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 towards 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 access permit application).

If the builder is unable to 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 that have 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 remedied prior to the final sign-off.

 

After you Apply for a Road Access Permit, a Traffic Impact Study (TIS) can be required.

  • It is required to give us notice regarding your access construction start date.

  • You can do that through OpenGov  Access Construction Start Notice Link.

  • After you give us the Access Construction Start Notice, the final inspection will be scheduled in two weeks.

  • If you finish construction before the two-week timeline, you can request a final inspection by submitting  Access Construction Certification(which needs to be submitted before the final inspection) after completion of construction.

  • If you are not able to finish the work in two weeks, it is required to apply for the Access Construction Time Extension through OpenGov portal.

  • If you have a valid reason to request a time extension, we will accommodate your request.

 

What initiates a request for Traffic Impact Studies (TIS)

TIS can be required as part of the access permit procedure. It is recommended to contact us with more info on your project, and we will be able to give you more information if the TIS will be required (if yes, what will be the parameters).

Each development brings new traffic demand (for example, opening a restaurant in a new location will increase the number of people who want to visit the location).

Aldo development is generally good; it can also have a negative impact on traffic safety and the level of service on the public road (queuing vehicles does not allow visibility of the pedestrians, covering the private access point, public needs to wait for the green signal multiple times at the same traffic light).

Although our goal is the development of the County, a development that will have a negative impact cannot be allowed without remediation of the proposed newly created conditions.

How much development will influence the traffic depends on the location and type of development (an office that sells insurance online, with one employee, will have significantly less attraction(generation) than fast food with a drive-through).

Literature that needs to be used to estimate the traffic generation is the ITE Trip Generation Manual (Collection of the TIS from the US, according to land usage, type of development, size…)

 

Principles of preparing TIS

Traffic impact studies (TIS) are conducted to evaluate the effects of proposed development or transportation projects on the existing transportation network.

The principles of preparing TIS include:

  1. 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 scope of the study (study area boundaries and the time period for the analysis) will be defined by the Pueblo County Public Works office with a TIS request.

  2. 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).

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Evaluation: The study should evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures in addressing the identified impacts.

  7. Communication: The results of the study should be communicated in a clear, concise, and concrete way to the stakeholders, including the public, decision-makers, and project developers (supporting files(Synchro, Vissim… need to be attached in the appendix).

 

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 the road accesses is to stabilize and preserve roads in order 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.

If you are applying for the registration of an Existing 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 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:

 

  1. Access is built according to Pueblo county standards.
  • After you send required documents (application and plot plan) and inspection is done, official data regarding your access will be created and your Project Routing / CO will be signed.

 

  1. Access is not built according to Pueblo county standards (Minor deviations from the standard or Stormwater flow is not compromised)
  • After you send required documents (application and plot plan) and 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 is not compromised or Minor deviations from the standard occur on site, your Project Routing / CO will be signed and provided letter from this office becomes mandatory condition for any future development or project on site.

 

  1. Access is not built according to Pueblo county standards (Major deviations from the standard or Stormwater flow is compromised)
  • After you send required documents (application and plot plan) and 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 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 an 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 edge of 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.
  • 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)
Example of plot plan required elements

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.