18.1.5 Projects that can be Exempt from Bicycle Accommodations
Bikeways should be routinely included when planning and designing transportation facilities, addressing the needs of the target design user (see
); consequently, all projects must be consistent with the identified needs for bikeways as identified in the environmental process.
Exemptions to providing bikeways are permitted if the project meets one or more of the following criteria. Although an area may fall under one of the exemptions below, it is important to plan for anticipated growth where bicycling activity might become more prevalent in the future during the life of the project. MPO and local planning documents should be reviewed and coordinated with to identify anticipated future growth when selecting bikeways outside the urbanized boundaries. The documentation for having an exemption based on the following criteria will be maintained with the project file with specific documentation as to the nature of the exemption, but this is not considered a formal Design Exception or Design Waiver. The circumstances requiring a formal Design Exception or Design Waiver are documented in
of this manual. The
provides additional information on MPO boundaries and area types.
Projects located on the
Texas Bicycle Tourism Example Network
(found on the
on TxDOT.gov) are not exempt from providing bikeways specifically due to geographic location. Other exemptions (not specific to geographic location) may be used as appropriate.On-System bridges, regardless of location, involving bridge replacement, bridge deck replacement, or bridge rehabilitation will need to meet the bicycle clear space requirements specified in
, and are not exempt.
Off-system Bridges, with current ADT greater than 400 ADT, may be exempt from the bicycle clear space requirement when this addition may represent an unreasonable increase in cost. For specific Off-system bridge requirements for a current ADT of 400 or less, see
.
- The project is on a roadway where bicycle travel is specifically prohibited by law or Texas Transportation Commission Minute Order.
- The project is located outside of a respective MPO Boundary; AND is also located outside of any respective city limits with a population of 2,500 or greater. The TxDOT Statewide Planning Map provides additional information on MPO boundaries and area types. Before using this exemption, project designers should seek out and consider local stakeholder input and community need.
- The project is in an urbanized setting (defined as a city, town, or Census-designated place with a population of 2,500 or greater) where a locally preferred alternative route has been adopted or implemented and bikeways are deemed impractical within the scope of the project.
- The project is in an urbanized setting with limited roadway improvements, such as 3R and 2R projects, and there is already a future project programmed (e.g., MPO Active Transportation Plan) where the bicycle updates would make more sense in the context of overall transportation improvements.
- The cost to provide features exclusively for bikeways is excessively disproportionate to the need or likely uses. While a determination of “excessively disproportionate” should be concluded on a case-by-case basis and well documented, exceeding 20% of the total project cost (including design, construction, ROW, etc.) may be considered as a general guideline. This exemption should not be used if the project will help complete a gap in an overall bicycle network.
- The source of funding specifically precludes improvements other than those for which the funding is intended. Note that although Category 8 funding (which includes HSIP, Statewide systemic widening, and Road to Zero) does not currently have funding allocated specifically for bikeways, it is allowable to place money that has been specifically designated for bicycle accommodations into Category 8. Note, funding opportunities for bicycle facilities can be found on .
- The type of work is limited in scope such that major roadway elements are not being constructed or reconstructed, for example, safety end treating culverts only, Metal Beam Guard Fence (MBGF) replacement only, sealcoat only, and other types of preventive maintenance projects. Note that resurfacing can provide the opportunity to restripe and/or improve the riding surface for bikeways in certain instances and, as such, would not necessarily warrant an exemption. Other projects with a narrow scope should be evaluated to determine if negative impacts to the bikeway may result.