TxDOT's project development process is a joint effort of many team members. Reducing project delay can be accomplished by integrating ROW personnel into early stages of the project development process. This is important for:

identifying potential design/construction
funding
related to the current Unified Transportation Program (UTP);
placing a project in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP);
developing the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).

The Right of Way staff should be consulted by the project planners and designers to determine the best project location and design with consideration given to:

local land usage;
potential disturbances to individual property owners; and
impact on area development and ROW costs, for example, effects of possible hazardous material and possible need for wetland mitigation.

ROW cost is a significant part of overall project cost and should receive due consideration with

all

engineering factors.

When studying proposed project locations, the designer should consult with Right of Way staff regarding ROW impacts that

may have high costs

for:

acquisition of improvements;
major utility relocation;
severance damages;
wetland mitigation;
hazardous material site clean up; and
relocation assistance.

Minor changes in design, such as change in alignment or adjustment of ROW width, may be made without a reduction in the integrity of the design or a disproportionate increase in construction costs in relation to ROW costs.

Refer to the TxDOT

Project Development Process Manual

for information on the following project development tasks.

ROW acquisition requirements and information for obtaining CONSTRUCT (CONS) authorization are discussed in the TxDOT

Project Development Process Manual

. There is a targeted percentage of ROW acquisition that should be complete for priority status, but the percentage may vary depending on the size of the ROW project. To verify that a project can be constructed as a CONSTRUCT (CONS) Status project, evaluate the project's amount of ROW acquired to date. This evaluation minimizes the possibility of ROW acquisition delaying a letting and demonstrates the importance of involving ROW staff in project development.

Initial ROW acquisition is authorized when PLAN or DEVELOP (DVLP) authorization is obtained. PLAN or DEVELOP (DVLP) status is required for ROW acquisition authorization.

Long Range Project (LRP) status is obtained as the last and lowest level of project development.