Understanding the Benefits and Barriers of Permitting Utility Infrastructure in Transportation Rights of Way

As communities grow more reliant on the advancement of technology that operates utility networks for energy, telecommunications, water, and other essential services, transportation corridors have emerged as prime locations for the co-location of utility infrastructure. This trend offers significant potential for optimizing land use and reducing costs that would otherwise be incurred from building separate utility corridors. By using transportation rights-of-way (ROW) for utility infrastructure, both the transportation and utility sectors can benefit from shared maintenance schedules and infrastructure synergies. Other potential benefits that this approach offers are cost savings, optimized land use, and streamlined infrastructure development. However, while the co-location of utility infrastructure within transportation ROW offers various advantages, significant challenges remain. One challenge is the limited availability of a standardized, sound, and efficient permitting process across jurisdictions. Current regulations and policies governing the use of ROW for utilities vary widely depending on the state or local jurisdiction. This variation can lead to misinterpretations and delays for both utility companies and state departments of transportation (DOTs) attempting to work within these frameworks. The objective of this research is to provide stakeholders with a decision-making framework to navigate complex regulations, ensure public safety, and promote the sustainable development of utility infrastructure within transportation ROW. To develop the framework, the benefits and barriers associated with permitting utility infrastructure within transportation ROW would be examined. The framework could be used to analyze the outcomes of utility infrastructure deployment in this ROW and provide guidelines for more efficient and consistent permitting processes.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5854
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $600,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 10-148

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  McKenney, Christopher

• Start Date: 20250526
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision support systems; Guidelines; Infrastructure; Land use; Permits; Public utilities; Right of way (Land); State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01956434
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 10-148
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 28 2025 9:48AM