TxDOT Studies and Plans

TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) driveway permitting involves preparation of a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) as well as preparation of Civil Construction Documents.

The Driveway Permitting process is designed to ensure safe access to state roadways while considering traffic flow and safety regulations. If you need to apply for a driveway permit for property access to a state highway or road in Texas, here’s a general outline of how Chalk Mountain can assist:

1. Do you Need a Permit?

• • If you are connecting to a state-maintained roadway, you will need a permit. This includes highways, interstates, and other state roads including farm-to-market roads.

• • Chalk Mountain can assist with the initial planning state of TxDOT permitting. its best to get us involved sooner than later for TxDOT permitting.

2. Pre-Application Consultation (Recommended)

• • We recommend that we contact the TxDOT district office for the area on your behalf and request a Pre-Application Consultation. They will provide guidance on requirements and help ensure that your application is complete.

• • The district office will advise if any specific rules apply, such as restrictions related to proximity to intersections or other access points.

3. Prepare the Required Information

Chalk Mountain will typically assist by preparing the following information on your behalf:

• • A completed driveway permit application form.

• • Site plan showing the location of the driveway relative to the roadway, including the proposed access point, property lines, and any nearby structures or features. It is critical for us to weigh in on a practical and readily acceptable location for all driveways. Preparation of the site plan should include a focus on this critical element. Failure to include viable driveway locations can result in lost time and additional fee once the TxDOT approval process has begun.

• • Civil Construction Documents - which include plans for drainage, grading, paving, details for each driveway location as well as left/right turn lanes.

• • Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) - The TIA a highly detailed, technical analysis of local traffic as well as a forecast of future traffic conditions. The TIA is prepared by a traffic engineer who specializes in this type of analyses. Plan for the TIA to require anywhere from 45 to 60 days to prepare.

4. Application Submittal

• • Chalk Mountain will submit the completed application and supporting documents to the appropriate TxDOT district office.

• • Some districts may also require a non-refundable application fee.

5. TxDOT Review Process

• • TxDOT will review the application to ensure that the proposed driveway locations (including left and right turn lanes) meet state safety and access standards. This includes considerations such as:

    • • Visibility and clearance from traffic.
    • • The design of the driveway (including width, slope, and materials).
    • • Potential impacts on traffic flow or safety.

• • In some cases, they may request additional information or modifications to your plan.

• • TxDOT will typically conduct a site visit to verify details.

6. Approval and Issuance of Permit

• • Once approved, TxDOT will issue a Driveway Access Permit. The permit will outline any conditions that must be followed during construction and operation of the driveway.

• • The permit may also include instructions for maintaining the driveway, such as requirements for drainage or signage.

7. Construction

• • After receiving the permit, you can begin construction of the driveway, adhering to the specifications and conditions laid out in the permit.

• • TxDOT may require inspections during or after construction to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

8. Ongoing Compliance

• • Once the driveway is completed, you must maintain it in compliance with the conditions set forth in the permit. If any changes are needed later (e.g., widening the driveway, changing its location), you may need to reapply or seek an amendment to the permit.

Tips:

• • Plan Ahead: The permit process can take some time, so it's a good idea to start early, especially if you're planning to build or modify an access point.

• • Consult TxDOT District Office: If you have any questions or if the property is near complex traffic areas (like intersections or entrances), it’s good to get input from the local TxDOT office.

• • TIA - It is essential that the traffic engineer which will prepare the TIA be commissioned prior to preparation of the Site Plan. This is critical, since the traffic engineer will need to weigh in on the location of all driveways during preparation of the Site Plan.

• • Critical Path - Understand that the planning, analysis and preparation of engineering documents, coupled with the time required for review of the Driveway Submittal, can require a considerable amount of time. In fact, the TxDOT permitting process needs to be commissioned very near the first day of the project since it is very likely on the "critical path" of the overall timeline required to obtain "entitlements" from local, state and federal agencies which are prerequisites to construction of your project.

• • Contact Us - Please call us if you have any questions.