2 CCR 601-8
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Transportation Commission RULES GOVERNING THE USE OF TUNNELS ON COLORADO STATE HIGHWAYS 2 CCR 601-8 [Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.] _________________________________________________________________________ Statement of Basis and Purpose and Statutory Authority The Transportation Commission has revised the Rules Governing the Use of tunnels on State Highways in order to update state and federal statutory references, clarify and simplify language, and provide an easily understandable guide for use of the tunnels on state highways and specifically the Eisenhower- Johnson Memorial Tunnels. Section 42-4-106(7)(a), C.R.S., provides the Transportation Commission with authority to adopt rules concerning the operation of any motor vehicle and commercial vehicle in any tunnel which is a part of the state highway system. Pursuant to § 42-4-106(7)(b), C.R.S., the Department may prohibit or regulate the operation of any motor vehicle and commercial vehicle which transports any article, deemed to be dangerous, in any tunnel which is part of the state highway system. Further, § 42- 20-301(3), C.R.S., provides authority to the Transportation Commission to regulate hours of operation of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels on Interstate 70. These rules shall be interpreted consistently with the requirements of Title 49 CFR parts 100 to 177. Additionally, these rules should be read together with 8 CCR 1507-25 "Rules and Regulations Concerning the Permitting, Routing & Transportation of Hazardous and Nuclear Materials and the Intrastate Transportation of Agricultural Products in the State of Colorado." These rules are promulgated by the Department of Public Safety, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol pursuant to § 42-20-108 (1) and (2), C.R.S. These rules also regulate the safe transportation of nuclear materials by motor vehicle within the State of Colorado pursuant to § §42-20-403, 504 and 508, C.R.S., and exempt agricultural products from the rules pursuant to § 42-20- 108.5, C.R.S.
The transport of hazardous materials is strictly governed by federal and state regulations and CDOT must adhere to these legal requirements. CDOT’s Rules 3.03 and 3.04 are based on federal regulations which CDOT has no authority to modify.
Applicability. These rules apply to all Commercial Vehicles, Motor Vehicles and Persons utilizing the tunnels under the Colorado Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction. Code of Colorado Regulations 1
1.00 Definitions
1.01 "Commercial Vehicle" as set forth in § 42-4-235, C.R.S., shall mean (I) any self-propelled or towed vehicle bearing an apportioned plate or having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination rating of ten thousand one pounds or more, which vehicle is used in commerce on the public highways of this state or is designed to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver, unless such vehicle is a school bus regulated pursuant to section 42-4-1904, C.R.S., or any vehicle that does not have a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds and that is owned or operated by a school district so long as such school district does not receive remuneration for the use of such vehicle, not including reimbursement for the use of such vehicle; (II) any motor vehicle designed or equipped to transport other motor vehicles from place to place by means of winches, cables, pulleys, or other equipment for towing, pulling, or lifting, when such motor vehicle is used in commerce on the public highways of this state; and (III) a motor vehicle that is used on the public highways and transports materials determined by the secretary of transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 5103 in such quantities as to require placarding under 49 CFR parts 172 and 173.
1.02 "Department" or "CDOT" shall mean the Colorado Department of Transportation established pursuant to § 43-1-103, C.R.S.
1.03 "Enforcement Official" shall mean, and is limited to, a peace officer who is an officer of the Colorado State Patrol as described in § § 16-2.5-101 and 114, C.R.S., a certified peace officer who is a certified port of entry officer as described in § § 16-2.5-101 and 115, C.R.S., a peace officer who is an investigating official of the transportation section of the public utilities commission as described in § § 16-2.5-101 and 143, C.R.S., or any other peace officer as described in section § 16-2.5-101, C.R.S. [ § 42-20-103 (2), C.R.S.] 1.04 "Hazardous Materials" (also known as "Hazmat") shall mean those materials listed in Tables 1 and 2 of 49 CFR 172.504, excluding highway route controlled quantities of radioactive materials as defined in 49 CFR 173.403 (l), excluding ores, the products from mining, milling, smelting, and similar processing of ores, and the wastes and tailing therefrom, and excluding special fireworks when the aggregate amount of flash powder does not exceed fifty pounds. [§ 42-20-103 (3), C.R.S.] 1.05 "Motor vehicle" shall mean any self-propelled vehicle that is designed primarily for travel on the public highways and that is generally and commonly used to transport persons and property over the public highways or a low-speed electric vehicle; except that the term does not include low- power scooters, wheelchairs, or vehicles moved solely by human power.
1.06 "Person" shall mean an individual, a corporation, a government or governmental subdivision or agency, a partnership, an association, or any other legal entity; except that separate divisions of the same corporation may, at their request, be treated as separate persons. [§ 42-20-103 (6), C.R.S.] 1.07 "Staging" shall mean the parking of a Motor Vehicle or Commercial Vehicle at a specific location to facilitate its safe passage through the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel according to the specific timing requirements of Rule 3.05 1.08 "State Highway" shall consist of the federal-aid primary roads, the federal-aid secondary roads, and the interstate system, including extensions thereof within urban areas. [§ 43-2-201(1), C.R.S.] Code of Colorado Regulations 2 1.09 "Tunnel" shall mean enclosed roadways with vehicle access that is restricted to portals regardless of type of structure or method of construction. Tunnels do not include highway bridges, railroad bridges or other bridges over a roadway. Tunnels are structures that require special design considerations that may include lighting, ventilation, fire protection systems, and emergency egress capacity based on the owners’ determination.
2.00 General Requirements for Use of All CDOT Tunnels
2.01 These Rules apply to all facilities identified below in Rule 4.00.
2.02 Any Person operating a Motor Vehicle or Commercial Vehicle in any Tunnel on the State Highway System shall comply with all governing state and federal law and regulations. Any Motor Vehicle, Commercial Vehicle or Person failing to abide by all applicable law and regulations will be referred to law Enforcement Officials. No Person shall obstruct, harass, impair, attempt to influence, or otherwise interrupt the official government functions of the CDOT Tunnel staff. In the event such actions should occur the appropriate law enforcement agency will be contacted immediately.
2.03 CDOT, including Tunnel Personnel, may prohibit any Motor Vehicle or Commercial Vehicle or device, pursuant to § 42-4-106 (7), C.R.S., from using a Tunnel when the health or safety of the public warrants such action.
2.04 Pedestrians shall not be permitted in Tunnels without the express permission of the Department.
2.05 Electrical assisted bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, low-power scooters, low- speed electric vehicles, motor driven cycles, motorcycles, or motor scooters, with a motor which produces five (5) horsepower or less, and bicycles or other means of conveyance are prohibited from using any Tunnel unless a special use permit has been granted by the Colorado State Patrol. [ § 42-1-102, (28.5) (28.7) (48.5)(a), and (48.6), C.R.S.] 2.06 The Department shall be authorized to schedule any closure of a segment of the State Highway system or at the request of the Colorado State Patrol in order to provide for the safety of the public and including but not limited to maintenance operations, avalanche control, rock fall mitigation, and roadway construction. The CDOT Maintenance Superintendent or his/her designee, in consultation with the CDOT Regional Transportation Director and the CDOT Director of Transportation Systems Management & Operations,, may exercise discretion related to the use of CDOT Tunnels as specified in these rules to address traffic mitigation or to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public.
3.00 Requirements Specific to the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels (EJMT)
3.01 CDOT Personnel at the EJMT shall have the authority to:
3.02 All Commercial Vehicles, Motor Vehicles and Persons transporting placarded quantities of hazardous materials are required to use Loveland Pass (US 6) when the Pass is open.
3.03 Commercial Vehicles, Motor Vehicles and Persons are prohibited at all times from transporting the following placarded hazardous materials through the EJMT, and may not park in the parking lots outside of EJMT.
behind the point on point placard. Compare Class 7 Placard Radioactive Materials under Rule 3.04.
Code of Colorado Regulations 5 Division 1.6 Placard Extremely Insensitive Detonating Substances Class 7 Placard Radioactive Materials This is a point-on-point placard as distinguished from HRCQ placard which has a square background. HRCQ is prohibited at all times.
3.05 Restrictions on Placarded Loads Carrying Hazardous Materials when Loveland Pass (US 6) is Closed.
National Holidays when they fall on a Monday or Friday, from 2:01 p.m. to 6:59 p.m.
Special Provisions for New Years Day and Christmas Day. The day preceding and the day following the holiday may be included in the Peak Period restrictions. When Christmas Day or New Years’ Day fall on a weekday, Peak Period restrictions may include Friday and Saturday eastbound.
Code of Colorado Regulations 8
3.06 All Motor Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles and Persons transporting authorized Hazardous Materials through the EJMT shall:
3.07 Hazmat Routes
4.00 CDOT Tunnels and Snow Sheds
F-15-BO Interstate 70, MP One bore each Tunnel, within 070A 242.11 Y 242, Twin tunnels the city limits of Idaho Springs (2.6 miles east of junction with SH 103)
F-17-FW Interstate 225 MP Cut and cover Structure, 225A
L-06-P US 550 - MP 90.86 One bore, 1.2 miles south of 550B 90.84 Y Bear Creek Tunnel Ouray in Ouray county B-15-E SH 14 - MP 107.2 One bore, 27.48 miles west of 014B 107.23 N Fort Collins in Roosevelt National Forest D-15-AS SH 119 - MP 37.6 One bore, in Boulder Canyon, 119A 37.69 N
Snow Shed
5.00 Materials Incorporated by Reference
Copies of these Rules and of all other incorporated materials are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Colorado Department of Transportation, Office of Policy and Government Relations, 4201 East Arkansas Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80222. Incorporated materials are also maintained at the State Publications Depository and Distribution Center, 201 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80203, and may be examined at any other state publications library via inter-library loan. The following regulations and materials are incorporated by reference; such incorporation does not include later amendments or editions of any incorporated material: Title 49 CFR parts 100 to 177, and 8 CCR 1507-25 “Rules and Regulations Concerning the Permitting, Routing & Transportation of Hazardous and Nuclear Materials and the Intrastate Transportation of Agricultural Products in the State of Colorado” dated 4.30.2013.
Code of Colorado Regulations 11 _________________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Notes History Entire rule eff. 09/30/2008.
Entire rule emer. rule eff. 01/16/2014; expired 05/16/2014. Entire rule eff. 06/30/2014.
Code of Colorado Regulations 12