Applicant Guide 1005: How to Create and Submit a Traffic Control Plan

You may be required to create a Traffic Control Plan (TCP) as part of your Street Use permit application.

This Applicant Guide explains:

1. What Is a Traffic Control Plan?

A Traffic Control Plan (TCP) is a safety plan. It shows how you will use temporary traffic control to route people around your work zone safely. Depending on where you’re working, it may need to include detours for people walking, biking, driving and taking transit.

Projects in the public right-of-way (ROW) can make it harder for people to pass by or get to nearby homes, offices or businesses. We require a TCP so we can make sure people are routed safely through your project area.

2. When Are Traffic Control Plans Required?

TCPs are required when your project:

affects mobility in the ROW on an arterial street
affects mobility in any ROW (arterial or non-arterial) in a Construction Hub area
- City-designated Construction Hubs are areas where activities related to multiple projects may cause congestion and affect mobility
will have, at our discretion, a significant effect on people’s mobility

Types of Plans Required

Work-hours plan: This type of TCP must show how people’s mobility will be affected during working hours.
Non-work hours plan: This type of TCP must show how people’s mobility will be affected during non-working hours. You are only required to submit this if your project affects the ROW outside of work hours.

3. Traffic Control Plan Requirements

Basic Layout Requirements

The base map for your TCP must include a title block, the existing channelization and current site conditions. You will find a list of all requirements below. You can find the base map by using the TCP Base Map Tool.

Title Block Requirements

The following information must be included in the TCP:

project address
brief description of your work and project (e.g., excavation, staging materials, pouring sidewalk)
label as 'Work Hours', 'Non-work Hours' or '24-hour plan'
phase of work
label as 'Traffic Control Plan'
Street Use permit number (if known)
approximate duration the TCP will be in place (e.g., two weeks)
24-hour contact person’s name, company, phone number and email address
a directional arrow pointing North

Existing Channelization and Site Conditions

Your TCP must show the current channelization of the ROW affected by your project while the TCP is in effect. Current site conditions such as access points, transit facilities, curb space, existing long-term closures and other ROW elements must be shown on your TCP.

When your TCP is put in place, if the TCP Base Map web tool shows different site conditions, you must update your TCP to show the current:

channelization lines (including painted crosswalks)
lane widths
curb lines (face of curb)
sidewalks
ROW limits
adjacent property addresses
street names
other traffic controls currently in-place
business access points and driveways
bicycle facilities
- protected bicycle lanes - physically separated from vehicles by barriers or other traffic-control devices
- bicycle lanes delineated by painted striping on pavement
- City-designated bike ways, greenways and trails
- Refer to the Seattle Transportation Plan and our Bicycle Master Plan for additional information about existing and proposed bicycle infrastructure
transit zones, including bus stops, overhead trolley lines, at-grade streetcar and light rail tracks
visibility restrictions such as trees, power or utility poles and/or street furniture and encroachments (such as benches, cafes, retaining walls or public art) that may affect pedestrian, bicycle or vehicle traffic
Show parking lanes (also known as "curb space") in or adjacent to your work zone and also on nearby streets that your work will affect. Indicate parking designations, such as 3-minute passenger or load zones, pay-to-park parking stalls, parking meter locations and residential parking zones (RPZs).

How to Show Traffic Control

You must follow the most up-to-date FHWA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and our Traffic Control Manual (TCM) when you make your TCP.

We adapted the core MUTCD principles for urban settings to guide work within the City’s rights-of-way. This is authorized by the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC 11.16.120).

In addition to the requirements in these manuals, your TCP must also include:

the footprint of the work zones, including a staging area (if applicable) and any potential restoration area. You should include:
- the length and width dimensions of the affected zone or zones
- a reference dimension from a fixed object or ROW line to the edge of each affected zone limit
any pedestrian detours or reroutes
- refer to our Director's Rule 10-2015: Pedestrian Mobility in and around Work Zones
any bike lane or trail detours or closures
- Important: you must notify the public with on-site signs 72 hours before the detour or closure goes into effect
the revised traffic lane widths
- an 11' travel lane is required in each direction on arterial streets and any street used by King County Metro
- a 12' travel lane is required on Major Truck Streets
- a 10' travel lane is required in each direction on non-arterial streets
any potential access problems for bordering properties
- label alternative access points and routes
any proposed temporary traffic control signs or channelization device locations and types must have callouts and labels
any temporary no-parking zones
any custom signs or other necessary non-conventional devices must be identified. Call out spacing or attach Table XI-1 from the TCM.
the locations of spotters, flaggers and uniformed police officers

Your TCP is valid for up to two years from the approval stamp date if there are no changes to the channelization, geometry or site conditions.

Important: When we require a TCP, you must include a TCP with your permit application. You must have an approved and issued permit before you can begin work.

4. Coordination Requirements

The following describes coordination requirements, depending on your project:

Curb Space Impacts

If your project affects curb space uses, you will need to coordinate with the following work groups before you start work:

Carpool spaces
- Phone: (206) 684-8175
- Email: CurbsideOps@seattle.gov
Short-term parking, load zones or both
- Phone: (206) 684-5086
- In-person: SDOT Information Desk at Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Ave, Floor 4, Seattle, WA 98104
Long-term parking, pay station removal or relocation, or both
- Email: CurbsideOps@seattle.gov
Curb space reservations with a Temporary No Parking Zone
- Apply online through the Seattle Services Portal

Haul Route Approval

If you need to set up a haul route, you will need approval from us. Please contact DOT_CVEO@seattle.gov at least 10 business days before you start work.

Transit Impacts

Either you or your contractor must coordinate with King County Metro before starting any construction that might disrupt Metro or Seattle Streetcar transit service. You will need to follow their process and guidelines for scheduling on their Transit System Impacts website.

5. How and when to submit your Traffic Control Plan

You will submit your Traffic Control Plan as part of your Street Use permit application through the Seattle Services Portal.

6. How to get help with your Traffic Control Plan

If you would like to talk with a Street Use permit reviewer about a technical issue, you can either schedule virtual coaching or visit our information desk.

Virtual Coaching Hours

Monday through Friday
10:30 AM – noon
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

You can either call (206) 684-5253 or email SDOTPermits@seattle.gov to schedule virtual coaching with us.

When scheduling coaching, please provide your:

name
phone number
email address
permit number (if available)
question

This will help our reviewer prepare for your coaching session.

SDOT Information Desk

Seattle Municipal Tower
700 Fifth Ave, Floor 4
Seattle, WA 98104

Tuesday through Thursday
10:30 AM – 3:00 PM