NOTE:
As of 3/13/23, the Pueblo County Public Works (PW) department, in cooperation with the Pueblo Regional Building Department (PRBD), will begin a revised process of signing off the front routing sheets for access permit applications at the point when it is determined the extent of the new or revised access will warrant changes.
This will allow the builders to move forward in the process of attaining a permit. At the time the routing is signed off, the calendar will start for 30 days, from which the indicated new and/or revised access will need to be addressed to the PW as indicated in the Letter of Requirements (provided through the access permit application).
If the builder cannot finalize the construction of the improvements and/or the new access and attain the approval of such from PW within the 30-day timeframe, the project permit will be requested to be placed on hold from PW through the PRBD. Requests for extensions will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Regarding the final sign-off of access permits with a Certificate of Occupancy requirement attached, there will be a final inspection of the access from the PW department to ensure any damage to access during construction has been remediated before the final sign-off.
After applying for a Road Access Permit, a Traffic Impact Study (TIS) may be required.
** Important Notices: **
- You must notify us of your access construction start date.
- This can be done through the OpenGov Access Construction Start Notice link.
- A final inspection will be scheduled two weeks after you submit the Access Construction Start Notice.
- If you complete the construction before the two-week period is over, you can request a final inspection by including a note in the application step message.
- If you need more time to complete the work and cannot finish within two weeks, you must apply for an Access Construction Time Extension via the OpenGov portal (please note this in the application step message).
- We will accommodate your request for a time extension if you provide a valid reason.
What initiates a request for Traffic Impact Studies (TIS)
A TIS may be required as part of the access permit procedure. We recommend that you contact us with more information about your project so we can determine whether a TIS is necessary and, if so, what specific parameters will apply.
Every new development creates additional traffic demand. For example, opening a new restaurant will likely increase the number of visitors to that location. While development offers general benefits, it may also negatively affect traffic safety and the level of service on public roads. For instance, queues of vehicles can obstruct pedestrian visibility and block private access points. Moreover, the public might have to wait multiple times for a green signal at the same traffic light.
Our goal is to foster the County's development; however, any development that could have a negative impact must be addressed and mitigated to improve the newly created traffic conditions.
The impact of a development on traffic depends on both its location and its type. For example, an insurance office with just one employee will generate significantly less traffic than a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through.
To estimate traffic generation, the ITE Trip Generation Manual— which compiles TIS from the U.S. based on land use, development type, and size—should be utilized.
Principles of preparing TIS
TIS are conducted to evaluate the effects of proposed development or transportation projects on the existing transportation network.
The principles of preparing TIS include:
- Scope of the study: The scope of the study should be clearly defined, including the project location, the type of development or transportation project, the study area boundaries, and the time period for the analysis.
- Depending on the location and type of development, the Pueblo County Public Works office will define the scope of the study (study area boundaries and the time period for the analysis) with a TIS request.
- Data collection: The study should include data collection on existing traffic conditions, including traffic volume, speed, and congestion levels.
- Depending on the location and type of development, the interval and type of data collection will be defined by the Pueblo County Public Works office with a TIS request (two-hour traffic counts will not be accepted).
- Analysis methods: The analysis methods used should be appropriate for the project and the study area. This may include traffic modeling, microsimulation, and capacity analysis.
- Impact assessment: The study should assess the impacts of the proposed project on the road network, including changes in traffic volume, level of service, and safety.
- Mitigation measures: The study should recommend mitigation measures to address any identified impacts.
- This may include transportation improvements such as roadway widening, intersection improvements, or new transit services.
- Evaluation: The study should evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures in addressing the identified impacts.
- Communication: The study's results should be communicated clearly, concisely, and concretely to the stakeholders, including the public, decision-makers, and project developers (supporting files such as Synchro, Vissim… need to be attached in the appendix).
To narrow the analysis to only necessary elements and reduce the process time, we developed a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) step in our access procedure.
This application will streamline the procedure, making it faster and more precise, without unnecessary iterations, as we will work on your analysis together. All Pueblo County traffic count data will be at your disposal if location/s from the existing database are applicable.
Depending on multiple parameters (location, type of development, expected traffic generation (ITE), traffic conditions, etc., TIA can be finalised with initial pre-screening or proceed with the requirement for a TIS.
The TIS shall examine the existing conditions, as well as conditions within the study area before and after the proposed development for the anticipated year of opening ("Opening Day") and 20 years (Major Study only} after opening ("Design Year"). The analysis shall be completed to a degree sufficient to document the operational and safety impacts of the proposed development and access plan.
If TIS is required, Colorado licensed professional engineer (PE) shall take full responsibility for the TIS.
Please contact us so we can help you with the procedure.
Are the Road access and Driveway the same?
No.
Our interest is only in Road access.
The Driveway is located between road access and garages (example).
Road access is much shorter and is located from the edge of the road towards to the property.
The most common road access for residential areas is 5 feet.
The role of road access is to stabilize and preserve roads to provide the public with the highest possible level of service on the Pueblo County road network.
Existing access
In the case of existing access, when official records about the project do not exist, access inspections will be performed.
Suppose you are applying to register an Existing Access Permit for access onto a Pueblo County-maintained road. In that case, you will need to apply and submit A PLOT PLAN (drawn to scale) showing all existing accesses, distances of road accesses from the edge of the property, width of the accesses, the property boundary, road name, all existing and proposed buildings/improvements, and road right-of-way location.
Provide Routing number if applicable ( Routing# 21-XXXXX).
- NOTE: At the time of application, the address must be clearly marked on site.
There are three possible outcomes:
- Access is built according to Pueblo County standards.
- After you send the required documents (application and plot plan) and the inspection is done, official data regarding your access will be created, and your Project Routing / CO will be signed.
- Access is not built according to Pueblo County standards (Minor deviations from the standard, stormwater flow, or traffic safety is not compromised).
- After you send the required documents (application and plot plan) and the inspection is done, you will receive the note from instructions and a specification of the work required to bring the access up to Pueblo County standards.
- Official data regarding your access will be created.
- As stormwater flow or traffic safety is not compromised or Minor deviations from the standard occur on-site, your Project Routing / CO will be signed, and the provided letter from this office becomes a mandatory condition for any future development or project on-site.
- Access is not built according to Pueblo County standards (Major deviations from the standard, stormwater flow, or traffic safety is compromised)
- After you send the required documents (application and plot plan) and the inspection is done, you will receive a letter with instructions and a specification of the work required to bring the access up to Pueblo County standards.
- Official data regarding your access will be created.
- As stormwater flow or traffic safety is compromised or Major deviations from the standard occur on-site, your Project Routing /CO will not be signed until the access is brought up to Pueblo County standards according to observations from this office.
New access
If you are applying for a New Access Permit for access onto a Pueblo County maintained road, you will need to apply and submit A PLOT PLAN (drawn to scale) showing all existing and planned accesses, distances of road accesses from the edge of the property, the width of the accesses, the property boundary, road name, all existing and proposed buildings/improvements, and road right-of-way location.
Provide Routing number if applicable ( Routing# 21-XXXXX).
- NOTE: At the time of application, the address must be clearly marked on site.
- NOTE: Indicate the permit number for which you are applying for on the check (You can send the check by mail or bring it in person to our office)
Time for approval of new accesses
- Gravel access: Immediately after construction (compaction test can be required).
- Concrete access: Seven days after construction, possibly three days after construction with enclosed concrete brake test with confirmed 90% of required strength ( concrete brake test can be required).
- Asphalt access: Immediately after construction (asphalt test can be required).
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at (719) 583-6042.