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0 . <br />With Backage Road <br />With Frontage Road <br />If— aeouun*W a rra"Wrrahao: <br />Design Division <br />January 2002 <br />BACKGROUND <br />■ The Texas Transportation Commission approved a policy (October 1999) limiting <br />the construction of frontage roads along 1-69, which extends from the Texas - <br />Mexico border to Texarkana. <br />■ On June 28, 2001, the Texas Transportation Commission approved two minute <br />orders reflecting the change in the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) <br />policy regarding frontage roads. <br />■ Minute Order 108544 - sets policy so new controlled access freeways are <br />constructed without frontage roads whenever feasible. <br />■ Minute Order 108545 - directs TxDOT to work with local governments to <br />determine how best to maintain local traffic circulation when frontage roads are <br />not built. <br />■ On December 13, 2001, the Texas Transportation Commission gave preliminary <br />approval to the proposed rules to implement the revised frontage road policy. <br />OVERVIEW <br />■ In the past, frontage roads were built when certain criteria were met.. <br />■ When planning a new freeway, TxDOT will start with the premise that frontage <br />roads will not be built. TxDOT will then evaluate the corridor to determine <br />whether frontage roads can be supported and what impact frontage roads would <br />have on mobility and safety. <br />■ Regulating access to a highway is termed "access control." Access control is <br />achieved by limiting access rights to and from properties adjacent to the highway. <br />■ In Texas, access control of freeways is accomplished through purchase of access <br />rights or the provision of frontage roads. Frontage roads have long been Texas' <br />preferred solution for controlling access along freeways. <br />■ Access control is important in the development of freeways. A freeway is defined <br />as a main highway with full control of access. Full control of access gives <br />preference to through traffic by providing access connections using ramps with <br />only selected public roads and by prohibiting at -grade or direct private driveway <br />connections. <br />■ Currently, Texas has over 6,481 miles of frontage roads, many of which were <br />constructed to avoid adverse impacts to adjacent properties where existing <br />roadways were converted to freeways. <br />■ Continued on other side of page <br />