Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities FFlloorriiddaa DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt OOff TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn UUttiilliittyy AAccccoommmmooddaattiioonn MMaannuuaall 222000000444 Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities PREFACE The intent of the Utility Accommodation Manual is to provide direction, policy, criteria, and regulations for the accommodation of utilities within Florida Department of Transportation rights- of-way. The criteria in the Utility Accommodation Manual shall be applied through the exercise of sound engineering judgment. Pursuant to Section 334.044(1), Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Transportation has the responsibility for coordinating the planning of a safe, viable, and balanced State transportation system serving all regions of the state, and to assure the compatibility of all components, including multi-modal facilities. The Utility Accommodation Manual sets forth the criteria and procedures of the Florida Department of Transportation for the accommodation of utilities within State Transportation Facility rights-of-way pursuant to Sections 337.401 - 337.404, Florida Statutes. Sections 337.401 - 337.404, Florida Statutes, are a part of the Florida Transportation Code, as set forth in Section 334.01, Florida Statutes, and are applied in accordance with the purpose of the Florida Transportation Code, as set forth in Section 334.035, Florida Statutes. Section 337.401(1), Florida Statutes, provides the Florida Department of Transportation with the specific authority to prescribe and enforce reasonable rules or regulations governing the placing and maintaining of utilities along, across, or on any State Transportation Facility. Section 337.401(2), Florida Statutes, provides that the Florida Department of Transportation may grant the use of the rights-of-way for a utility in accordance with Florida Department of Transportation rules or regulations and that no utility shall be installed, located, or relocated unless authorized by a written permit issued by the Florida Department of Transportation. Section 337.401(2), Florida Statutes, further provides that the permit holder is responsible for any damage resulting from the issuance of such permit. Section 337.403(1), Florida Statutes, provides that any utility found by the Florida Department of Transportation to be unreasonably interfering in any way with the convenient, safe, or continuous use, or the maintenance, improvement, extension, or expansion, of such public road or publicly owned rail corridor shall, upon 30 day’s written notice to the Utility or its agent by the authority, be removed or relocated by such Utility at its own expense except as provided in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c). Section 337.403(3), Florida Statutes, provides that whenever an order of the authority requires such removal or change in the location of any utility from the right-of-way of a public road or publicly owned rail corridor, and the owner thereof fails to remove or change the same at his or her own expense to conform to the order within the time stated in the notice, the authority shall proceed to cause the utility to be removed. The expense thereby incurred shall be paid out of any money available therefore, and such expense shall, except as provided in subsection (1), be charged against the owner and levied and collected and paid into the fund from which the expense of such relocation was paid. Utilities Liaison – The Florida Department of Transportation provides sources of Liaison activities and information at the State and District level through several sources. These include direct contact, phone, email and web search. The Chief Liaison person on Utility Accommodation Standards and Criteria is the State Utility Engineer, located in Tallahassee, Florida. This person should be consulted on matters of statewide significance only except where otherwise noted in this Utility Accommodation Manual. For matters relating to Utility Permits, the District Maintenance Office is the appropriate contact point. Each Office has Utility Permit Engineers to address permitting related issues. For issues related to Florida Department of Transportation Construction of Design Projects in the Work Program, the District Utility Engineer is the appropriate Preface i Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities contact. The “MyFlorida.com” web site is available for accessing general information about Florida Government services. Information related to the Florida Department of Transportation business, documents, and the Five Year Work Program can be found at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/. Utility specific information is found by selecting ”Doing Business with FDOT” and then selecting ”Utilities Office”. Recognizing that all utility owners serving the public have a common obligation to provide their services in a cost effective manner, the Florida Department of Transportation will coordinate its advance planning of highway projects with the affected utilities to facilitate the relocation of the utility in order to eliminate costly construction delays. As part of the project planning and development process, the Florida Department of Transportation, its consultants and contractors will consider the cost of utility work necessary for the proposed project. The Florida Department of Transportation will keep Utilities informed of future transportation projects by advertising its five year work plan and request the utilities to advise the Florida Department of Transportation of the location of existing and proposed structures within proposed project corridors. Exhibit L is a flowchart of the process for communicating general issues to the Utility Industry. This allows the Utility to track and interact on issues that may or may not result in a change in Florida Department of Transportation processes. Preface ii Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... i CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose....................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Authority....................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Scope...........................................................................................................1-1 1.4 General........................................................................................................1-1 1.5 Distribution................................................................................................... 1-3 1.6 Revisions and Additions............................................................................... 1-3 1.7 Forms........................................................................................................... 1-4 1.8 Training........................................................................................................ 1-4 CHAPTER 2 - DEFINITIONS and ACRONYMS ......................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Definitions.................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Acronyms..................................................................................................... 2-9 CHAPTER 3 - UTILITY PERMIT ................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Utility Permit................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Permit Application........................................................................................ 3-2 3.3 Processing................................................................................................... 3-3 3.4 Signing & Sealing Utility Plans..................................................................... 3-6 3.5 Installations Not Requiring Permits.............................................................. 3-6 3.6 Installations Requiring Permits.................................................................... 3-7 3.7 Additional Permit Requirements .................................................................. 3-9 3.8 Permit Non-compliance.............................................................................. 3-12 CHAPTER 4 - APPLICATION OF CRITERIA, STANDARDS, SPECIFICATIONS, & POLICY.. 4-1 4.1 Application of Criteria................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Application of Standards.............................................................................. 4-1 4.3 Application of Specifications........................................................................4-1 4.4 Application of Criteria, Standards, Specifications When a Utility Damages State Infrastructure...................................................................... 4-2 4.5 Application of Policy..................................................................................... 4-2 CHAPTER 5 - ACCOMMODATIONS STANDARDS................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Basic Requirements..................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Crossings..................................................................................................... 5-8 5.3 Limited Access Crossings .......................................................................... 5-8 5.4 Attachments to Structures.......................................................................... 5-10 5.5 Other Systems........................................................................................... 5-12 5.6 Pavement Cutting / Trenching of a Transportation Facility........................ 5-13 5.7 Utility Accommodation in the Vicinity of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) or Proprietary Earth Walls (PEW).......................................... 5-13 Table of Contents 1- 1 Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities CHAPTER 6 - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTALLATION, RESTORATION OF R/W AND MAINTENANCE OF A UTILITY..........................................................................................6-1 6.1 General........................................................................................................6-1 CHAPTER 7 - MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION..................................................................... 7-1 7.1 General........................................................................................................7-1 7.2 Tree Trimming ............................................................................................. 7-1 7.3 Removal of Vegetation................................................................................. 7-1 7.4 Chemical Control of Vegetation................................................................... 7-2 CHAPTER 8 - MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC............................................................................. 8-1 8.1 Background.................................................................................................. 8-1 8.2 Traffic Control Plan...................................................................................... 8-1 8.3 Specifications and Job Control .................................................................... 8-2 8.4 Training........................................................................................................ 8-3 8.5 Rail Flagging................................................................................................ 8-3 8.6 Non-Compliance.......................................................................................... 8-3 8.7 Requirements for Flashing Lights................................................................ 8-3 CHAPTER 9 - LOCATION CRITERIA FOR UTILITIES ON NON-LIMITED ACCESS FACILITIES ................................................................................................................. 9-1 9.1 Resurfacing, Restoration, & Rehabilitation Construction Projects................................................................................... 9-1 9.2 Control Zones or Conditions for RRR..........................................................9-4 9.3 Transportation Facilities Other Than Limited Access or RRR............................................................................................ 9-5 9.4 FDOT Railroad Corridors............................................................................. 9-6 9.5 Airport/Airport Properties............................................................................. 9-6 9.6 Restricted & Non-Restricted R/W Area........................................................ 9-6 CHAPTER 10 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................... 10-1 CHAPTER 11 - UTILITY SURVEY............................................................................................ 11-1 11.1 General...................................................................................................... 11-1 11.2 Responsibility............................................................................................. 11-1 11.3 Locates...................................................................................................... 11-3 11.4 Subsurface Utility Engineering................................................................... 11-5 CHAPTER 12 - ACCOMMODATION OF UTILITIES ON LIMITED ACCESS R/W.............................................................................................................. 12-1 12.1 Limited Access Policy................................................................................ 12-1 12.2 Permitted Utility Activities on Limited Access Facilities Posted Speed > 50 MPH..................................................................................... ..12-1 12.3 Telecommunications Facilities on Limited Access R/W............................. 12-2 CHAPTER 13 - EXCEPTIONS................................................................................................... 13-1 13.1 General...................................................................................................... 13-1 13.2 Types of Exceptions .................................................................................. 13-2 13.3 Concurrence & Approval of Exceptions..................................................... 13-3 Table of Contents 1- 2 Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities 13.4 Coordination of Exceptions........................................................................ 13-3 13.5 Justification and Documentation of Exceptions.......................................... 13-4 13.6 Concurrence Review of Exceptions........................................................... 13-5 EXHIBITS Exhibit A - “Utility Exception Form” Exhibit B - “General Exception Considerations” Exhibit C - “Exception Considerations for the Designer” Exhibit D - “Exception Considerations for the Utility” Exhibit E - “Scenarios for Approving Exceptions on RRR Type Projects” Exhibit F - “Utility Exception Flowchart” Exhibit G - “Generalized Location Decision Flowchart” Exhibit H - “Project Type Location and Relocation Decision Flowcharts” Exhibit I - “Control Zones” Exhibit J - “Utility Permit Form” Exhibit K - “Utility Work Schedule” Exhibit L - “Utility Liaison Process for FDOT Process Changes” Exhibit M - “Determining Minimum HDD Depth” Exhibit N - “Exempt Public Documents” Exhibit O - “Map – Florida Department of Transportation District Boundaries” REFERENCES APPENDICES Appendix A – FDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction Appendix B – Utility Design Standards Appendix C – Utility Maintenance of Traffic Design Standards Appendix D – Maintenance of Traffic Training Table of Contents 1- 3 Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose The Utility Accommodation Manual is established to regulate the location, manner, installation and adjustment of utility facilities along, across, or on any Transportation Facility under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation. 1.2 Authority Sections 337.401- 337.404, Florida Statutes Rule 14-46.001, Florida Administrative Code 1.3 Scope The Utility Accommodation Manual is used by the Florida Department of Transportation Utilities, Construction, Maintenance, and Design Offices for compliance review and issuing permits for utility installations as authorized under Sections 337.401 - 337.403, Florida Statutes, and Rule 14-46.001, Florida Administrative Code. Utility companies use the Utility Accommodation Manual as criteria for application for utility permits. Since all utility owned facilities on Florida Department of Transportation rights-of-way must be authorized by permit, all utility design work, to the extent allowed by Florida law, must comply with the requirements herein. Therefore, District staff and consultants performing utility work on the Florida Department of Transportation rights-of-way must also adhere to the Utility Accommodation Manual. The requirement of a permit is a statutory mechanism for documenting and controlling appropriate use of the rights-of-way. 1.4 General The Florida Department of Transportation Utility Accommodation Manual draws upon many resources as guidelines to establish standards for utility work or placement and reimbursement costs within the rights-of-way. For example, see the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Federal-Aid Policy Guide. When a Florida Department of Transportation standard is found to be more stringent, the Florida Department of Transportation standard shall apply. Disputes pertaining to utility accommodation that cannot be resolved with Senior Management in the District by mutual agreement shall be referred to the State Utility Engineer or designee for resolution or coordination. Disputes over exceptions to Non- Limited Access Policy or Criteria/Standards shall be referred to the State Roadway Design Engineer or designee for resolution. Disputes that can not be resolved in the Introduction 1- 1 Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities District regarding utility accommodation across District boundaries, by intrastate utilities, shall be referred to the State Highway Engineer or designee. While the Utility Accommodation Manual governs matters concerning future location, and the manner and methods for the installation, adjustment, and maintenance of utilities on Florida Department of Transportation rights-of-way, it does not alter current regulations pertaining to authority for their installation, nor does it determine financial responsibilities for placement or adjustment thereof. The presence of existing above ground and underground facilities in Florida Department of Transportation rights-of-way will be presumed to be properly permitted in accordance with the existing guidelines in effect at the time of their installations, whether or not documentation to that effect exists. The Permittee will relocate or adjust existing utility facilities to comply with the current Utility Accommodation Manual: (1) When transportation facility improvement projects necessitate relocation, (2) Analysis of crash evidence (physical or recorded) indicates a need to relocate the utility facility, unless the relocation, (a) Conflicts with other standards, codes or regulations that provide for the public health and safety, or (b) Will not be economically feasible for the benefit desired. To the extent such data is necessary to comply with the requirements of the Utility Accommodation Manual the Florida Department of Transportation will make crash history available upon request. Individual crash reports, if necessary, shall be obtained by the utility agency organization from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Office. Where the Permittee has a compensable interest in the land occupied by the facilities and such land is to be jointly owned or used for a transportation facility and utility purposes, the Florida Department of Transportation and Permittee shall agree in writing as to the obligations and responsibilities of each party. In any event, the interest to be acquired by or vested in the Florida Department of Transportation in any portion of the rights-of- way of a transportation facility project to be occupied, used, or vacated, by utilities, shall be of a nature and extent adequate for the construction, safe operation and maintenance of the transportation facility. The Utility Accommodation Manual is also used to assess utility permit applications and to issue permits for work that are in the interest of public safety, protection, utilization, and future development of utilities and transportation facilities. Due consideration will be given to public service afforded by adequate and economical utility installations, as authorized under Section 337.401, Florida Statutes and Rule 14-46.001, Florida Administrative Code. Introduction 1- 2 Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities 1.5 Distribution The Utility Accommodation Manual is issued by the State Utilities Engineer and is furnished to Florida Department of Transportation personnel at no charge, upon request. For persons external to the Florida Department of Transportation, acquisition must be obtained by purchase at the following address: Maps and Publications Sales 605 Suwannee Street Mail Station 12 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450 Phone: (850) 414-4050 Fax: (850) 487-4099 http://www.dot.state.fl.us/MapsAndPublications/ The Utility Accommodation Manual may be viewed or printed at no cost by accessing the following web site. “http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rddesign/utilities/files/utilities.htm” Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view or print the Utility Accommodation Manual. 1.6 Revisions and Additions Revisions and additions to the Utility Accommodation Manual and the utility permit form are developed in accordance with the Florida Administrative Procedures Act. The Utility Accommodation Manual and utility permit form are incorporated by reference into Rule 14-46.001, Florida Administrative Code. The State Utility Engineer will also coordinate the periodic review of the Utility Accommodation Manual by affected parties, including the Utility Industry, for continued need and updating. Users of the Utility Accommodation Manual may submit any suggestions for improvement or modifications at any time to the State Utilities Engineer. Suggestions must be submitted in writing either to the below postal or internet address. State Utilities Engineer Florida Department of Transportation 605 Suwannee Street Mail Station 32 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450 http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rddesign/utilities/files/utilities.htm In order to keep the Utility Industry informed, the Florida Department of Transportation has created a Utility Liaison Process for Florida Department of Transportation Process Changes as follows: See Exhibit “L” for a flow chart that is intended to summarily describe a process for providing a window of opportunity for the Utility Industry to access information and input Introduction 1- 3 Topic No.: 710-020-001-e Revised: August 2004 Utility Accommodation Manual Office: Utilities on proposed changes by the Florida Department of Transportation that might impact them. It is specifically noted that most changes that are employed by the Florida Department of Transportation are the result of changes in national standards as adopted by government or agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, Department of Environmental Protection, etc. Utilities are encouraged to become involved in reviewing and inputting regarding proposed changes by the National Associations and Professional Special Interest Groups before they are adopted by the organizations, and the Florida Department of Transportation is required to comply. The Florida Department of Transportation will require its various offices to publish information via the Utility Web Site regarding proposed procedural changes, standards, criteria, or rules that may affect the Utility Industry. The purpose is to standardize utility notification and provide for early involvement on issues that are being considered. Changes that impact Utilities will be conducted in accordance with the Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 120 Rule Adoption Process. 1.7 Forms The Utility Permit (710-010-85, Utility Permit - See Exhibit J) may be obtained from the Florida Department of Transportation local Maintenance Office or the District Maintenance Office. All utility forms and agreements may be obtained through the District Utility Office or at the following internet address. http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rddesign/utilities/files/utilities.htm 1.8 Training No special training is required to use the Utility Accommodation Manual. However, some functions addressed in the Utility Accommodation Manual require persons to be skilled or certified in a particular area of expertise. (Examples of this include herbicide application certification addressed in Chapter 7, or Maintenance of Traffic setup or design, addressed in Chapter 8, etc.) Introduction 1- 4