For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions of terms shall apply unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Application" means an application form supplied by the department and completed by the applicant, a certified check or money order for the required application fee, and related property site, driveway, roadway, and traffic information.

(2) "Average daily traffic (ADT)" means the volume of traffic passing a point or segment of a highway, in both directions, during a period of time, divided by the number of days in the period and factored to represent an estimate of traffic volume for an average day of the year.

(3) "Average weekday vehicle trip ends (AWDVTE)" means the estimated total of all trips entering plus all trips leaving the applicant's site based on the final stage of proposed development.

(4) "Conforming connection" means a connection that meets current department location, spacing, and design criteria.

(5) "Connection" means approaches, driveways, turnouts, or other means of providing for the right of access to or from controlled access facilities on the state highway system.

(6) "Connection category" means a permit category of all state highway connections, in accordance with the type of property served and the estimated traffic generated by the applicant's site based on rates accepted by the department.

(7) "Connection permit" means a written authorization given by the department for a specifically designed connection to the state highway system at a specific location for a specific type and intensity of property use and specific volume of traffic for the proposed connection, based on the final stage of proposed development of the applicant's property. The actual form used for this authorization will be determined by the department.

(8) "Controlled access facility" means a transportation facility (excluding limited access facilities as defined in chapter 47.52 RCW) to which access is regulated by the governmental entity having jurisdiction over the facility. Owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have a right of reasonable access to and from such facility at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the governmental entity.

(9) "Department" means the Washington state department of transportation.

(10) "Development approval" means an official action by a governmental land use planning authority authorizing the developer or land owner to begin construction of any permanent improvements on the property.

(11) "Governmental entity" means, for the purpose of this chapter, a unit of local government or officially designated transportation authority that has the responsibility for planning, construction, operation, maintenance, or jurisdiction over transportation facilities.

(12) "Joint use connection" means a single connection point that serves as a connection to more than one property or development, including those in different ownerships or in which access rights are provided in the legal descriptions.

(13) "Limited access facility" means a highway or street especially designed or designated for through traffic, and over, from, or to which owners or occupants of abutting land, or other persons have no right or easement, or only a limited right or easement of access, light, view or air by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon such limited access facility, or for any other reason to accomplish the purpose of a limited access facility.

(14) "Median" means the portion of a divided highway or divided connection separating vehicular traffic traveling in opposite directions; not including speed change lanes, storage lanes for left turning or U-turning vehicles, or two way left turn lanes.

(15) "Median opening" means either a full opening in a continuous median for the specific purpose of allowing vehicles to make a left turn maneuver into or out of a property abutting the highway, to facilitate U-turns, or to allow for a vehicle to totally cross the road, or a directional opening allowing for left turn maneuvers into the property and U-turn maneuvers, but not allowing for left turns or cross movements out of the property.

(16) "Nonconforming connection" means a connection not meeting current department location, spacing, or design criteria.

(17) "Permit" means written approval issued by the department, subject to conditions stated therein, authorizing construction, reconstruction, maintenance, or reclassification of a state highway connection and associated traffic control devices on or to the department's right of way.

(18) "Permitting authority" means the department or any county, municipality, or transportation authority authorized to regulate access to their respective transportation systems.

(19) "Reasonable access" means an access connection that is suitable for the existing and/or proposed property use and does not adversely affect the safety, operations or maintenance of the highway system.

(20) "Right of way (R/W)" means a general term denoting land or interest therein, acquired for or designated for transportation purposes. More specifically, land in which the department, a county, or a municipality owns the fee simple title, has an easement devoted to or required for use as a public road and appurtenant facilities, or has established ownership by prescriptive right, or lands that have been dedicated for public transportation purposes.

(21) "Shoulder" means the portion of the highway contiguous with the traveled lanes for the accommodation of stopped vehicles for emergency use, and for lateral support of base and surface courses and for other uses as allowed by law.

(22) "State highway system" means all roads, streets, and highways designated as state routes in compliance with chapter 47.17 RCW.

(23) "Temporary connection" means a permitted connection for a specific property use, conditioned to be open for a specific purpose and traffic volume for a specific period of time with the right of way to be restored by the permit holder to its original condition upon connection closure.

(24) "Variance permit" means a special nonconforming or additional connection permit, issued for a location not normally permitted by current department standards, after an engineering study demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the department, that the connection will not adversely affect the safety, maintenance or operation of the state highway in accordance with its assigned classification. This permit will remain valid until modified or revoked by the permitting authority.