Project development

Design guidance for local agencies

As required by law, uniform design standards for city and county road systems are adopted by the City County Design Standards Committee, in accordance with RCW 35.78.020 and RCW 43.32.010. The committee seeks to encourage standardization of road design elements where necessary for consistency and to assure that motoring, bicycling and pedestrian public safety needs are met.

• LAG Manual chapter 42 – City and County Design Standards (PDF 808KB) – provides design standards for local agencies.
• Design-Project Development Support – WSDOT technical support for engineering data systems used in the preparation of estimates and contract plans.
• Design deviation – In accordance to RCW 35.78.040, Local Programs will review design deviations for meeting the administrative warrants to fulfill the requirements per RCW. The requester shall submit each deviation sealed by a professional engineer currently registered in the State of Washington and the responsible charge project manager shall concur with the design deviation.
• WSDOT Forms Management – Local Agency Bid Proposal Package.
• Active Transportation Programs Design Guide (PDF 18MB) - Is for local agencies and tribal governments preparing Pedestrian and Bicycle Program and Safe Routes to Schools applications.  It provides details for treatments that the programs will favor for funding. As it is for safety programs, the guide emphasizes treatments intended to provide safer conditions for people who walk, bike, and roll, also known as pedestrians and bicyclists.

Specification guidance for local agencies

Have been developed to serve a baseline for work delivered to the public.

• Construction-General Special Provisions - standard specifications for road, bridge, and municipal construction including the Standard Specification Book.

• Local Agency General Special Provisions (GSPs) – formulated by the APWA subcommittees, in response to local agency needs and ideas.

• New Equipment Rental Agreement standards (PDF 411KB)

Construction guidance for local agencies

• Construction technical guidance – a reference of technical guidance for administration of construction projects.
• The State Materials Laboratory – includes the bituminous, chemical, structural and soil laboratories, that serve as the central testing laboratory for WSDOT. You will also find the qualified products list (QPL) and pavement design and management information.

Maintenance guidelines for local agencies

Guidelines reached by WSDOT and Association of Washington Cities (AWC) are designed to facilitate the allocation of maintenance responsibilities between the State and Washington cities pursuant to RCW 47.24.

• Amendment to City Streets as part of State Highways Guidelines (PDF 592KB)
• Original City Streets as part of State Highways Guidelines (PDF 841KB)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• LAG Manual chapter 29 – Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (PDF 808KB) – summarizes regulations and implementing requirements local agencies shall follow regarding services, programs, and activities in or that affect the public right of way.

Pavement services

• Pavement Surface Condition Field Rating Manual for Asphalt Pavements (PDF 1.6MB) - the Rating Manual provides the definitions of the pavement distresses for flexible pavements used in Washington and how they are measured. It also provides a description of inspection procedures and rating considerations. The Pavement Surface Condition Field Rating Manual for asphalt pavements was published in April 1999.
• Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) for Local Agency Applications – getting the right pavement for local agency roads requires designing the correct pavement section and mix, asking for the correct mix in contract documents, and incorporating specification changes for the construction process.