Section 5: Programming and Authorization
Anchor: #i1004633General
Program the cost of adjusting reimbursable utility facilities as a cost of right of way acquisition. District personnel must delay requesting a utility to prepare plans and estimates or incur any utility adjustment costs, including preliminary engineering, until the ROW Program Office has issued the appropriate release. Costs incurred by a utility before issuance of such release will be ineligible for State reimbursement. The appropriate release will involve one or more of the following types of releases.
Anchor: #i1004647Right of Way Releases for Utility Work
For related information, see Chapter 2 of the ROW Acquisition Manual.
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- Utility Only
Project Release. This release is typical of projects where no right
of way acquisition has been planned, but reimbursable utilities
are encountered. Generally, no other right of way work is performed
under the ROW CSJ/ROW Project ID assigned to
the project. Costs may be charged against the ROW CSJ/ROW
Project ID when this type of release is used. The requirements
for this type of release are:
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- Commission Minute Order - Project Authorization Anchor: #GBVCICKL
- Environmental clearance Anchor: #ULWDEAIC
- Request from the District for release Anchor: #DBNUNBWB
- Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA), if applicable, for Federal funding Anchor: #GQIIDLPX
- Contractual Agreement with LPAs , if applicable; include three copies of the agreement Anchor: #GWUBVJWW
- Copy of the check for the LPA's contribution amount Anchor: #LDRDTPWI
- Copy of the LPA's resolution
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- Full Authority
Release. All costs may be charged to the ROW CSJ/ROW Project
ID. When issued by the ROW Program Office, the Full Authority
Release includes utility work and all other right of way activities.
This would include processing of the Utility Agreement Assembly,
acquiring replacement utility right of way, physical adjustment
of utility facilities, and reimbursement of eligible cost incurred.
Issuance of a full right of way release is contingent upon completion
of the following:
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- Approved schematic Anchor: #ERYKRNYP
- Approved right of way map submitted to the ROW Program Office Anchor: #OUSUIBJM
- Right of way project cost estimate Anchor: #RQWTVWKQ
- Environmental clearance Anchor: #JGIJRPTL
- Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA), if required Anchor: #RTTLMODM
- Executed contractual agreement with LPA, including funding, if applicable.
Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA)
FHWA, by issuance of a Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA), documents the approval of Federal cost participation in a right of way project. The FPAA is required for the ROW Program Office to issue a Full Authority Release. Do not request approval for a full Right of Way Release before an environmental approval for the project is obtained. If Federal reimbursement will be requested for any of the cost incurred under the Utility Only Project Release above, these costs must be associated with preliminary engineering and the actual relocation costs for the project, which includes costs associated with obtaining environmental clearance.
Eligible costs for preliminary engineering and replacement right of way incurred by a utility after issuance of the ROW Division’s release will be reimbursed. Costs of performing adjustments will be eligible upon utility agreement approval or authorization by the LPA, whichever is applicable. For more information on eligible costs, see Chapter 11, Section 3, Final Billings.
Anchor: #i1004830Utility Reimbursement Policies (Interstate Highways)
TxDOT Policy TxDOT participation in the costs of necessary utility adjustments is set forth in the Transportation Code, Section 203.092. Participation on highways within the Interstate Highway System is limited to those adjustments eligible for Federal cost participation per 23CFR Part 645. Note that 23CFR Part 645 requires prior approval by TxDOT and the FHWA for any phase of utility work.
Neither Federal rule nor State statutes provide for cost participation where utility removal occurs without subsequent replacement or relocation. Accordingly, State participation in such removal is dependent upon the utility possessing a compensable interest in the land occupied by the removed facilities. Participation is limited to the value of the real property interest, less the salvage value of the removed or abandoned facilities.
Cost participation in an adjustment where the utility possesses no real property interest is limited to the cost of relocation. New real property interests acquired by the utility after the relocation are not eligible for cost participation.
Federal Utility Reimbursement Regulations 23CFR 645.111 prescribes reimbursement controls and general requirements as well as requiring prior TxDOT approval for certain phases of utility work. FHWA approval is required for facilities such as reservoirs, substations, and tank farms, etc. Unless this requirement is met, many items otherwise eligible for State and Federal participation may be declared ineligible.
Anchor: #i1004863Utility Reimbursement Policies (US, State (TX), FM, and RM Highways)
TxDOT will participate with the LPA in necessary utility adjustments required by improvements of the State Highway System when the utility possesses a compensable interest.