The assignment of an access control classification to all controlled access segments of the state highway system shall be the responsibility of the department. The process to be followed in assigning the classifications is as follows:

(1) Defining segments. The determination of the length and termini of segments shall be the responsibility of the department working in cooperation with the Regional Transportation Planning Organizations, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and the appropriate local governmental entities.

(a) Segments of highways to be assigned to a particular access control classification shall be defined by the department in cooperation with local governments. The length and termini of segments shall take into consideration the mobility and access needs of the traveling public, the access needs of the existing and proposed land use abutting the highway segment, and the existing and desired mobility characteristics of the roadway. The number of classification changes occurring along a particular highway shall be minimized to provide highway system continuity, uniformity, and integrity to the maximum extent feasible. The segments shall not necessarily be confined by local jurisdictional boundaries. Points of transition between classifications along a particular route should be located on boundaries, or coincident with identifiable physical features.

(2) Assignment of classifications. All segments of all controlled access facilities on the state highway system shall be assigned to one of the access control classes one through five. The assignment of a classification to a specific segment of highway shall be the responsibility of the department. The classification shall be made in cooperation with the Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the appropriate local governmental entities. For city streets that are designated as state highways in compliance with chapter 47.24 RCW, the department will obtain concurrence in the final class assignment from the city or town for those state highways where the city or town is the permitting authority. The assignment of a classification shall take into consideration the following factors:

(a) Local land use plans, zoning, and land development regulations as set forth in adopted comprehensive plans;

(b) The current and potential functional classification of the highway;

(c) Existing and projected future traffic volumes;

(d) Existing and projected state, local, and metropolitan planning organization transportation plans and needs including consideration of new or improved parallel facilities;

(e) Drainage requirements;

(f) The character of the lands adjoining the highway;

(g) The type and volume of traffic requiring access;

(h) Other operational aspects of access, including corridor accident history;

(i) The availability of reasonable access to the state highway by way of county roads or city streets as an alternative to a connection to the state highway;

(j) The cumulative effect of existing and projected connections on the state highway system’s ability to provide for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods within the state.

(3) Changes in jurisdiction. When the boundaries of an incorporated city or town are revised to include a portion of a controlled access state highway resulting in a change in the permitting authority from the department to the city or town in accordance with chapter 47.24 RCW, the access classification of that portion of the state highway shall remain unchanged unless modified in accordance with WAC 468-52-070.