Hazmat Routing FAQs
Who may request a change to a route designation?
A request for analysis may be made by CDOT staff, a local government, or private industry.
How long does CDOT have to analyze a request?
CDOT has 180 days from the date the request is received to complete the analysis, and either deny the request or recommend approval to the transportation commission.
What is CDOT’s role if a hazmat route change is requested on a local road?
CDOT has no official role when the route of interest is a local road. However, the Mobility Analysis Section is willing to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, in conducting analysis. The local entity must submit a petition to Colorado State Patrol (CSP) directly.
What criteria will CDOT use while analyzing a route for hazmat designation?
Factors which are used to determine hazmat routes under consideration:
- Are feasible, practicable, and not unreasonably expensive for such transportation
- Are continuous within a jurisdiction and from one jurisdiction to another
- Provide greater safety to the public than other feasible routes. Considerations include but are not limited to:
- AADT, crash and fatality rates
- population within a one-mile swath of each side of the highway
- location of schools, hospitals, sensitive environmental areas, rivers, lakes, etc.
- emergency response capabilities on the route
- condition of the route, i.e., vertical and horizontal alignment, pavement condition, level of access to the route, etc.
- Does not unreasonably burden interstate or intrastate commerce
Who makes up the Hazmat Route Advisory Team?
The Mobility and Analysis Section of the Division of Transportation Development shall convene an advisory team made up of Representatives from the following offices:
- Division of Transportation Development, Mobility Analysis Section (Chair)
- Office of Traffic Engineering
- Commercial Vehicle Permits Office
- Office of Policy & Government Relations
- Region Traffic Engineer for affected CDOT region
- Region Environmental Manager for affected CDOT region
- Division of Transportation Development, Environmental Branch
- Section Maintenance Superintendent or Deputy Maintenance Superintendent for affected CDOT region
- Staff Bridge
- Others as deemed appropriate by Mobility Analysis Section
Will CDOT hold public meetings while evaluating the route?
While evaluating potential changes to a hazmat route designation, CDOT’s role is to be a neutral fact-finder and analyze the practical concerns of the change such as safety and response capabilities. However, CDOT will hold meetings if there is a need to further collect information. CSP is required by law to hold public meetings once a petition has been submitted for final considerations. This is the best forum to gather public sentiment and concern on the proposed route designation.
