22.2 Right of Way Requirements
22.2.1 Passenger Platforms
The distance from the edge of the traveled way to the ROW line may need to be increased to allow adequate passenger platforms to be installed. In areas where there are either dedicated bikeways or shared use paths, the through bicycle and/or pedestrian traffic may need to be routed behind the passenger platform on additional ROW to avoid interference with passenger waiting or boarding.
As a general policy, TxDOT does not purchase ROW for Transit or Bus Stops
.22.2.2 Intersections
Additional ROW may be required around intersections with cross streets, light rail tracks, and railroad tracks to allow adequate bike facility geometry. Two-wheeled vehicles need to cross tracks and other linear obstacles in a roadway as close as practicable to a right angle. Additional room at corners may be needed not only for sight distance around passenger platforms, but also for transit staging areas or bike sharing docks.
22.2.3 Transit Centers
New ROW outside of the normal roadway limits may be required for transit centers that allow passengers to transfer vehicles without waiting on the side of the street. These transit centers may require special geometry to allow buses to efficiently enter and exit without increasing the risk of incidents with general purpose traffic. These transit centers also often provide bicycle/micromobility parking, and private vehicle access facilities like parking, park-and ride, and drop off facilities for public toilets, information kiosks, ticket vending machines, transit police, and climate controlled spaces for extremely hot or cold weather.
22.2.4 Dedicated Transitways
Dedicated transitways for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), in-street Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Streetcars (e.g., Trams or Trolleys) allow transit vehicles to travel at the design speed regardless of the congestion on the generalpurpose lanes. However, ROW constraints may require the reconfiguration of the existing typical section, such as the narrowing of a wide median or combining transit and right turn lanes into a Business Access Transit (BAT) lane. These approaches can accommodate transit without reducing existing capacity. It may still be necessary to acquire additional ROW at signalized intersections to provide storage for left turn lanes. Locating transit platforms away from turn lanes can help to mitigate additional ROW needs.
Note that if existing medians are utilized for dedicated transitways, existing unsignalized intersections that allow left turns from and to the major roadway will become “T” intersections with right turns only. Cross traffic will only be possible at signalized intersections.
If existing rail corridors are retired and the ROW is returned to the government, these corridors may be repurposed as dedicated transitways with or without parallel multi use bike/pedestrian trails.