Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 57-08. Siting Electric Transmission Lines in Rights-of-Way

A growing population increases electricity demand and requires reliability. However, expanding the electric grid’s capacity to meet additional energy demand requires installation of new transmission lines to deliver electricity to end-users. Key steps in this expansion include land permitting to host the electric transmission lines and right-of-way (ROW) acquisition for energy stakeholders to address additional ROW needs. Federal agencies have encouraged state departments of transportation (DOTs) to consider accommodating energy transmission lines within highway ROWs through utility accommodation policies or as alternative use provisions under 23 CFR 710. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this synthesis is to document practices for siting electric transmission lines in the state DOT–owned ROW. This synthesis will encompass emerging practices and policies for co-locating electric transmission lines in the highway ROW. Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to): Current guidelines and policies that support the siting of electric transmission lines within the state ROW, including state-specific codes that classify transmission lines as a transportation need; Identification of state-level practices for managing the siting of electric transmission lines and maintaining them once sited within the state DOT ROW; Evaluation of the impediments for siting electric transmission lines in the state DOT ROW and identification of potential solutions; Description of the permitting procedures required for siting transmission lines within the ROW; Methods for determining the frequency and conditions under which a state DOT has sufficient ROW to accommodate electric transmission lines; Methods for determining appropriate timing for energy agencies and utility stakeholders to address additional ROW needs in coordination with the state DOT permitting process, particularly when the existing ROW is insufficient; Current formal design standards or technical criteria to evaluate and approve the siting of electric transmission lines within the ROW; An evaluation of the impediments encountered by state DOTs that classify transmission lines as a transportation need to evaluate the impact on siting feasibility. Document state DOTs that do not classify transmission lines as a transportation need; and Written ROW retention policies and the identification of surplus land by state DOTs for use as utility corridors. Information will be gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs for the development of case examples. Information gaps and suggestions for research to address those gaps will be identified.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5985

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $65,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  20-05/Topic 57-08

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    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: 20241001
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Location; Right of way (Land); State departments of transportation; Transmission lines
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01972942
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 20-05/Topic 57-08
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 26 2025 5:21PM