New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 18 - TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS
Chapter 31 - CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGN STANDARDS FOR HIGHWAYS
Part 6 - STATE HIGHWAY ACCESS MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Section 18.31.6.7 - DEFINITIONS

A. Acceleration lane-- A speed-change lane, including full-width auxiliary lane and tapered area, for the purpose of enabling a vehicle entering a roadway to increase its speed to a rate at which it can safely merge with through traffic.

B. Access-- Any driveway or other point of access such as a street, road, or highway that connects to the general street system. Where two public roadways intersect, the secondary roadway shall be considered the access.

C. Access category-- The definition by which access to a state highway is controlled according to the categories described in 18.31.6.10 NMAC.

D. Access control-- The regulated limitation of access to and from a highway facility including full control of access, partial control of access, and driveway regulations.

E. Applicant-- The owner of property or the representative of an owner applying for an access permit.

F. Arterial roadway-- The primary function of an arterial roadway is to provide mobility for through traffic movements. Arterial roadways provide for land access as a secondary function.

G. At-grade intersection-- A crossing of two or more highway facilities at the same elevation where through traffic movements on one or more of the highways cross and where turning movements between the highway facilities may be allowed.

H. Auxiliary lane-- An additional lane adjoining the traveled way which may be used for parking, speed change, turning, storage for turning vehicles, weaving, truck climbing, and other purposes supplementary to through traffic movement.

I. Average daily traffic (ADT)-- The average traffic volume per day, over a seven-day week, for a unique segment of roadway in both directions of travel on a two-way facility and in one direction of travel on a one-way facility.

J. Average weekday traffic (AWDT)-- The average traffic volume for a unique segment of roadway on a typical weekday (Monday through Friday) in both directions of travel on a two-way facility and in one direction of travel on a one-way facility.

K. Average weekend traffic (AWET)-- The average traffic volume for a unique segment of roadway over the weekend period (Saturday and Sunday) in both directions of travel on a two-way facility and in one direction of travel on a one-way facility.

L. Developed area/business district-- A developed area/business district occurs along a highway when within 300 feet along such highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes (including but not limited to hotels, banks or office buildings, railroad stations and public buildings) which occupy at least fifty percent of the frontage on one side or fifty percent of the frontage collectively on both sides of the highway.

M. Capacity-- The maximum hourly rate at which persons or vehicles can reasonably be expected to traverse a point or uniform section of a lane or roadway under prevailing roadway, traffic, and control conditions.

N. Change of use-- Occurs when a change in the use of the property including land, structures or facilities, or an expansion of the size of the structures or facilities, is expected to result in an increase in the trip generation of the property greater than twenty-five percent (either peak hour or daily) and greater than 100 vehicles per day more than the existing use.

O. Channelized intersection-- An "at grade" intersection with painted islands, raised islands, or other devices for directing traffic along definite paths.

P. Collector street-- Collector streets connect developed areas with the arterial street system, balancing the need to provide traffic movement with the need to provide property access.

Q. Commission-- The New Mexico state transportation commission or its predecessor.

R. Control of access-- The condition in which the right of owners or occupants of land abutting or adjacent to a roadway is controlled by public authority.

S. Controlled-access highway-- Includes highways, streets or roadways to which owners or occupants of abutting lands, and other persons, have no legal right of access except as determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the highway, street or roadway.

T. Corner clearance-- At an intersecting street or highway, the dimension measured along the edge of the traveled way between the centerline of the intersecting street and the centerlines of the first adjacent access points on the approach and departure sides of the intersection.

U. Cross street-- The lower function roadway that crosses a higher function facility, also referred to as minor street.

V. Curb cut-- An opening along a state highway with raised curb or curb-and-gutter to provide for driveway access using drivepad construction. Also referred to as driveway cut.

W. Curb return-- The access radius for an intersection or driveway opening, also referred to as radius return.

X. Curb return construction-- As applied to a driveway opening, means that proper access radii are used in the design and construction of an access facility.

Y. Deceleration lane-- A speed-change lane, including full-width auxiliary lane and tapered areas, for the purpose of enabling a vehicle to slow to a safe turning speed when exiting a roadway.

Z. Department-- New Mexico department of transportation and all of its components, including but not limited to, the district engineers, and the department divisions.

AA. Design vehicle-- A selected motor vehicle with the weight, dimensions, and operating characteristics used to establish highway design controls.

AB. Developer-- A person or persons representing a proposed land development project.

AC. Divided highway-- A highway with separated roadways for traffic traveling in opposite directions. Separation may be provided by depressed dividing strips, raised medians, traffic islands, other physical separations, standard pavement markings, or other traffic control devices.

AD. Drivepad construction-- As applied to a driveway or curb cut, means that access radii are not used in the design and construction of an access facility.

AE. Driveway-- For the purposes of department access management requirements, a driveway is a public or private access along a state highway serving a limited area where traffic signal control is not required. Excludes public streets, roads, highways, and other signalized intersections.

AF. Driveway angle-- The angle of 90 degrees or less between the driveway centerline and the edge of the traveled way.

AG. Driveway cut-- An opening along a state highway with raised curb or curb-and-gutter to provide for driveway access using drivepad construction. Also referred to as curb cut.

AH. Driveway throat width-- The narrowest width of a driveway measured parallel with the edge of the traveled way exclusive of radii, ramps or tapers.

AI. Edge clearance-- The distance measured along the edge of the traveled way between the frontage property line and the point of tangency of the nearest radius return for an access.

AJ. Egress-- To exit an abutting property or intersecting roadway to gain access to a state highway.

AK. Freeway-- A multi-lane divided highway having a minimum of two lanes in each travel direction, with access provided by grade-separated interchanges.

AL. Frontage-- The distance along the highway right-of-way line of a single property tract or roadside development area between the limits of the property.

AM. Frontage property line-- A line, perpendicular to the highway centerline, at each end of the frontage, extending from the right-of-way line to the edge of traveled way.

AN. Full control of access-- That part of access control where preference is given to through traffic by providing access connections only with selected public roads, and by prohibiting at-grade crossings and direct private driveway connections. Access control is accomplished by legally obtaining right-of-way from the abutting property owners or by the use of frontage roads or other means to provide access to abutting properties.

AO. Functional area of an intersection-- The areas of both upstream and downstream of an intersection where additional access points should not be allowed. The upstream area consists of length. The downstream area consists of stopping sight distance. Right-turn conflict overlap should also be considered when determining the downstream area.

AP. Functional classification-- The grouping of highways by the character of service they provide to through traffic movements (mobility) versus access to abutting properties (land accessibility).

AQ. General-purpose lanes-- The continuous through lanes on a highway, excluding auxiliary lanes. Sometimes referred to as mainline lanes.

AR. General street system-- The interconnecting network of city streets, county roads, and state highways.

AS. Grade separation-- A crossing of two transportation facilities, such as two roadways or a roadway and a railroad, at different elevations where access is not provided from either facility at their intersection.

AT. Grade or gradient-- The rate (or percent) of change in slope. For highway facilities, it is measured along the centerline of the roadway or access facility.

AU. Highway-- The entire width between the right-of-way lines of publicly maintained traveled way when any part thereof is open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel, or the entire width of any traveled way declared to be a public highway by law. It may include bridges, culverts, sluices, drains, ditches, waterways, embankments, walls, trees, shrubs and fences.

AV. Highway improvement project-- Includes any project to improve a roadway segment or intersection facility to protect and maintain the general health, safety and welfare of the traveling public, typically conducted by the public entity having jurisdiction over the facility being improved. Highway improvement projects are generally included in the public entity's transportation improvement program, whether the program is local, regional or statewide.

AW. Horizontal alignment-- The combination of curved and tangent sections of a highway in the horizontal plane.

AX. Ingress-- To leave the highway and enter into an abutting property or intersecting roadway.

AY. Intersection-- Public street or other access serving a large area or a major traffic generator(s) where traffic signal control may be provided.

AZ. Interstate highway-- Represents the highest functional classification of a roadway in a highway network. Interstates are multi-lane divided highways having a minimum of two lanes in each travel direction, with access provided by grade-separated interchanges.

BA. km/h-- A rate of speed measured in kilometers traveled per hour.

BB. Land development project-- Includes any project to develop or redevelop private or public property adjacent or in close proximity to a state highway where direct or indirect access to the property is required from the state highway. Land development projects may be conducted by either private or public entities.

BC. Lane-- The portion of a roadway for the movement of a single line of vehicles, not including the gutter or the shoulder of the roadway.

BD. Level of service (LOS)-- A qualitative measure describing traffic operational conditions within a traffic stream based on factors such as speed, travel time, freedom to maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort and convenience, and safety. Level of service designations range from A (best) to F (worse).

BE. Local governments and authorities-- Every county, municipal, and other local board or body having authority to enact laws relating to traffic under the constitution and laws of the State of New Mexico.

BF. Local road-- Local roads primarily provide direct access to abutting land and to roads of higher functional classification. Mobility is discouraged, especially in urban areas.

BG. May-- A permissive condition where the condition is suggested but not mandatory.

BH. MUTCD-- Manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways, latest edition.

BI. Median-- That portion of a divided highway separating traffic traveling in opposite directions.

BJ. Minor street-- The lower function roadway that crosses a higher function facility, also referred to as cross street.

BK. mph-- A rate of speed measured in miles traveled per hour.

BL. NMDOT-- The New Mexico department of transportation.

BM. Nominal control of access-- That part of access control that may be applied when full or partial control of access has not been obtained by a highway authority. A means of access control that is consistent with the functional classification of a state highway facility, and that is sufficient to maintain a safe and efficient transportation system.

BN. Non-access controlled highway-- Includes state highways where roadside access is permitted and access control has not been established by legally obtaining right-of-way from the abutting property owners or by the use of frontage roads or other means to provide access to abutting properties.

BO. Non-traversable median-- A median which, by its design, physically discourages or prevents vehicles from crossing it except at designated openings which are designed for turning or crossing movements.

BP. Partial control of access-- That part of access control where preference is given to through traffic to a degree that some at-grade crossings may be permitted. Access control is accomplished by legally obtaining right-of-way from the abutting property owners or by the use of frontage roads or other means to provide access to abutting properties.

BQ. Permittee-- The individual(s) responsible for fulfilling the terms and conditions of the access permit as imposed by the department.

BR. Property owner-- The person or persons holding the recorded title to property abutting a state highway, and other persons holding a recorded interest in such property, that includes a right to reasonable access from the state highway system.

BS. Radius return-- The access radius for an intersection or driveway opening, also referred to as curb return.

BT. Recovery Area-- An unobstructed area provided beyond the edge of a traveled way for the recovery of errant vehicles.

BU. Right-in/right-out driveway (RI/RO)-- A driveway located along a roadway prohibiting left-turn access into or out of the driveway.

BV. Right-turn conflict overlap-- A conflict that occurs when a driver in a through travel lane must monitor more than one access connection at a time.

BW. Setback-- The lateral distance between the highway right-of-way line and any development structure, obstacle or parking area along the highway roadside.

BX. Shall-- A mandatory condition where the requirements must be met.

BY. Should-- An advisory condition where the condition is recommended but not mandatory.

BZ. Sight distance-- The length of roadway visible to the driver of a vehicle, as further defined in the AASHTO document, a policy on geometric design of highways and streets, latest edition.

CA. Signal progression-- The timing of consecutive signalized intersections to provide for the progressive movement of traffic at a planned rate of speed.

CB. Speed-change lane-- A separate lane for the purpose of enabling a vehicle entering or leaving a roadway to increase or decrease its speed to a rate at which it can more safely merge into or exit from through traffic.

CC. State highway-- Any public highway that has been designated as a state highway by either the New Mexico state legislature or the state transportation commission.

CD. Stopping sight distance-- The distance required by a driver of a vehicle to bring the vehicle to a stop after an object on the roadway becomes visible.

CE. Storage lane length-- The length provided within a deceleration lane for the storage of queued vehicles, typically based on the vehicle queue expected during peak travel periods.

CF. Subdivide-- To divide land into two or more smaller lots, tracts or parcels of land.

CG. Subdivision-- A tract of land which has been subdivided in accordance with the laws of the state usually with appropriate streets, dedications and other facilities for the development or sale of industrial, commercial or residential land.

CH. Traveled way-- That portion of a roadway containing the travel lanes and speed-change lanes, exclusive of pavement provided for shoulders.

CI. Traversable median-- A median which, by its design, does not physically discourage or prevent vehicles from entering upon or crossing it.

CJ. Trip-- A one way vehicle movement from one location to another.

CK. Trip assignment-- Refers to the addition of trips generated by a proposed development to a transportation network. Involves the specific routing of traffic on the street system.

CL. Trip distribution-- Refers to the geographic origin or destination of trips related to a project. Involves the general allocation of trips generated by a development over the transportation network.

CM. Trip generation-- An estimate of the number of trips expected to be generated by specific type of land use.

CN. Undivided roadway-- A highway without physical separation between traffic traveling in opposite directions.

CO. Vertical alignment-- The vertical profile of a highway, intersection approach or driveway approach, typically measured along its centerline.