ACCESS CONNECTIONS HANDBOOK

A User‘s Guide

Table of Contents

What is an “Access Connection”? .........................................................................................................

I want a driveway to my property on a state highway.

Can I just build it? .......................................................................................................................................................

Why can’t I build my driveway the way I want to, where I want to? .....................................

What is an Access Connection Permit ................................................................................................

How do I get an Access Connection Permit? ..................................................................................

The DOTD says I need a Traffic Impact Study. What does this mean and where do I get one?
............................................................................................................................................................................................

There’s a median on the roadway. Will I get an opening for turns? .....................................

How do I get a traffic signal installed at my access connection? .............................................

What information do I need to provide when requesting an Access

Connection Permit? Do I have to hire an architect or an engineer? ............................................

I purchased a property with existing driveways. Do I need a permit to use

these driveways? Can I keep them where they are? ...................................................................

I’m being required to share my access with my neighbor. Why?...........................................

How wide can my access connection be? .........................................................................................

What materials can I use to construct my access connection? ................................................

Do I need to get any other permits for construction? ..................................................................

I only need an access connection for a short time. Can I get a temporary
permit? ...........................................................................................................................................................

If my request is denied, is there a way I can appeal the decision? .........................................

What happens if I don’t obtain a permit or if I do not follow the conditions of the
permit? ...........................................................................................................................................................
What is an “Access Connection”?

An “access connection” is any driveway or public or private street connection on a

roadway that provides access to that roadway. Access connections provide means
of egress and ingress for private property abutting a roadway.

I want a driveway to my property on a state highway.

Can I just build it?

According to Louisiana state law, the Louisiana Department of Transportation &

Development (DOTD) has the authority to require permits for access connections
(R.S. 48:344).

The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD)

has the authority to require permits for access connections as set
forth in R.S. 48:344. Access connection permits are required in
order to achieve the following:
a. To ensure safe and orderly movement for vehicular traffic
entering and leaving the highway
b. To prevent hazardous and indiscriminate parking on, along, or
adjacent to the roadway surface
c. To preserve adequate sight distances at intersections
(including streets and driveways)
d. To encourage beautification of property frontage
e. To ensure uniform design and construction of access on
highway right-of-way
Louisiana Administrative Code (Ch…..)

In order to fulfill the obligation of maintaining a safe and efficient network of state
roadways, it is important for the Department to regulate all access connections to
those highways. To do this, the DOTD requires any property owner wishing to have
access to a state highway to request permission in the form of an “Access
Connection Permit.” The DOTD may regulate the location, design, size, or other
feature of the connection.

The State of Louisiana owns a portion of the property adjacent to all state roadways.
This section of property is called right-of-way. The right-of-way is reserved for
future-use by the State, but is maintained by the adjacent property owner. The
DOTD has the right to regulate the use of this area by the property owner, including
the construction of an access connection on this property.

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Why can’t I build my driveway the way I want to, where I want to?

The location of each and every access connection must be individually evaluated by
the DOTD to ensure that it is the safest location, that it will not affect the efficient
operation of the roadway, and to ensure that the new connection will work
effectively with other existing access connections in the vicinity. The DOTD holds
paramount the safety of all drivers on the roadway, including those entering the
roadway from any access connections.

What is an Access Connection Permit?

An Access Connection Permit is simply a signed agreement between the DOTD and
the property owner. The Access Connection Permit formally grants consent for the
construction of an access connection within the state right-of-way for the purpose of
providing access to/from the property and the state roadway. The Access
Connection permit specifies the location, design, construction materials, culvert size,
driveway size, and use of the access connection that may be constructed.

How do I get an Access Connection Permit?

When you desire to construct an access connection to a state highway, you must
request a permit from the DOTD District office with jurisdiction over the area where
your property is located. The DOTD has nine district offices, as shown in the map
below. Each district has a District Permit Specialist who handles permits.

District-02
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-03
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-04
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-05
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-07
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-08
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-58
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-61
(Perm. Spec., Phone)
District-62
(Perm. Spec., Phone)

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Acquiring an Access Connection Permit may be a multi-step process, depending on
the complexity of your development and site.

You must first contact the District Permit Specialist by submitting a Preliminary
Access Request Form, available on the DOTD website (address). In many cases,
especially with residential access connection requests, the District Permit Specialist
will likely instruct you to simply submit an Access Connection Permit Application.
However, in some cases, especially with more complex commercial developments or
in areas already categorized by the DOTD as “congested”, you may be required to
attend a Preliminary Access Connection Request Meeting. The District Permit
Specialist will guide you through this process.

What Things Might Require a

Preliminary Access Connection Request Meeting?
Owner’s Request for Better Understanding of DOTD Processes and Procedures
Multiple Uses for a Development (i.e. mixed-use)
More than 100 Peak Hour Trips Expected
Unknown Use for Property
Commercial Nature of Development
More than One Connection Requested
New Signal or Median Opening Requested
Property in a Known Congested Area
Access Connection Requested in Close-Proximity to an Existing Signal
Access Connection Requested in Close-Proximity to an Existing Median Opening
Known need for coordination with other developments
Other Reasons as May Be Determined by the DOTD

Preliminary locations for an access connection

discussed with DOTD are not approved until an
Access Connection Permit is issued!

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The Preliminary Access Connection Meeting may be either a face-to-face meeting
(for the more complex situations), or may be handled through written
communication such as email. The purpose of this meeting is to clarify any
additional information the DOTD may need in order to approve a permit and
location for an access connection. During this process, either by email or in a
meeting, there will likely be discussions regarding the location, type, size, or other
details about the proposed access connection. Although the discussion may focus
on a single location, an access connection is not approved for construction
until an Access Connection Permit has been issued by the DOTD to the
applicant. Many factors are considered when evaluating an access connection
request,

The DOTD says I need a Traffic Impact Study.

What does this mean and where do I get one?

A traffic impact refers to the effect a certain type or magnitude of development will
have on the surrounding transportation system. A Traffic Impact Study (TIS)
provides a way of assessing the adequacy of the existing or future transportation
system to accommodate additional traffic generated by a proposed development or
redevelopment. It will also assist in determining what improvements will be
required to the roadway system in order to maintain a satisfactory level of service.

A Traffic Impact Study must be performed by a Civil Engineer licensed in the State of
Louisiana and qualified to perform such studies. There are multiple consultant
engineers available to do this type of work. If instructed to perform a Traffic Impact
Study, you should seek out an engineering consultant to perform the work. There
will be fees associated with the work, and those details would be worked out
between the property owner and chosen consultant. The costs associated with
performing the study may vary widely depending on the complexity of the
development, impact area being studied, and other factors.

In most cases, the Traffic Impact Study is an iterative process that involves multiple
reviews and revisions with the DOTD. Once a final document, including conclusions
and recommendations, has been prepared and agreed-to by the property owner and
the DOTD, a “Letter of Compliance” will be signed by the property owner agreeing to
the terms reached in the Traffic Impact Study.

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What does it mean if my access connection has “turn restrictions”?

In some cases, making certain turning movements into or out of an access

connection may not be safe. This could be due to traffic volumes on the adjacent
roadway, sight distance restrictions from the access connection location, presence of
a median or other roadway divider, or other reason. If turn restrictions are placed
on the access connection, it simply means that certain movements would not be
allowed. The most common restrictions are left turns into the access connection
and/or left turns out of the access connection. If these restrictions are placed on an
access connection, the design of the access connection will be modified to prevent,
or “discourage”, these restricted movements. The most common modification is to
install a “pork chop” island, as shown in the photograph below.

Access connection with a “pork chop” island to

restrict left turns out of the access connection
onto the adjacent roadway

The DOTD has design details for these types of driveways and will work with you to
select the design that is most appropriate for your situation.

There’s a median on the roadway. Will I get an opening for turns?

In order to install a new median opening, or to align an access connection with an

existing median opening, the DOTD has multiple requirements that must be met.
These include volumes of traffic using the access connection, locations of other
median openings in the area, and other requirements. More details for these
requirements can be found in a DOTD Engineering Directives and Standards
Memorandum – EDSM IV.2.1.4, available on the DOTD website.

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How do I get a traffic signal installed at my access connection?

In order to install a new traffic signal, the DOTD has multiple requirements that
must be met. These include volumes of traffic using the access connection, locations
of other traffic signals in the area, and other requirements. More details for these
requirements can be found in a DOTD Engineering Directives and Standards
Memorandum – EDSM VI.3.1.6, available on the DOTD website.

What information do I need to provide when requesting an Access

Connection Permit? Do I have to hire an architect or an engineer?

For most requests, detailed information about the property and area surrounding
the property is required. This information may include, but is not limited to, the
following:

• Boundary Survey (performed and signed/stamped by a Louisiana

Licensed Surveyor)
• Site Plan (including all planned buildings, on-site parking, on-site
vehicle circulation plan, phased construction plans, etc.)
• Description of Requested Access Connection Location(s),
including:
o Building Sizes and Locations
o Land Use and/or Nature of Facilities (including information
about know potential leases)
o Amount and Frequency of Expected Heavy Commercial Vehicle
Access
• Area Map Illustrating the Adjacent Roadway System and Locations
of All Driveways (Distance to show from property will be specified
by the DOTD, if required.)
• Subdivision Plats/Plans (if property is part of an existing
subdivision, or if owner plans to further subdivide the property)

The DOTD does not require you to hire an architect, engineer, or other consultant.
However, you may choose to do so. The DOTD will work with you and any
consultant you hire. If a Traffic Impact Study is required (see previous section on
Traffic Impact Studies), a licensed engineer must be hired to perform the study.

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I purchased a property with existing driveways. Do I need a permit
to use these driveways? Can I keep them where they are?

When a property is purchased, the new owner must re-apply for an Access
Connection Permit. The location(s) of existing access connection(s) will be
considered in review of the application by the DOTD. However, the DOTD may
require relocation(s) and/or closure(s) of the existing access connections due to
changes in conditions of the adjacent roadway. Any costs to make the required
changes would be the responsibility of the property owner.

I’m being required to share my access with my neighbor. Why?

A roadway is safer with fewer access connections. Each access connection is,
essentially, and intersection and has conflict point, or locations where the paths of
two vehicles cross providing the potential for a conflict or “crash”. By restricting the
number of access connections on a roadway, the safety of the roadway is preserved.
Therefore, the DOTD may require adjacent property owners to share a single
conveniently-located (usually along the property line) access connection.
Residential access connections will only be required to share with another
residential access connection. And likewise, commercial access connections will
only be required to share with another commercial access connection.

How wide can my access connection be?

The DOTD has design details for all driveways and will work with you to select the
design that is most appropriate for your situation. You can estimate 12 feet for each
lane of ingress or egress. The DOTD will determine the number of lanes permitted
for each access connection permit during the review process. This width does not
include the required radii to connect to the adjacent roadway, but instead is the
width of the tangent, or straight, part of the driveway after the entrance apron.

What materials can I use to construct my access connection?

Any part of the driveway within the state right-of-way must be constructed of hard-
surface materials – either asphalt or concrete. There are requirements for the
thickness of material, as well as the base under the asphalt or concrete. These
thicknesses vary and are dependent on the amount of traffic expected to use the
access connection as well as the construction material thicknesses on the adjacent

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roadway. Upon permit issuance, the DOTD will provide specific direction in this
regard.

Do I need to get any other permits for construction?

Local parish or municipal governments may also require permits for the
construction of an access connection or for other construction planned on the
property. It is the owner’s responsibility to acquire the appropriate permits for
construction from all governing bodies with jurisdiction in that area where the
property is located.

I only need an access connection for a short time. Can I get a

temporary permit?

Temporary permits are issued by the DOTD for where the access connection will
only be used for a short time. Such instances include short-term natural resource
harvesting operations, short-term haul roads, or short-term access to a construction
site until an access connection permit is approved. These permits will be issued for
a period of time not to exceed one year. The temporary access connection shall be
constructed of temporary (removable) materials such as aggregate. Temporary
access connections shall not be constructed of asphalt or concrete or other
“permanent” materials.

If my request is denied, is there a way I can appeal the decision?

The DOTD has a specified appeals process for challenging a decision made by the
DOTD. You may follow this process in order to file an appeal if you do not agree
with the access connection permit issued by the DOTD. Details on this appeals
process may be found on the DOTD website.

What happens if I don’t obtain a permit or if I do not follow the

conditions of the permit?

The DOTD may barricade any illegally-constructed or unpermitted access

connection until a permit is obtained by the property owner. Failure to comply
within 30 days will constitute forfeiture of the access connection, at which time it
can and will be removed by the DOTD, with all expenses for removal and restoration
of the land being the responsibility of the property owner.

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