a)
Definition of Terms
"Areas" - An area, either incorporated or unincorporated, is
defined as Urban where it has been developed primarily for residential and/or
business purposes (Illinois Vehicle Code Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 951/2, par.
1-214.1). The speed limits will generally be 40 miles per hour or less, the
street or highway will normally be curbed, and at least 50 percent of the
frontage on one side of the highway within one-half mile of the driveway
location developed with residences and/or businesses. All locations not
included under the Urban definition should be considered as Rural.
"Department" - The Illinois Department of Transportation,
usually acting through its Regional or District Engineers (See Illustration
I)
Driveway Types
"A Noncommercial Driveway" is one providing access to a single
family residence. The term shall also apply to driveways used as access to
agricultural land, including field entrances.
"A Commercial Driveway" is one providing access to property
being used other than for a single family residence or for agricultural
purposes.
"Industrial-Commercial-Recreational-High-Volume
Traffic-Generator Driveways" are those which provide access to facilities which
generate high-volume traffic, such as shopping centers, industrial parks,
athletic fields, etc.
"Flare" - The part of the driveway surface outlined by the edge
of the highway, the edge of the nominal width or through part of the driveway,
and the curved (normally) outer edge of the driveway.
"Freeway" - A highway or street designated by the Department as
a freeway in accordance with Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 121, pars. 8-101 et
seq., which includes both full and partial control facilities.
"Frontage" - The distance along the highway right-of-way line
in front of the owner's property, determined by projecting a perpendicular line
from the center line of the roadway to the corner points of the property on the
right-of-way line.
"Frontage Road" - A public street or road auxiliary to and
normally located alongside and parallel to a highway for purposes of
maintaining local road continuity and for control of access.
"Island" - A physical barrier to direct the flow of traffic and
to separate highway traffic from the activity on the adjacent property.
"Median" - The portion of a divided highway or divided driveway
separating the traveled ways for traffic in opposite directions.
"Permit" - The term "Permit", as used in this policy, shall
mean a Highway Permit (Form BT 1045) to allow construction or reconstruction of
a driveway in accordance with the provisions thereon, granted by the Department
in accordance with this policy. The form may also be used for other permit
work, such as backslope grading, etc.
"Right-of-Way Line" - The boundary between the land acquired
for or dedicated to highway use and adjacent property.
"Shoulder" - The portion of the highway contiguous with the
traveled way for the accommodation of stopped vehicles and for emergency
use.
"State Highway" - Any street or highway that is part of the
State highway system prescribed in Article 2 of the Illinois Highway Code.
Basically, those highways that are maintained by the State or State routes
maintained by a City under the terms of a City-State Maintenance
Agreement.
"Subdivision" - Land divided or subdivided into two or more
parcels or tracts less than five acres.
"Traffic Control Devices" - All signs, signals, markings, and
devices that conform to the Illinois Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,
placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having
jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding
traffic.
"Turning Lane" - An auxiliary lane, including tapered areas,
primarily for the acceleration or deceleration and storage of vehicles entering
or leaving the through traffic lanes.
b) Purpose of Access Driveway
Permit
Procedures
1) Various sections of the
Illinois Highway Code restrict persons from working on State highways, and
specifically constructing access driveways, except under the terms of a permit
issued by the Department. The intent of the Department in issuing these permits
is to provide maximum protection to the public through the orderly control of
traffic movements onto and from the highway, to safeguard the traffic carrying
capacity of the highway, to protect the public investment in highway
facilities, and to assure uniform practices throughout the State in the design
and construction of driveways. The standards and procedures in this policy have
been developed to aid in accomplishing these goals.
2) The standards recognize the differences
between noncommercial and commercial driveways, between rural and urban areas,
and between relatively low and high traffic volume facilities. High-volume
entrances need to be designed to standards similar to those required for street
intersections with corresponding traffic.
3) In reviewing a permit request,
consideration will be given to all factors affecting the operation of the
driveway and the highway. These factors will include, but not be limited to,
the location and geometrics of the driveway, turning lane requirements,
capacity of the roadway, driveway drainage, safety and operational efficiency
of the driveway as related to the highway, and land use. Driveways should be
designed to provide good service to users of the entrance while at the same
time minimizing interference to highway traffic.
4) The standards contained in this policy
were developed to minimize the frequency and severity of potential conflicts
between through vehicles and those entering or leaving driveways. Some of the
principles considered were:
A) Reducing the
speed differential between through vehicles and those using the
driveways;
B) Eliminating
encroachment of turning vehicles on adjacent lanes;
C) Prohibiting use of the highway as a
portion of the internal circulation system of abutting property;
D) Providing sufficient spacing between
driveways to lessen interference with traffic from adjacent
driveways;
E) Discouraging parking
on streets or backing onto the highway, except where such maneuvers clearly
will not constitute a hazard or prove detrimental to the operation of the
highway;
F) Preserving or improving
the integrity of the highway and drainage facilities.
5) Construction on or adjacent to the highway
roadway constitutes a hazard to the motorist. For this reason, not only the
design of the driveway but the method and type of construction will be governed
by the permit.
6) Bonds are
required for various types of permits to assure the construction is done
properly and completely and that the integrity of the highway is
maintained.
c) Laws
Pertaining to Entrances
The statutory provisions pertaining to the adoption and
observance of this official policy are contained in Articles 4-209, 4-210,
4-211, 4-212, 8-102, 8-103, and 9-105 of the Illinois Highway Code. These
sections are reprinted in Appendix E of this policy.
