to WAC 468-46-010 or where the secretary deems the circumstances warrant such exceptions.[Statu…

A transit vehicle stop (bus stop) symbol sign shall be installed at each approved location with the cost to be the obligation of the transit authority.[Statutory Authority: 1977 ex.s. c 151. WSR 79-01-033 (DOT Order 10 and Comm. Order 1, Resolution No. 13), § 468-46-030, filed 12…

The department of transportation shall install at its own expense in advance of each approved transit vehicle stop zone where the transit vehicle is not visible for a distance of 500 feet an advance warning sign consistent with the manual on uniform traffic control devices, (chap…

While stopped on the roadway at approved transit vehicle stop zones for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers each transit vehicle shall be so equipped and the driver thereof shall activate the four-way warning lights as specified by RCW 46.37.210(4).[Statutory Autho…

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions of the terms shall apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.(1) "Department" means the Washington state department of transportation.(2) "Route" means a statutory designated state highway, being a new highway…

The secretary of transportation is hereby delegated the commission's authority to conduct all hearings and adopt a specific highway corridor whenever the general route has been designated but there are several alternatives within that route. The secretary is further delegated the…

Regular public meetings of the Washington state transportation commission are held monthly on the third Wednesday of every month and on the Tuesday immediately preceding that day commencing at 9:00 a.m. or such other time as determined by the commission chair. Each such regular m…

This chapter is adopted for use by the Washington state department of transportation to implement chapter 47.50 RCW for the regulation and control of vehicular access and connection points of ingress to, and egress from, the state highway system within unincorporated areas that a…

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions of terms shall apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) "Application" means an application form supplied by the department and completed by the applicant, a certified check or money order for the required…

(1) When connection permits required. Every owner of property which abuts a state highway, or has a legal easement to the state highway, where limited access rights have not been acquired has a right to reasonable access, but may not have the right to a particular means of access…

All connections, public or private shall be determined by the department to be in one of the following categories:(1) "Category I - Minimum connection" provides connection to the state highway system for up to ten single family residences, a duplex, or a small multifamily complex…

Prior to filing a connection permit application and prior to receipt of development approval, all permit applicants, but in particular those applying for Category II and Category III connections, are strongly encouraged to request, in writing, a conceptual review of the site plan…

This rule shall be used where the department is the permitting authority. Where the local governmental entity is the permitting authority, the applicable procedures of the local governmental entity must be followed. If the local governmental entity has no procedures then this rul…

(1) Fee structure. The following nonrefundable fee structure is established for department application processing, review, and inspection. Full payment of base fees must accompany the permit application. Due to the potential complexity of Category II and Category III connection p…

(1) Application submittal. The application shall be submitted to the designated local department office serving the area. The application shall be properly prepared, clearly completed, and signed. Information on the specific number of copies to be provided and other submittal inf…

(1) Preconstruction conference. The department may require a preconstruction conference prior to any work being performed on the department's right of way. When required by provisions in the permit, the department will schedule a preconstruction conference. The preconstruction co…

The department may issue a permit for a connection not meeting department location and spacing criteria standards if it finds that a conforming connection is not attainable at the time of the permit application submittal and that denial would leave the property without a reasonab…

Variance permits may be issued, at the discretion of the department, for certain connections not meeting the access classification location and spacing or that exceed the number of connections allowed by the standards adopted for a particular highway segment. These permits may be…

The connection permit is issued to the permit holder for a particular type of land use generating specific projected traffic volumes at the final stage of proposed development. Any changes made in the use, intensity of development, type of traffic, or traffic flow of the property…

(1) Revocation criteria. All connection permits issued by the department prior to the effective date of this chapter remain valid until revoked. The department may initiate an action to revoke any permit if significant changes have occurred in the use, design, or traffic flow of …

Closure criteria, permit requirements. Any unpermitted connections to the state highway system which were in existence and in active use consistent with the type of connection on July 1, 1990, shall not require the issuance of a permit and may continue to provide connection to th…

During construction of department projects, connections will be provided as replacements for existing approved permitted connections, that are consistent with all current department spacing, location, and design standards, based on the following conditions:(1) Nonconforming conne…

(1) Application. Any person who has standing to challenge the denial of a permit application in compliance with WAC 468-51-080; a permit with conditions in compliance with WAC 468-51-080; a notice of permit modification, revocation, or closure of permitted connection in complianc…

Pursuant to RCW 46.61.165 and 47.52.025, the department has reserved portions of interstate highways, state highways, and ramps, as HOV lanes for the exclusive use of public transportation vehicles or private motor vehicles with the number of occupants specified on signs. Motor v…

(1) RCW 46.61.100(3) mandates that no vehicle towing a trailer or no vehicle or combination over 10,000 lb. may use the left lane of limited access roadways having three or more lanes in one direction, and that a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane is not considered the left hand l…

This chapter is adopted in accordance with chapter 47.50 RCW for the implementation of an access control classification system and standards for the regulation and control of vehicular ingress to, and egress from the state highway system.[Statutory Authority: RCW 47.01.101 and ch…

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions of the terms shall apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) "Average daily traffic (ADT)" means the volume of traffic passing a point or segment of a highway, in both directions, during a period of time, …

The connection and intersection spacing distances specified in this chapter are minimums. Greater distances may be required by the department on individual permits issued in accordance with chapter 468-51 WAC to provide desirable traffic operational and safety characteristics. If…

This section provides an access control classification system consisting of five classes. The functional characteristics and the access control design standards for each class are described. The classes are arranged from the most restrictive, class one, to the least restrictive, …

(1) Review of permits on classified highway segments. Connection permit applications on controlled access facilities of the state highway system received on a particular segment that has been classified in accordance with this chapter shall be reviewed subject to the requirements…

The assignment of an access control classification to all controlled access segments of the state highway system shall be the responsibility of the department. The process to be followed in assigning the classifications is as follows:(1) Defining segments. The determination of th…

(1) Department initiated action. The department may, at any time, initiate a review of the access control classification of any segment of any state highway. When a major change occurs in any of the factors noted in WAC 468-52-060(2), the department shall review the access classi…

As used in these rules:(1) "Fully controlled limited access highway" is a highway where the right of owner or occupants of abutting land or other persons to access, light, air or view in connection with the highway is controlled to give preference to through traffic by providing …