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Systems Planning Office

Systems Planning / Programs & Services / Interchange Access Request

Interchange Access Request

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Interchange Access Request--Frequently Asked Questions

 

  1. What is the Interchange Access Request Process?
  2. What is the purpose of the Interchange Access Request Process?
  3. What are the types of Interchange Access Request Documents?
  4. What criteria does the department use to justify the addition of new interchanges?
  5. Who makes the acceptance/approval decision for Interchange Access Request?
  6. What are the steps after the acceptance/approval of an Interchange Access Request?
  7. Who is responsible for funding of the analysis and construction of an interchange?
  8. If a DRI requires an interchange, is FDOT obligated to accept/approve the Interchange Access Request?
  9. How long does it take for a typical Interchange Access Request to be analyzed and accepted/approved?

What is the Interchange Access Request Process?

 

The interchange proposal process determines the need for and the impacts of new or modified freeway interchanges. FDOT, in coordination with FHWA, developed a detailed analysis process based on a policies, criteria, and standards to study the impacts of interchange proposals. The analysis process, criteria, policies and standards are documented in the 2002 Interchange Handbook (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) (under revision).


This process assists planners, engineers, and developers to develop Interchange Justification and Interchange Modification Reports.  It also assists FDOT and other acceptance/approval authorities to evaluate the reports and make acceptance decisions.

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What is the purpose of the Interchange Access Request (IAR) Process?

 

Freeways are designed to provide uninterrupted, high-speed, high-volume, long-distance travel at the highest level of safety. Freeway interchanges are grade-separated connections between freeways and roadways of lower functional classification. Change in traffic volume and speeds due to merging and diverging traffic at interchanges create unique operational demands and safety concerns for freeway travelers.


Any access request to add or change freeway interchanges can potentially have an adverse impact on their ability to effectively and safely accommodate travel demand on a facility. To maintain the critical balance between providing new or modified access and preservation of the operational efficiency and safety of the freeways, FDOT developed the Interchange Access Request Process.

 

What are the types of Interchange Access Request Documents?

 

There are five recognized and accepted Interchange Access Request documents for limited-access facilities:

  1. Methodology Letter of Understanding (MLOU)
    A document providing agreements reached among the requestor, Interchange Review Coordinator (IRC), Systems Planning Office (SPO) and, if applicable, FHWA during study design development of an Interchange Access Request.
  2. Interchange Justification Report (IJR)
    A document prepared for a proposed action intending to provide a new interchange to a Strategic Intermodal System limited access facility.

  3. Interchange Modification Report (IMR)
    A document prepared for a proposed action intending to provide substantially modified access to an existing interchange on a SIS limited access facility.

  4. Systems Interchange Modification Report (SIMR)
    A document prepared for a series of closely spaced existing or approved interchanges that are operationally interrelated in an effort to support the development of a system or series of interchanges that may be conducted concurrent with a corridor PD&E study.

  5. Interchange Operational Analysis Report (IOAR)
    A document prepared for proposed minor safety and/or operational improvements mostly within the existing right of way; not requiring an IMR. An IOAR will normally be required where a determination is made that an IMR was not needed for a particular request but documented analysis of some aspect of the operation was required prior to moving into the next production phase.

District specialized documentation that are not in accordance are not IARs. They may be reviewed for conceptual concurrence and shall be treated similar to master plans. Interchange analysis that was initially included in a master plan may be utilized as support documentation that shall be updated to reflect requirements identified in the MLOU for the IAR.

 

What criteria does the department use to justify the interchange access requests?

 

New or revised access points to the Interstate System will be considered for FDOT and FHWA acceptance/approval only if the FHWA Policy Criteria (also known as 8 FHWA Criteria) are met:

  1. Need for the Access Request Revision


    The need being addressed by the request cannot be adequately satisfied by existing interchanges to the Interstate, and/or local roads and streets in the corridor can neither provide the desired access, nor can they be reasonably improved (such as access control along surface streets, improving traffic control, modifying ramp terminals and intersections, adding turn bays or lengthening storage) to satisfactorily accommodate the design-year traffic demands (23 CFR 625.2(a));

  2. Reasonable Alternatives


    The need being addressed by the request cannot be adequately satisfied by reasonable transportation system management (such as ramp metering, mass transit, and HOV facilities), geometric design, and alternative improvements to the Interstate without the proposed change(s) in access (23 CFR 625.2(a));


  3. Operational and Safety Analyses


    An operational and safety analysis has concluded that the proposed change in access does not have a significant adverse impact on the safety and operation of the Interstate facility (which includes mainline lanes, existing, new, or modified ramps, ramp intersections with crossroad) or on the local street network based on both the current and the planned future traffic projections. The analysis shall, particularly in urbanized areas, include at least the first adjacent existing or proposed interchange on either side of the proposed change in access (23 CFR 625.2(a), 655.603(d) and 771.111(f)). The crossroads and the local street network, to at least the first major intersection on either side of the proposed change in access, shall be included in this analysis to the extent necessary to fully evaluate the safety and operational impacts that the proposed change in access and other transportation improvements may have on the local street network (23 CFR 625.2(a) and 655.603(d)). Requests for a proposed change in access must include a description and assessment of the impacts and ability of the proposed changes to safely and efficiently collect, distribute and accommodate traffic on the Interstate facility, ramps, intersection of ramps with crossroad, and local street network (23 CFR 625.2(a) and 655.603(d)). Each request must also include a conceptual plan of the type and location of the signs proposed to support each design alternative (23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 23 CFR 655.603(d));


  4. Access Connections and Design


    The proposed access connects to a public road only and will provide for all traffic movements. Less than "full interchanges" may be considered on a case-by-case basis for applications requiring special access for managed lanes (e.g., transit, HOVs, HOT lanes) or park and ride lots. The proposed access will be designed to meet or exceed current standards (23 CFR 625.2(a), 625.4(a)(2), and 655.603(d));


  5. Land Use and Transportation Plans


    The proposal considers and is consistent with local and regional land use and transportation plans. Prior to receiving final acceptance, all requests for new or revised access must be included in an adopted Metropolitan Transportation Plan, in the adopted Statewide or Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (STIP or TIP), and the Congestion Management Process within transportation management areas, as appropriate, and as specified in 23 CFR part 450, and the transportation conformity requirements of 40 CFR parts 51 and 93;


  6. Future Interchanges


    In corridors where the potential exists for future multiple interchange additions, a comprehensive corridor or network study must accompany all requests for new or revised access with recommendations that address all of the proposed and desired access changes within the context of a longer-range system or network plan (23 U.S.C. 109(d), 23 CFR 625.2(a), 655.603(d), and 771.111);


  7. Coordination


    When a new or revised access point is due to a new, expanded, or substantial change in current or planned future development or land use, requests must demonstrate appropriate coordination has occurred between the development and any proposed transportation system improvements (23 CFR 625.2(a) and 655.603(d)).

    The request must describe the commitments agreed upon to assure adequate collection and dispersion of the traffic resulting from the development with the adjoining local street network and Interstate access point (23 CFR 625.2(a) and 655.603(d));


  8. Environmental Processes


    The proposal can be expected to be included as an alternative in the required environmental evaluation, review and processing. The proposal should include supporting information and current status of the environmental processing (23 CFR 771.111).

Who makes the acceptance/approval decision for an Interchange Access Request?

 

FHWA or FDOT makes the acceptance/approval decision for interchange proposals.

  1. FHWA provides final acceptance for all access requests on the Interstate System.  These requests require the acceptance/approval of both the IJR/IMR and NEPA process (the National Environmental Policy Act is the Environmental Analysis and Public Hearing part of the PD&E Study).
  2. FDOT is the acceptance authority for all interchange proposals on non-Interstate limited-access facilities.  However, if federal funds are being used for the project, FHWA will approve the NEPA process. 

 

What are the steps after the acceptance/approval of an Interchange Access Request

 

After the acceptance/approval of the Interchange Access Request, the District will schedule any needed additional project phases and funding in its work program.  The PD&E phase is the responsibility of the requestor.


Once the PD&E phase receives final FHWA acceptance, the requestor will be required to fulfill all agreements. This step may involve activities such as dedication of right of way, provisions on design, right-of-way acquisition, or construction funding, execution of a performance bond or other evidence of final commitment, or other agreements accepted/approved and documented in the IJR/IMR or MLOU.

 

Who is responsible for funding of the analysis and construction of an interchange?

 

The requestor is responsible for developing and achieving an agreement for the full costs of the proposed project.  The types of costs involved with an interchange proposal are funding for the analysis of the interchange access request and other phases after the requestor's acceptance/approval (including PD&E), right-of-way acquisition, and construction of the interchange and any mainline improvements.  The funds may be from multiple public and private sources.


Funding commitments must be agreed to through binding agreements between the developer, the FDOT, and any other funding participants prior to the submittal of the Final IJR/IMR for acceptance/approval.  The commitments of the requestor are irrevocable once the proposal is accepted/approved.

 

If a DRI requires an interchange, is FDOT obligated to accept the Interchange Access Request?

 

DRI approval does not constitute acceptance/approval of a new or modified interchange to any limited-access facility. Local government, through the regional planning council, provides DRI approval based on consistency with state and local growth management requirements. The Department and FHWA require IMR and IJR acceptance/approval to determine if a project is consistent with SIS engineering and is operationally feasible.


We recommend that any Development Order (DO) that contains mitigation or recommendation for a new or modified interchange to a SIS limited-access facility, include a conditional clause that the new or modified interchange is contingent on the acceptance by the Department and FHWA. In addition, if the DO proposes a new or modified interchange as a traffic mitigation measure, the DO should also propose an alternative measure in case the Department or FHWA deny the interchange access request.

 

How long does it take for a typical Interchange Access Request to be analyzed and approved?

 

A typical interchange access request process and acceptance/approval can take between 6 and 30 months from the methodology letter of understanding (MLOU) acceptance.  The length of time is based on the project complexity and scope of the proposal. Factors considered include the proposal's location in relationship to other interchanges, the area of influence for the facility and the facility's functional classification. 

  1. Interchange modification reports (IMRs) for minor modifications to rural interchanges can reasonably be accomplished in 6 to 12 months.
  2. IMRs for major modifications to urban interchanges can take from 12 to 18 months.
  3. IMRs involving more than one interchange (System Interchange Modification Reports) in densely populated urbanized areas can take 24 months or more.
  4. New interchanges to Interstate facilities and system-to-system interchange modifications may require additional review time by FHWA based on the importance and complexity of these proposals.
  5. A typical interchange justification report (IJR) can be completed in 14-30 months from the MLOU.
  6. An interchange operational analysis report (IOAR) can be completed in 3 to 6 months based on the scale and complexity of the proposal. The specific requirements will be determined by the Interchange Review Coordinator (IRC) in conjunction with FHWA.

A project that is currently in an approved Master Plan or is contained in the Department's SIS Approved 2nd Five Year Plan will have had considerable analysis completed.  Thus the time for development, review, and acceptance will be less.  An estimate of the time to complete the study may be developed as part of the study design process leading to an MLOU.

For further information contact Jennifer Fortunas or phone (850) 414-4909


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