While growth and development are usually good for the local economy, they may result in too many access points located too close together along a highway. This increases the likelihood of safety hazards and traffic congestion which reduces the level of service on the state highway. Reduced levels of service may then increase demand for transportation system improvements. Access management tempers this cycle by managing the traffic movements onto and off of the state system in order to minimize conflict and increase traffic flow. This contributes to the longevity of the highway by preserving its safety and capacity. Typical access management techniques include minimum spacing between signalized intersections and driveways, dedicated turning lanes, roundabouts, and median treatments.
In Washington, state highways are classified as either limited access or managed access. The basic policy for limited access highways was established in 1951 and is based on the purchase of access property rights from the owners of property abutting the highway [RCW 47.52]. There are three levels of control for limited access with progressive restrictions. WSDOT controls approaches to limited access routes, with the exception of Interstate approaches which must be approved by the Federal Highway Administration.
The second type of access regulation, managed access, was enacted in 1991 to address the portion of the state transportation system that is not limited access [RCW 47.50.010(2)]. Managed access regulation is based upon the premise that the access rights of a property owner are subordinate to the public’s right and interest in a safe and efficient highway system. An abutting property owner has a right to reasonable access to a state highway, but may not have the right of a particular means of access [RCW 47.50.010(3)]. Therefore, access may be restricted if reasonable access can be provided to another public road which abuts the property. There are five levels of control for managed access highways. Managed-access highways in unincorporated areas require a state-issued access permit. However, cities are the permitting authority for managed access routes within their boundaries. State statute requires city permitting standards to meet or exceed WSDOT’s standards [RCW 47.50.030(3)].
2007 State Managed Access Highway Transportation Budget Proviso
The transportation budget approved by the legislature in 2007 included a proviso directing WSDOT to require local jurisdictions to confirm they have adopted standards for access permitting on state managed access highways that meet or exceed WSDOT standards, as required by statute. The proviso also directed WSDOT to submit a report to the legislature detailing the progress of local jurisdictions in adopting the standards. In January, 2008, WSDOT updated the legislature on the status of the managed access proviso in a brief report, "Managed Access in Washington - A Preliminary Report to the Legislature" (pdf 164 kb). The legislature will receive a final report on the managed access proviso in January, 2009.
The list, "City Response to Managed Access Proviso" (pdf 30 kb), details each city's reported progress toward adopting access permitting standards on the state managed access highways within their boundaries. As new information comes in from the cities, we periodically revise the list, so please note the list is accurate as of the revision date found on the bottom right corner of the page.
Following is a link to more information about access control.