TRN-10.19 - Utility Permits in the Right-of-Way
UTILITY PERMITS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
Administrative Rule Adopted by Bureau of Transportation Development and Capital Program Pursuant to Rule-Making Authority
ARB-TRN-10.19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Definition
Any person desiring to make a public improvement, do work in, or use the street area must first obtain a permit from the City Engineer as prescribed in Title 17. Utility permits are issued to franchised utilities, the Bureau of Water Works, the Bureau of Environmental Services, and Street Lighting and Traffic Signals sections of the Office of Transportation. Utility permits are required for installation, reconstruction, or repair of utility service facilities within the public right-of-way. Utility mains, services connections, conduits and utility poles are examples of installations requiring permits from Portland Bureau of Transportation, Street Systems Management.
II. Utility Infrastructure Regarding Private Development:
• A site utility plan for new construction or significant alteration shall:
• Be required for all Design or Historic Resource Review processes. The site utility plan shall be submitted, to BDS, no later than land use application.
• When a Land Use or Historic Resource Review is not required, a site utility plan shall be submitted, to BDS, no later than building permit application.
• Identify all “Type 1” and “Type 2” vaults.
• List the Utility contacts consulted in the creation of the utility site plan.
• Address how the building will be served by private and public utilities (power, gas, telecom, sewer, water, etc).
III. Administrative Rule
Prior to issuance of Street Opening permits, plans must be submitted as outlined below and meet the requirements for each type of permit as described in this Rule.
Street Opening Permit (For Public utilities installed under a PBOT project see “Public Infrastructure Installed within a PBOT Project” below)
Provide five copies of plans showing proposed work, plans shall be submitted in a manner that includes the requirements as listed here:
1. The plans must include the name of the utility company that will own and maintain the proposed facility, a contact person’s name and phone number, an assessor’s map number (quarter section number) and a north arrow, to the top of the page, if possible.
2. Provide a cross section of the trench or otherwise indicate the depth of cover over the installation. There is a required 36" minimum, except for cable TV (18" when 4’ or more behind the curb and 24" when in the street) and gas (30" anywhere in the right-of-way).
3. Place all installations parallel or perpendicular to the right-of-way.
4. Place installations a minimum of 5’ from the edge of sewer facilities, 4’ from the edge of water facilities and 3’ from either side of the face of the curb.
5. Specify the size, number and type of the proposed installation. Show and label any existing facilities as they relate to the proposed work.
6. Dimension installations from the right-of-way lines. Dimensions from the curb or edge of pavement can be shown in addition, but must not be used exclusively unless the right-of-way cannot be identified.
7. Label street names, curbs and right-of-way lines.
Placement of Underground Structures
Pre-cast vaults proposed for use in the right-of-way must be on the structural engineer's pre-approved list. Vaults poured on-site or vaults not listed on the pre approved vault list are reviewed by the City's structural engineer before approval. Plans and calculations must be provided for each vault and must carry a current Oregon Registered Professional Engineer’s stamp.
Where sufficient space exists in the street area and the utility cannot demonstrate a reason to do otherwise, vaults will be located in the street area.
Vaults placed in public sidewalk will require adjacent property owner written consent, except those vaults placed for the exclusive benefit of the abutting property.
Public sidewalk area vaults require non-slip lids per City of Portland Standard Construction Specification 308.2.07.
Vault access doors must not be placed in sidewalk corners or pedestrian through zones (see Pedestrian Design Guide). Place doors in the furnishing zone or planting strip. Exceptions can be made if the utility can satisfactorily demonstrate that no other option is available.
Vault lids must not be placed in crosswalks, bike lanes or the vehicle wheel paths of traffic lanes. Exceptions may be granted, if the utility can demonstrate that no other option is available.
Utility vault vent grates must be placed in the sidewalk furnishing zone or frontage zone only and not in the pedestrian through zone of public sidewalks.
Abandonment of vaults must be accomplished by removal of the entire vault; or removal of the lid, breaking a hole in the bottom, breaking down the walls to five feet below grade and filling with pea gravel or acceptable equivalent. Street restoration will be by current City standards.
Placement of Underground Structures (Vaults)
General Requirements of Vaults:
• Pre-cast vaults proposed for use in the right-of-way shall be on the structural engineer's pre-approved list. Vaults poured on-site or vaults not listed on the pre approved vault list shall be reviewed by the City's structural engineer prior to approval. Plans and calculations shall be provided for each vault and must carry a current Oregon Registered Professional Engineer’s stamp.
• Public sidewalk area vaults shall include non-slip lids per City of Portland Standard Construction Specification 308.2.07.
• Vault access doors may not be placed in sidewalk corners or pedestrian through zones (refer to Pedestrian Design Guide for definitions. The Pedestrian Design guidelines can be found at: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/84048).
• Vault lids may not be placed in crosswalks, bike lanes or the vehicle wheel paths in traffic lanes. Exceptions may be constructed; if the utility must demonstrate no option exists.
• Utility vault vent grates shall be placed in the sidewalk furnishing zone or frontage zone; they shall not be placed in the pedestrian through zone of public sidewalks.
• Abandonment of vaults shall be accomplished by removal of the entire vault or removal of the lid, breaking a hole in the bottom, breaking down the walls to five feet below grade and filling with pea gravel or acceptable equivalent. Street restoration shall be per current City standards.
• Vaults placed in public sidewalk areas shall require adjacent property owner written consent prior to the approval of the vault location. However, if the vault is for the exclusive benefit of the abutting property, then written consent is not required.
Types of Vaults:
Vaults are defined to be:
• “Type 1” – Serves multiple properties for the transmission, distribution or collection of a utility system.
OR
• “Type 2” – Serves an individual property only.
Both vault types require a permit from the Portland Bureau of Transportation. The approval processes for each type are specific to the type. In addition to the specific requirements of the permit, all General Requirements of Vaults must be observed.
Permitting of Vaults:
When a vault is proposed on a permit application, the applicant of the permit will identify if the vault is a “Type 1” or a “Type 2”.
The permitting criteria for each type of vault are as follows:
“Type 1” Vaults: may be allowed within the right-of-way provided criteria listed in the General Requirements are met and the utility certifies the vaults serve multiple properties or are necessary for the transmission, distribution or collection of a Utility system.
The preferred placement locations for “Type 1” vaults are:
A. In street area (between curbs)
B. Within Furnishing/Frontage Zone
C. “Behind the sidewalk” if right of way exists (an easement for partial on/off property if enough right-of-way does not)
D. Furnishing/Frontage zone, encroaching into Pedestrian through Zone.
A Design Exception shall be applied for and approved prior to the placement of any vaults for Option D locations.
“Type 2” Vaults are discouraged, however, they may be considered on a case by case basis.
For a “Type 2” vault to be considered for placement within the public right-of-way, they shall meet the criteria listed in the General Requirements and the following:
1. The applicant (property owner) of a “Type 2” vault must provide:
• Justification (in the form of a Design Exception request) for the placement of the vault in the public right-of-way. (Definition of vault does not include handhole).
• A letter from the serving utility in support of the desired location for the “Type 2” vault.
2. “Type 2” vaults shall be located immediately adjacent to the property. All “Type 2” vaults shall be fitted with a lift out slab lid matching the adjacent/existing sidewalk materials and be a Class “A” type of vault.
3. The Utility infrastructure leading up to the “Type 2” vault shall be permitted to the Utility. Plans for this infrastructure shall be submitted to PBOT for permit, prior to the placement of the “Type 2” vault.
4. The applicant (property owner) requesting the “Type 2” vault shall enter into a lease with the City of Portland, Bureau of Transportation. The cost of the lease shall be at full market value for the use of the right-of-way.
Above Ground Structures
Pad-mount transformer vaults, pedestals, blow off assemblies or other above ground structures are not permitted in the public right-of-way. All such requests are denied.
In newly annexed areas and unimproved rights-of-way, existing pedestals will be allowed to remain in place until such time as they require replacement, or when construction or reconstruction of that street occurs.
Utility Pole Placement Permits
City policy directs that utility poles should be placed on the extended property line.
Exceptions are granted if a sewer lateral, driveway, or other conflicts exist with the pole placement. One other possible exception is the need for placement of a guy anchor at a street corner, requiring the adjacent pole to be placed away from the corner. If the pole is not placed on the extended property line, the utility must obtain abutting property owner written consent. Street lighting poles may be placed at any location without property owner consent.
Guy poles are permitted the same as power/telecommunication poles. No permit is required for guy anchors.
Poles must be placed leaving the minimum clearance on sidewalks per ADA requirements.
Poles relocated 40 feet apart or greater are permitted as two poles: one removed and one placed.
Poles proposed to carry cell equipment of a non-franchised wireless telecommunications provider will not be permitted.
Wireless Telecommunication Facilities
Proposed wireless telecom facilities are reviewed and permitted as with any other utility installations and must meet the standards of the City regulating such construction.
The facilities placement will also be regulated by the terms and conditions set forth in the Right-of-Way Agreement entered into between the City and the Telecom provider.
Pay Phone Permits
The Office of Transportation issues permits for the placement of pay telephones in the public right of way.
Permits are also issued for the removal of existing payphones.
Requests for a phone booth are the same as for other utility installations in the public right-of-way with the following exception: prior to approving the request, a site visit by a City inspector or technician is required to verify that the payphone location meets clearance and sight distance requirements.
If the location meets clearance requirements, a copy of the application will be forwarded to the District Traffic Engineer for approval of sight distance requirements. If it does not meet clearance requirements, it will be returned to the applicant with an explanation.
Payphone applications must be accompanied by an underground wiring installation permit request when in an underground wiring district. All separate wiring permits shall be issued to the authorized telecom provider who will pay the appropriate utility permit fee. The fee for each payphone installation or removal permit is the minimum utility permit fee and is paid by the applicant when the permit is issued.
1. Permit applications shall be on a first come, first issued basis. If the payphone is not installed within 180 days of permit issuance, the permit is void and no extensions or new permit for that location shall be issued to the same permittee, unless approved by the City Engineer.
2. Payphones shall be placed in the furnishings zone adjacent to the curb. No portion of the payphone may be within two feet of the curb.
3. Payphones shall not exceed 9 square feet with no single dimension greater than three feet. Phone equipment shall meet ADA requirements (this is the applicant’s responsibility to determine).
4. Payphones shall not be placed on any sidewalk less than twelve feet in gross width and Pedestrian Guidelines or a minimum of 6ft shall be maintained.
5. No more than one payphone is allowed within 100 feet of the intersection of any two streets and within 200 feet of another payphone in the public right-of-way. Double phone booths will be allowed.
6. Payphones on the LRT station platforms or integrated into Tri-Met shelters require our permit.
7. Payphones placed on the transit mall, a light rail transit platform or bus shelter must have the approval of Tri-Met. No freestanding payphones are allowed on the 5th and 6th Avenue Transit Mall.
8. Payphones shall not be placed within 5 feet of: any building doorway extended from the property line to curb; the intersection of any sidewalk with another sidewalk measured from the back of the sidewalk; any portion of a handicapped access ramp, whether on private property or public right-of-way; any portion of a driveway, including the wings; any handicapped parking zone or transit zone.
9. Payphones shall not be allowed on the right-of-way abutting residential property zoned R2 or less dense (i.e. R2.5, R5, R7, R10, R20, FF, etc.).
10. Payphones may not be placed adjacent to existing restaurants as they may interfere with sidewalk cafe operations. Pay phones will not be removed if installed prior to the restaurant locating on abutting property or installed prior to July 1, 1995.
11. Payphones shall be at least 4 feet from any fire hydrant, ornamental street light pole or traffic signal equipment (including poles and controller boxes), and all standard utility clearances shall apply.
12. At locations where booths have been removed at the City's request, the company who removed the booth will have the first option to replace a booth at the site. A current list of the removed phone booths can be obtained from the Cable and Franchise Office.
A variance letter is required whenever:
Placement of an underground facility is less than the minimum required separation from sewer, water, or curb.
Installation of facilities requires cutting roadway paved within five years (example: Maintenance Bureau overlay)
Any other proposed utility installation that does not conform to City Code or Administrative Rules.
Letters requesting a variance should be addressed to:
Operations Manager
Street Systems Management
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Rm. 800
Portland, OR 97204-1971
Letters should include the reason for variance, the description and location of the proposed work and separation offset change. All foot-lines shall be identified.
For pavement moratorium, identify street paved and date paved (within the past five years).
Verbal Permits
1. The utility must demonstrate that existing service has been disrupted. This verbal approval is for emergencies only.
2. The utility will request a verbal permit at least 24 hours before starting work.
3. The applicant will describe work to be done, give reason for emergency street opening and exact date and time work will begin. A faxed site plan with this information is preferred.
4. The applicant will give this office three copies of the permit application, with the Water Bureau stamp, within two business days from date permission to work is granted.
5. If applicant submits copies later than two days, the fee may be doubled.
Public Infrastructure Installed within a PBOT Project
1. For BES infrastructure installed under PBOT CIP projects, concurrent with the 3rd Utility Notice, the PBOT design engineer or PBOT PM (on Consultant projects) will send an e-mail to the PBOTUtilityPermits@PortlandOregon.gov (and copy the BES contact) to initiate the Street Opening Permit process. A Street Opening permit will be issued to BES for their facilities within 5-7 business days.
2. For PWB infrastructure installed under PBOT CIP projects, the Street Opening permit process remains unchanged.
3. All other requirements and provisions of this Administrative Rule apply as noted above.
III IV. Code Reference
Title & Section 17.24, 17.56
Pursuant to Rule Making Authority Title & Section 3.12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HISTORY
Filed for inclusion in PPD December 19, 2003.
Amended by Group Manager of Bureau of Transportation Development and Capital Program and filed for inclusion in PPD May 30, 2012.