Route Development Plans (RDPs) are planning studies on state highway facilities, developed to identify deficiencies and propose solutions. These plans are part of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) long range planning program and are intended to support local jurisdictions in implementation of the Growth Management Act (GMA) Revised Codes of Washington (RCW) 36.70A.
RDPs serve as a tool for discussion, a mechanism to integrate the needs of WSDOT with the needs of cities, counties, traveling public, and other stakeholders in the development of transportation solutions. They identify proposed improvements on designated sections of a state highway that will accommodate safety and capacity requirements during the next 20 years.
Planning Studies List and Statewide Map of Studies
RDP Process
The RDP process integrates various elements to produce an endorsed highway design solution. This process identifies transportation services desired by WSDOT customers, determines competing demands, and integrates the findings into a common vision for the entire transportation system, and supports investment decisions.
The process involves the following phases:
- Identify study area
- Establish goals and objectives
- Data collection (inventory)
- Public meetings
- Interagency liaison
- Traffic analysis
- RDP proposals (alternatives)
- Review comments
- Implementation
- Evaluation
As a guideline, endorsed Route Development Plans provide the following:
- Guidance for regional decision makers regarding future projects on state routes
- Direction in determining impact mitigation measures for proposed developments
- Inclusion of improvement solutions in the State Highway System Plan (18 mb)
- Guidance for interim projects to ensure the progression towards long range objectives
- Coordination with various stakeholders on the future development of the state route
The RDP Definition Team (see below) created the following products:
- Purpose statement (pdf 78kb) - for Route Development Plan study
- RDP Checklist (pdf 136kb) - A guide for the document preparation of an RDP study
- RDP Flowchart (pdf 108kb) - An illustration of an RDP development process
- RDP Matrix (pdf 65kb) - Typical components and processes used by WSDOT regions in producing RDP studies
Guidance concerning the review/approval/concurrence process:
In 2002, the Transportation Planning Office gathered a team to review the Route Development Plan process. The primary objectives of the team were to:
- Identify areas within the existing process that could be improved.
- Create a more unified statewide development process.
- Ensure that RDPs are value added in the overall project delivery process.
Results from the team are summarized in the following document:
Summary of RDP Team (pdf 33kb)