All driveways shall be located, designed, constructed
and maintained in such a manner as not to interfere or be inconsistent
with the design, maintenance and drainage of the Township roadway.
A.
General location restrictions. Access driveways shall
be permitted at locations in which:
(1)
Sight distance is adequate to safely allow each permitted
movement to be made in or out of the access driveway.
(2)
The free movement of normal roadway traffic is not
impaired.
(3)
The driveway will not create a hazard.
(4)
The driveway will not create an area of undue traffic
congestion on the Township road.
B.
Specific location restrictions. Specific location
restrictions shall include the following:
(1)
Access driveways shall not be located at intersections
or locations that would interfere with the placement and proper functioning
of roadway signs, signals or other devices that affect traffic control.
(2)
Access to a property which abuts two or more intersecting
streets or roads may be restricted to the roadway which can more safely
accommodate its traffic.
(3)
For two access driveways to be constructed on the
same property frontage, the roadway frontage must be 100 feet or more
(measured at the road right-of-way).
C.
Approaches to driveways. Driveway approaches shall
conform to the following standards:
(1)
The location and angle of an access driveway approach
in relation to the roadway intersection shall be such that a vehicle
entering or leaving the driveway may do so in an orderly and safe
manner and with a minimum of interference to the roadway traffic.
(2)
Where the access driveway approach and roadway pavement
meet, flaring of the approach to allow safe, easy turning of vehicular
traffic shall be required.
(3)
Where the roadway is curbed, driveway approaches shall
be installed 1 1/2 inches above the adjacent roadway or gutter
grade to maintain proper drainage.
The design features described in this section
and illustrated in the attendant figures are to be used by the applicant
in designing the driveway plans which accompany the application.
A.
Angle of access driveway approach. Angle of access
driveway approach shall include the following:
(1)
Access driveway approaches used for two-way operation
shall be positioned at right angles, that is 90º, to the roadway
or as near thereto as site conditions permit.
(2)
When two access driveways are constructed on the same
property frontage, each of these driveways may be placed at an angle
less than a right angle, but not less than 45º to the roadway.
Two access driveways will not be permitted on property with less than
100 feet of roadway frontage (measured at the road right-of-way).
B.
Driveways adjacent to intersections. Driveways serving
properties located adjacent to a roadway intersection shall be subject
to the following:
|
Driveway Isolation Distance Table
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Distance between the center line of the
driveway and the center line of the nearest intersecting street on
the same side of the street as the driveway by type of intersecting
street.
| |||||
|
Type of Driveway
|
Connector
(feet)
|
Collector
(feet)
|
Minor
(feet)
|
Local Access
(feet)
| |
|
Residential single/two-family
|
150
|
100
|
75
|
75
| |
|
Multifamily/ commercial
|
300
|
200
|
100
|
100
| |
C.
Driveway grades.
[Amended 4-9-2002 by Ord. No. 111]
(1)
The tangent grade of the connecting driveway shall
be a minus 6% (0.75 inch per foot) for a minimum of 10 feet from the
edge of the travelway pavement or the shoulder or gutter line of the
accessed road, whichever is greater.
(2)
Grade differences of 14% shall require a vertical
curve of at least 30 feet. The point of vertical curvature (PVC) of
the required vertical curve shall be 10 feet from the edge of the
travelway pavement or the shoulder or gutter line of the accessed
street, whichever is greater. Every driveway shall be constructed
and maintained with a crown sloped at least 0.75 inch per foot.
D.
All driveways shall intersect the road right-of-way
at the front yard property line, and, except for joint-use driveways,
all driveways shall be located at least 10 feet from any bordering
property boundary line.
[Amended 4-9-2002 by Ord. No. 111]
E.
Curbing. Requirements for curbing shall conform with
the following:
(1)
If, in the opinion of the Township, there is a high
probability that vehicles would otherwise utilize a portion of the
property frontage other than the approved driveway to gain access
to the property or for parking of vehicles on the Township right-of-way,
the permit may require curbing or other physical barriers.
F.
Sight distance. Conditions for sight distance shall
be as follows:
(1)
Access driveways shall be located at a point within
the property frontage limits which provides at least the minimum sight
distances listed in the appropriate following table.
(a)
Table 1.
|
Table 1
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Safe Sight Distance for Vehicles Exiting
from Driveways
| |||
|
Posted Speed
(mph)
|
Safe Sight Distance to the Left
(feet)
|
Safe Sight Distance to the Right
(feet)
| |
|
25
|
250
|
195
| |
|
35
|
440
|
350
| |
|
45
|
635
|
570
| |
|
55
|
845
|
875
| |
|
Measured from a vehicle 10 feet back of the
pavement edge.
| |||
(b)
Table 2.
|
Table 2
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Safe Sight Distance for Vehicles Entering
| ||
|
Driveways by Left Turns
| ||
|
Posted Speed
(mph)
|
Safe Sight Distance approaching lane
(feet)
| |
|
25
|
190
| |
|
35
|
300
| |
|
45
|
445
| |
|
55
|
610
| |
|
Measured from the point where a left-turning
vehicle stops to a vehicle in the oncoming lane.
| ||
(2)
The sight distance values in Tables 1 and 2 are desirable
for safe operation of the driveway; however, sight distance values
less than desirable will be accepted if it is impossible to achieve
the desirable value by locating the driveway at any point within the
property frontage boundaries.
(3)
If sight distance requirements as specified in this
article cannot be met, the Township may:
(a)
Prohibit left turns by exiting vehicles.
(b)
Restrict turning movement to right turns in
and out of a driveway.
(c)
Require installation of a right turn acceleration
lane or deceleration lane.
(d)
Require installation of a separate left turn
standby lane.
(e)
Alter the horizontal or vertical geometry of
the roadway.
(f)
Deny access to the Township roadway.
G.
Construction of access driveways. Construction of
access driveways shall achieve the following:
(1)
All driveways shall be constructed so as not to impair
drainage within the right-of-way, to allow stormwater runoff to flow
onto the Township roadway pavement, to alter the stability of the
improved area or to change the drainage of adjacent areas.
(2)
Where a drainage ditch or swale exists, the permittee
shall install adequate pipe under the driveway. Drainage pipes installed
under driveways shall be at least 15 inches in diameter and have at
least one foot of cover (proof of adequacy may be required).
(3)
Grade requirements in uncurbed shoulder areas within the right-of-way shall conform to Subsection C above.
(4)
Grade requirements where curbs and sidewalks are present
shall be as follows:
H.
Auxiliary lanes.
(1)
Auxiliary lanes shall consist of the following:
(a)
Acceleration and deceleration lanes. The combination
of roadway speed, volumes, location and arrangement of driveways and
intersections may require the installation of an acceleration or deceleration
lane or both, by the permit, a speed change lane of sufficient length
and width shall be constructed to allow vehicles to safely decelerate
or accelerate when entering or leaving the property.
(b)
Left turn standby lanes. The permit may require
the installation of a left turn standby lane to separate and protect
left turning vehicles from through traffic if failure to do so would
result in an undue hazard to the traveling public.
(c)
Additional right-of-way for lanes. Where the
width of the Township right-of-way is insufficient to permit the construction
of a needed auxiliary lane, the permittee shall provide any necessary
additional right-of-way. When required, auxiliary lanes shall be constructed,
at no expense to the Township, in accordance with the Middle Smithfield
Township Road Regulations.
(d)
Lane in front of another property. If an auxiliary
lane must be located in front of property of another person, the applicant
shall be required to secure the approval of the other person or indemnify
the Township against any action which the other person may bring against
the Township.
(e)
Access driveway pavement.
[1]
Access driveways shall be appropriately surfaced
with a stabilized material between the traveled way and the right-of-way
line unless a higher-type material is specified by the permit.
[2]
Multifamily/commercial driveways which provide
access to paved Township roadways shall be paved within the right-of-way.
(f)
Median openings. Median openings shall have
a left turn standby lane installed to protect left turning vehicles
whenever a median opening is permitted.
(g)
Shoulder upgrading. Where the existing shoulder
on either side of a proposed low- , medium- or high-volume driveway
is not adequate to allow its use by turning vehicles, the permittee
shall upgrade the shoulder area for a minimum of 100 feet on either
side of the driveway.
(h)
Traffic control devices. Requirements for traffic
control devices shall be as follows:
[1]
The permittee shall, at his own expense, install
and maintain all traffic control devices, as specified in the permit,
which are required to provide for the safe and orderly movement of
vehicular or pedestrian traffic or both. These devices shall include,
but not be limited to, any required regulatory, warning or guide signs,
traffic lights, delineators and pavement markings.
(2)
Although site conditions may not allow strict adherence
to the dimensions shown in these illustrations, every effort shall
be made to design and construct the safest and most efficient access
onto the Township roadway.
I.
Joint-use driveways. All joint-use driveways shall
be established by a restrictive covenant on a recorded plot plan,
or by a written and recorded agreement or deed covenant, signed by
all of the parties that have rights to use the joint driveway, and
setting forth adequate provisions for maintenance and cost-sharing
for the driveway.
[Added 4-9-2002 by Ord. No. 111]
J.
Drainage pipes. Driveways shall have a drainage pipe
installed, with a minimum inside diameter of 15 inches or equivalent
area, at the point where the driveway joins the public road, when
required to pass stormwater. All such drainage pipes shall be installed
pursuant to specifications approved by the Township and under the
supervision of a designated Township officer. Inlet boxes shall be
installed where needed.
[Added 4-9-2002 by Ord. No. 111]
K.
Driveway paving near Township roads. All driveways
with an uphill grade of 10% or more within a distance of 30 feet from
the edge of the public right-of-way shall be paved with a hard permanent
surface of ID2A or macadam or paving blocks for a minimum distance
of 20 feet from the edge of the public right-of-way, based on the
sketch plan attached hereto.[1]
[Added 4-9-2002 by Ord. No. 111]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said sketch plan is included at the end of this chapter.
