Utility Accommodation Options for Congestion in TxDOT Right-of-Way

Like many states, Texas faces increasing utility congestion in the right-of-way (ROW) of the roadways it builds and maintains. The existing Texas Utilities Accommodation Policy (UAP), as outlined in the Texas Administrative Code, provides guidelines for accommodating public utilities within highway right-of-way. These utilities include natural gas, water, electricity, telecommunications, cable television, salt water, and common carrier petroleum and petroleum-related products. As deregulation of the utility industry has taken effect, the influx of newly formed utility companies has resulted in greatly increased demand for access to right-of-way. This growth and expansion of underground utilities in urban areas also results in increased demand and increased competition for the space available on highway right -of-way for public utilities. As utility congestion has increased, focus has been placed on finding methods of increasing or at least maintaining the space available to utilities, while at the same time addressing the concerns listed above. One proposed solution is that of a utility corridor structure that houses numerous utilities in a small space.