Transportation Engineering

Development Permits

Entrance Permits

Right-of-Way Permits

Other Fees

Grading

The following abbreviations apply to Clackamas County Roadway Standards.

• AASHTO: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
• ADT: Average daily traffic
• APWA: American Public Works Association
• ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials
• BCC: Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners
• CRC: Clackamas Regional Center
• DTD: Clackamas County Department of Transportation and Development
• EOR: Engineer of Record
• FHWA: Federal Highway Administration
• ISD: Intersection sight distance
• ITE: Institute of Transportation Engineers
• MPH: Miles per hour
• MUTCD: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• ODOT: Oregon Department of Transportation
• PI: Point of intersection
• PC: Point of curvature
• PT: Point of tangency
• SSD: Stopping sight distance
• UGB: Urban Growth Boundary

The following definitions apply to Clackamas County Roadway Standards.

• ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• ADA standards: Requirements and standards resulting from the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and adopted by Clackamas County as standards for accessible design within Clackamas County rights-of-way.
• Alteration: A change to a facility that affects or could affect pedestrian access, circulation, or use. Alterations include, but are not limited to, resurfacing, rehabilitation, reconstruction, historic restoration, or changes or rearrangement of structural parts or elements of a facility.
• Applicant:  Property owner or person designated by the property owner to be the representative for an application for a development proposal, permit or approval, or their successors or assigns.  As this pertains to utilities, see County Code Section 7.03.020.
• Average daily traffic ("ADT"):  The number of vehicles traveling in both directions over a given time period greater than one day but less than one year, divided by the number of days in that time period.  Commonly, traffic counts completed at various times of year are adjusted for time of year to account for seasonal and day of week variations.  For the purposes of determining whether a roadway is "very low volume", ADT's shall be based upon a 20 year projected ADT.
• Backfill:  Replacement of excavated material with suitable material compacted as specified.
• Blended transition: A connection between the pedestrian access route at the level of the sidewalk or pedestrian path and the level of the pedestrian street crossing that has grade in the direction of pedestrian travel of 5 percent or less.
• Breakaway:  A structure that is designed to yield when impacted by a vehicle and has been tested and found acceptable in accordance with NCHRP Report 350.
• Clear zone:  See County Code Section 7.03.020.
• Clackamas County ("County"):  The political subdivision of the State of Oregon providing statutory authority administered through its Board of County Commissioners ("BCC").
• Commercial:  Shall include industrial, multi-family and institutional development.
• Compaction:  The densification of a fill by mechanical means.
• County:  See "Clackamas County".
• County Road Official:  See County Code Section 7.03.020.
• County Surveyor:  See ORS 209.005 (2).
• Cross slope: The slope perpendicular to travel of a road or pedestrian facility.
• Crosswalk: Under ORS 810.220 a crosswalk is a legally defined area for pedestrian crossing of the surface of a roadway and may be marked or unmarked.
• Cul-de-sac:  A short street having one end open to traffic and the other temporarily or permanently terminated by a vehicle turnaround at or near the terminus.
• Curb ramp: A ramp that cut through or is built up to the curb. Curb ramps can be perpendicular or parallel to the curb or a combination of parallel and perpendicular ramps.
• Dead end:  A road without an exit.
• Dedication:  The designation and gift of land by its owner.  In the context of this document, it is the perpetual easement for right-of-way purposes to the public.
• Design speed:  The speed approved for the geometric and roadside design of the physical features of a road.
• Developer:  See "Applicant."
• Development Permit:  A permit issued to address major work or activities in a right-of-way under the jurisdiction of Clackamas County and/or to address improvements on private property that are required as part of land use.
• Ditch:  An excavation dug in the earth used to convey water.
• Drainage facilities:  The physical elements used to convey, absorb, or store runoff such as pipes or channels, and detention or retention ponds or bio-swales.
• Driveway ("entry", "entrance", or "access"):  A private road on private property that is maintained with private funds.
• Driveway, shared access:  A road which is on private property in an easement and which is maintained with private funds, generally considered to provide practical and legal access to multiple properties.
• Easement:  See ZDO.
• Engineer:  A Professional Engineer with Civil Engineering expertise holding a valid license from the State of Oregon.
• Engineering:  The County Department of Transportation and Development ("DTD") office of Engineering formed by the Board of Commissioners and administrating the DTD ordinances and related issues within unincorporated Clackamas County.
• Engineering Geologist:  A registered Professional Geologist holding a valid license from the State of Oregon.
• Entrance Permit (aka "Entry Permit", "Driveway Permit"):  See "Entry Permit" of County Code Section 7.03.020.
• Fixed object:  See County Code Section 7.03.020.
• Frontage improvements:  Required improvements along an applicant's property frontage.
• Functional classification:  The hierarchy of roadways in descending order of mobility, traffic volume and design speed, and ascending order of access:  Freeway/Expressway, Major Arterial, Minor Arterial, Collector, Connector, and Local.  Functional classifications of individual roadways can be found on Maps V-2a and V2-b of the Clackamas County Comprehensive Plan.  Descriptions of each functional classification can be found on Table V-2 and Table V-3 of the Comprehensive Plan. 
• Grade:  See ZDO.
• Grade break: The line where two surface planes with different grades meet.
• Intersection:  The point where a public roadway or private roadway intersects with a public roadway, private roadway or driveway.
• Intersection sight distance ("ISD"):  The distance that a motorist can see approaching traffic when entering or exiting a roadway at an intersection. 
• Landing:  A generally flat road or driveway approach to any public or private road.  Also, the generally flat area at the back of the sidewalk ramp, typically four feet wide for sidewalk ramps.
• Landscape screening: Plantings, shrubbery, bushes or other foliage intended to screen the base of a wireless telecommunication facility from public view.
• Land Surveyor:  A Professional Land Surveyor holding a valid license from the State of Oregon.
• Low impact development (LID):  An innovative ecosystem based approach to storm water management that results in fewer environmental impacts.
• Pedestrian access route: A prepared surface provided for pedestrian travel within the public right-of-way, including sidewalks and multiuse paths. 
• PROWAG: Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidance as set forth under Section 1190.1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and adopted by federal agencies for implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Architectural Barriers Act.
• Public utility:  See ZDO.
• Public utility easement ("PUE"):  An easement for the use of a Public Utility.  The use of the PUE shall include telecommunications as per ORS 758.035.
• Ramp slope: The grade of a curb ramp parallel to the direction of pedestrian travel.
• Recoverable slope:  A slope on which the driver of an errant vehicle can regain control of the vehicle.  Slopes of 4H:1V or flatter in the foreslope and 3:1 in the backslope are considered recoverable.
• Right-of-way ("ROW"):  See ZDO.
• Right-of-Way Permit:  A permit issued to address minor work or activities in a right-of-way under the jurisdiction of Clackamas County.
• Road:  See ZDO.
• Road, county:  See ZDO.
• Road, private:  See ZDO.
• Road, public:  See ZDO.
• Roadway:  See ZDO.
• Road Official:  See County Road Official
• Running slope: The grade of a Pedestrian Access Route that is parallel to the direction of pedestrian travel. In reference to a curb ramp the term Ramp Slope is also used.
• Rural:  Those unincorporated County areas outside the current designated Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
• Shoulder:  The paved or compacted graveled portion of the roadway outside the traveled portion of the roadway that is available for emergency parking or non-motorized use. 
• Sidewalk:  See ZDO.
• Stopping sight distance ("SSD"):  The minimum sight distance available on a roadway to enable a vehicle traveling at or near the design speed to stop before reaching a stationary object in its path. 
• Storm drainage system:  A means to control storm water through natural or constructed elements by conveyance, absorption, or storage.
• Street:  See ZDO.
• Temporary:  Lasting for a limited time.
• Traffic Engineer:  A Professional Engineer with traffic engineering expertise or a Professional Traffic Engineer holding a valid license from the State of Oregon.
• Traveled portion of the roadway:  See County Code Section 7.03.020.
• Trip generation:  The number of vehicle trips generated by a particular land use.
• Urban:  Those areas within the current designated Urban Growth Boundary ("UGB") as designated by Metro. 
• Utilities:  Any water, gas, sanitary or storm sewer, electrical, telephone, drainage way, wire, or television communication service and all persons, companies, districts or governmental agencies supplying the same.
• Utility Permit:  See County Code Section 7.03.020
• Very low volume:  A roadway with a 20 year projected volume of 400 ADT or less or an intersection with a 20 year projected entering volume of 400 ADT or less.

245.1 General

Roadside and clear zone standards strive to ensure that the roadside remains free of fixed objects and is sufficiently flat in the event that a vehicle runs off the roadway, enabling the vehicle to recover under ideal conditions. For additional information, refer to the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide.

245.2 Clear Zone Measurement

The clear zone width is measured from the edge of the travel lane of the roadway, the fog line or bike lane line.
 

245.3 Clear Zone Standards

Minimum clear zone widths are defined by Table 2-11 and are enforced by Section 7.03.090(C) of the County Code.

245.4 Clear Zone Requirements

1. Fixed objects located along the edge of the traveled portion of the roadway should be located outside the clear zone. 
2. Fixed objects are defined by AASHTO's Roadside Design Guide and the County Code.

245.4.1 Fixed Objects Allowed in Clear Zone

The following permanent objects are permitted within the clear zone under the following conditions:

1. Approved street trees.
2. Mailboxes erected per the Standards for Installing Mailboxes on County Roads.
3. Fences and walls approved by Engineering or meeting the requirements of Section 130.2.
4. Illumination poles.
5. Approved street furniture.
6. Objects permitted by the County Code.
7. Other objects approved or installed by the County.

245.4.2 Embankments and Ditches

New construction of foreslopes and backslopes should be based upon Standard Drawings C110 to C140.  Proposed slopes within the clear zone should be "recoverable."  Slopes that are "critical" per the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide should be avoided with new construction.

245.4.3 Vegetation

Vegetation should not be allowed over a height of 30 inches in locations where it would limit sight distance per Section 240.  Overhanging tree limbs should have a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet within the clear zone.  Overhanging tree limbs should have at least 14 feet of vertical clearance above the pavement surface over the traveled portion of the roadway.  Measurement shall be taken from pavement surface. 

245.4.4 Above Ground Appurtenances

Above ground appurtenances constructed as component parts of any underground utility line should be located outside the clear zone as practicable.

245.5 Clear Zone Exceptions

If fixed objects cannot be moved from the clear zone and cannot meet the standards of the County Code, Sections 245.1 through 245.4.3 and Table 2-11, the County may allow the obstructions to remain with consideration given to delineating or protecting the objects.

The following governs the installation of small wireless facilities within right-of-way or easements under Clackamas County jurisdiction.  The installation of small wireless facilities requires a Utility Permit.  In some cases, the installation of small wireless facilities is further governed by the ZDO.  In those cases, land use approval is required before the application for a Utility Permit.  County Code Section 7.03 provides additional requirements. 

715.1 Application

An application for a small wireless facilities shall not be complete until the following elements have been provided to the County:

1. Land use approval, if required.
2. Utility Permit application which requires:
   1. Evidence of land use approval, if required.
   2. For location on existing traffic signal appurtenances or illumination poles, written authorization or agreement from the owner of those structures.
   3. Plans illustrating the proposed installation that is compliant with the standards of Section 715.  Plans for new structures shall include the right-of-way, public utility easements, location of edge of pavement, curbs, sidewalks, landscape strips, curb ramps, driveways, and other structures within the vicinity of the proposed installation.
   4. Provide dimensions of all above ground structures. 
   5. Structural engineering calculations for any modifications to County owned infrastructure.
   6. Photographs illustrating the existing site conditions that will be impacted.
   7. An RF certification report per Section 715.9.

715.2 Review and Approval Period

Small wireless facility installations shall comply with regulations and documentations/permissions as set forth by federal, state, and these Standards. The review period for applications will be a maximum of 60 days on existing structures and will be a maximum of 90 days on new structures following receipt of an application per Section 715.1 with one restart after the initial completeness review.

715.3 Location Requirement

Small wireless facilities shall not be located on County owned street illumination poles or on County owned signal infrastructure unless it can be established that the small facilities cannot be placed on other existing, replacement or new support structures. 

715.4 Other Siting Requirements

1. New small wireless support structures shall not be sited within 50 feet longitudinally of an existing or approved utility pole, illumination pole or small  wireless support structure.
2. Locations for new support structures shall be as near as possible to property lines to avoid interference with building faces, views and business signage.
3. NOC (Network Operation Center) and RF Signage should be placed on same side of cabinet and/or pole as disconnect switch.  If NOC contact information cannot be read from ground level without visual aid, it is required to mount an additional NOC sign eight feet above ground level.
4. Any placement shall not impede, obstruct, or hinder operation of any emergency service, maintenance operations, pedestrian or vehicular access or travel including to or from private properties and of legally parked vehicles or permitted items within a public right-of-way.
5. If proposed within the clear zone and a new small cell wireless facility is deemed a fixed object per Section 245, the new small wireless facilities shall be placed as far as possible from the edge of the roadway including within public utility easements unless there is an existing alignment of support structures and such placement would be technically infeasible.  In such cases, the small wireless facilities shall be placed within substantially the same alignment as the existing support structure(s). 
6. Small wireless facility installations shall comply with the sight distance standards of Section 240, the National Electric Safety Code ("NESC"), and PROWAG.
7. All electrical, fiber optic or other related infrastructure shall be located within conduits not owned by the County.
8. Any placement shall not impact any existing or planned bridges, retaining walls or guardrail.
9. The small wireless facility placement shall cause no physical, electrical, or radio interference with the operation of traffic signal appurtenances or emergency control devices.
10. When  a small wireless facility is installed on a County-owned traffic signal pole, the the facility may only be installed on a traffic signal pole without a luminaire.

715.5 Access Requirements

1. All small wireless facilities shall be installed and operated in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and guidelines, including placement of appropriate signage.
2. County and/or other qualified workers and contractors shall have the ability to easily shut off radio signals and power while working on the pole where a small wireless facility is installed or in the vicinity of a radio frequency (RF) emitting device. Each installer shall provide a small wireless facility shut-off switch and shut-off/turn-on instructions.

715.6 Aesthetics

1. To the extent technically feasible,  a small wireless telecommunication facility, including all related equipment and appurtenances, shall be a color that is similar to the support structure and use non-reflective materials.
2. The highest point of an antenna shall not exceed FCC standards and the height needed to meet safety requirements.
3. The size of above ground infrastructure shall be as small as technically feasible. 
4. If technically feasible, equipment shall be placed on or within the support structure or underground.
5. Lighting should be shrouded to the extent possible from nearby properties.

715.7 Abandonment and Removal

A small wireless facility that is not operated for a continuous period of 12 months, shall be considered abandoned and the owner of the facility shall be responsible for the removal of the facility, including its antenna(s) and equipment, within 60 days of receipt of written notice from the County notifying the owner of such facility abandonment.

715.8 Clackamas Regional Center Design Plan Area Requirements

Within the Clackamas Regional Center Design Plan Area, new support structures shall be black in color and galvanized to match other street lighting poles of the area.

715.9 Inspection

Comply with the requirements of Section 180.

715.10 Expiration

Comply with the Utility Permit requirements of Section 130.3.7.

715.11 Radio Frequency (RF) Certification Report

All new small wireless facilities proposed in County rights-of-way shall be accompanied by a Radio Frequency Certification Report, prepared by a qualified professional, which certifies that the small wireless facility will be installed and operated in compliance with FCC regulations and guidelines.  The report shall provide protocols for small wireless facility shut-off and turn-on.