1.2.5 Approval Process

1.2.5.1 Design Exceptions
The review of design exceptions and recommendations for approval/non-approval may be established individually by each TxDOT District. For example, a four-person review committee might be established which would include:
  • Director of Transportation Planning and Development;
  • Director of Construction;
  • Director of Operations/Traffic; and
  • Area Engineer (not responsible for project management).
The recommendation of approval/non-approval by a majority of the committee members constitutes a quorum for recommending signature action. Since the construction plans are sealed, the design exception documentation does not require an engineer’s seal.
As per the current
Stewardship and Oversight Agreement on Project Assumption and Program Oversight by and Between Federal Highway Administration, Texas Division Office, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
, delegation of review and approval of design exceptions on the Interstate Highway System has been assigned to TxDOT. Additionally, if a project (Interstate or other) is identified on the FHWA Texas Division’s list of “Involved Projects” (TxDIP), and the project’s TxDIP Stewardship and Oversight (S&O) plan identifies specific design exception approval responsibility to FHWA, then design exceptions proposed for that project will be required to be submitted to FHWA for approval. All design exceptions must be signed by the
TxDOT District Engineer
 and this signature authority cannot be delegated.
Design exceptions must be documented on the PS&E Transmittal Data Form 1002.
Table 1-14
lists the Design Exception Approval Authority. The final signed Form 1002 all design exception forms and related documentation should be filed in ProjectWise and permanently retained.
For design exceptions on Interstates, refer to the
Design Exception Request for Interstate Highways TxDOT Standard Operating Procedures
found on the DES-PDS webpage.
Table 1-14: Design Exception Required Approvals
Project Type
Approval Authority
Submit Form To
State oversight projects
TxDOT District Engineer
District TP&D
Federal oversight projects
TxDOT District Engineer
District TP&D
Interstate projects
1
TxDOT DES
DES – Project Delivery Section
“Involved projects” (TxDIP)
Based on TxDIP S&O plan
DES – Project Delivery Section
Design Loading Structural Capacity or Bridge Railing, or Bridge Class Culvert protection
Bridge Division (BRG)
BRG - Design Section
Notes:
  1. Vertical clearance of < 16-ft on Interstate highways requires additional coordination and approval from the Department of Defense.
1.2.5.2 Design Waivers and ADA Design Variances
1.2.5.2.1 Design Waivers
Design waivers will be granted as the District authorizes. Complete documentation should be retained permanently in the District project files.
1.2.5.2.2 ADA Design Variance
An Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Design Variance form, process flowchart, and other information can be found on the
Design Division’s (Landscape Architecture Branch) website
.
1.2.5.3 Texas Highway Freight Network (THFN) Design Deviation
A THFN Design Deviation form, process flowchart, and other information can be found on the Design Division’s website (Project Delivery Section).
Table 1-15
lists the approval authority for design waivers, design variances, and design deviations.
Table 1-15: Approval Authority for Design Waivers, Design Variances, and Design Deviations
Type
Approval Authority
Submit Form To
Design Waiver
TxDOT District
District TP&D
ADA Design Variance
TDLR
DES – Landscape Architecture Branch
THFN Design Deviation
DES
DES – Project Delivery Section