[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Boston 1-17-1990. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Excavations on Town property — See Ch. 53.
Notice of defects — See Ch. 76.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 104.
ATTACHMENTS
A127a Roadway Illustrations
A. 
These specifications contain the design and construction requirements of the Town of Boston for roads, ditches and appurtenant structures. Circumstances and conditions which are not covered by these specifications will be submitted to the Town Highway Superintendent for consideration and decision.
B. 
Construction permit.
(1) 
Construction work shall not be started without a construction permit. In the case of a subdivision, said permit will not be issued until the subdivision map has received final review of the Planning Board. The final approval of the subdivision map, by the Planning Board, shall be made after the completion of construction of the roads, ditches and appurtenances and the recommendation of the acceptance of the same by the Highway Superintendent.
(2) 
Application for a construction permit shall be made to the Town of Boston Highway Superintendent accompanied by two complete sets of design plans and specifications. Plans and specifications will be reviewed by the Highway Superintendent and the Town Engineer. Permits will be issued by the Town Board upon receipt of favorable recommendation from the Highway Superintendent and the Town Engineer upon payment of a fee to be established by the Town Board. All construction work which is done without the required permit and which is in conflict with the requirements of the Town Board or is not in conformance with approved plans and specifications shall be removed or changed to meet these requirements at the expense of the owner.
C. 
The owner must also submit a time schedule for the work in accordance with the requirements of these specifications.
The rights-of-way for highway purposes shall have the minimum widths, as stated below, for their entire length and shall intersect with existing road at an angle of not less than 75°. There shall be no dead-end roads with turnarounds unless a reserve of a sixty-six-foot wide right-of-way is provided for future extension of a Town highway to an adjacent property. Culs-de-sac on roads in excess of 400 feet shall be subject to special review and a reserve of a sixty-six-foot wide right-of-way to an adjacent property or road right-of-way may be required. Offsets, irregularities and short curves in the right-of-way limits can be sufficient cause for the Town Board to refuse issuance of a construction permit.
Street Type
Right-of-Way Width
(feet)
Arterial
80 to 120
Collector, minimum
66
Minor, minimum
66
Marginal access, minimum
60
[Amended 1-7-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
The Town Board will accept only those rights-of-way which contain all the necessary roads, drainage facilities, subgrade utilities and infrastructure and appurtenant structures which have been constructed in accordance with the specifications. The rights-of-way located in areas served by a sanitary sewer system and/or water distribution system must contain the facilities constructed in accordance with all governmental regulations. The owner shall be held responsible for all phases of the construction work shown on the application for the construction permit and shall be required to protect all adjoining property, existing highway facilities and utilities. The owner shall be required to repair or replace any such properties or facilities damaged or destroyed by him or his employees through the construction operations.
Legal deed conveyances to the Town of Boston for rights-of-way shall include a fully dimensioned plat giving all center-line data and measurements in accordance with accepted surveying practices. The plat shall be drawn accurately to a scale of no less than one inch to 100 feet on a sheet 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, 11 inches by 17 inches or 22 inches by 34 inches in size. The legal deeds must be accompanied by a fee title insurance policy, containing standard exceptions only and by three copies of the plat.
A. 
Inspection shall be in accordance with the following procedure: Any person receiving a permit for construction under these specifications shall:
(1) 
Be required to pay for the services of an inspector, appointed by the Town, during the installation of the improvements. Such inspector shall not be a person or firm responsible for the design of the improvement. Selection of the person or firm responsible for the inspection shall be at the discretion of the Town Board.
[Amended 1-7-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
(a) 
Copies of all regular and special inspection reports shall be furnished to the Town within 15 days of the date of each inspection. All inspection reports must be furnished to the Town prior to the acceptance of the improvement.
(2) 
Before commencing the work, furnish a bond or cash deposit in an amount to be determined by the Town Board to insure payment of such inspector and shall be required to notify the inspector, in writing, before commencing the work.
(3) 
Keep such inspector advised of the work installation schedule in order that the work may be properly and fully inspected at all stages of installation.
B. 
Upon satisfactory completion of the work, the contractor will be issued a certificate of approval by the Highway Superintendent.
All hard-surfaced roadways constructed for acceptance by the Town Board of the Town of Boston shall be reviewed during construction for the Town by the Highway Superintendent of the Town of Boston or his designated representative.
A. 
All road grades shall be established in a manner to provide maximum safety. The minimum acceptable grade is six inches per 100 feet or 0.5% and the maximum acceptable grade eight feet per 100 feet or 8%. Special concern for safety with respect to grades shall be required at intersections, structures and other hazardous areas.
B. 
All changes in grade shall be accomplished by vertical curves, and the maximum change in grade shall not exceed 8%. All vertical curves shall be separated by a minimum of 50 feet of tangent grade. The minimum length of vertical curve for the changes in grade is shown in the following table:
Change in Grade
(percent)
Minimum Vertical Curve
(feet)
1
50
2
100
3
150
4
200
5
250
6
300
7
350
8
400
C. 
Where topography is such as to create severe hardships, the Highway Superintendent, after review and recommendations by the Town Engineer, may grant variations to these requirements.
D. 
When street lines deflect from each other at any one point by more than 10°, they shall be connected by a curve with a radius at the inner street line of not less than 300 feet for minor and collector streets and of such greater radii as the Board shall determine for special cases.
E. 
Streets shall be laid out so to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles, and no street shall intersect any other street at less than 75°. Any change in street alignment to this requirement shall occur at least 100 feet from the intersection.
A. 
Proper drainage of new road beds shall be provided as shown on the typical work sections.[1] The typical standard roadside ditch is primarily for subbase drainage and immediate surface water collection. Drainage shall be collected for a maximum distance of 500 feet in the standard roadside ditch. Drainage at this limit shall then be transferred to a drainage system off the road right-of-way; collected into a storm sewer or concrete pipe or approved equal on either side of the road; or transferred to a special ditch section within the road right-of-way as provided on the typical section. The design of all drainage facilities shall be reviewed and approved by the Town Superintendent of Highways and Town Engineer. Provisions shall be made to have all ditches and storm sewers drain to a natural drainage area. Where it becomes necessary to transfer drainage from one side of the road to the other, proper crossovers of corrugated galvanized iron or concrete pipe shall be used, subject to the approval of the Highway Superintendent. The minimum size of culvert pipe is to be 12 inches in diameter. On crossovers, precaution should be used not to overload natural drainage ditches with an excessive amount of drainage. Headwalls and/or end sections shall be constructed to Town specifications on all drainage lines within the right-of-way to prevent erosion and washouts of fill around drainage pipes. All drainage systems crossing the new roads shall be sized to carry a twenty-five-year storm intensity.
[Amended 1-7-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
[1]
Editor's Note: Illustrations of typical roadway sections for open drainage systems with ditches and closed drainage systems with gutters are included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
All driveways, except where storm sewers are provided, shall have a culvert pipe with a minimum diameter of 12 inches. Material shall be first quality asphalt-coated, corrugated, galvanized metal or concrete pipe. (See chart below with pipe sizes and specified gauges.) The minimum length of a driveway culvert shall be 30 feet, and there shall be an end section or headwall constructed or installed on either end. Longer lengths may be required by the Highway Superintendent. Driveway culverts for special ditch section shall be sized by the design engineer, approved by the Town of Boston Highway Superintendent and Engineer and noted on the subdivision map for the subdivision lots affected.
Gauges for H-20 Live Load
Height of Cover Above Top of Pipe
(feet)
Diameter
(inches)
Area
(square feet)
1.0 - 2.9
3.0 - 6.9
7.0 - 10
11 - 15
12
0.79
16
16
16
16
15
1.23
16
16
16
16
18
1.77
16
16
16
16
21
2.41
16
16
16
16
24
3.14
16
16
16
16
30
4.91
14
14
14
14
36
7.07
14
14
14
14
42
9.62
12
12
12
12
48
12.6
12
12
12
12
54
15.9
12
12
12
12
60
19.6
12
12
12
10
66
23.8
10
10
10
72
28.3
10
10
A. 
Clearing, except as otherwise specified, includes the removal or destruction of all fences, trees, roots, stumps, bushes, timbers and decayed or growing organic matter above and below the surface of the ground within the limits of the work in the right-of-way to the extent shown on the drawings or as determined by the Highway Superintendent. The owner shall use every precaution to prevent injury to buildings, roads, curbs, pipes or poles, trees and shrubs and utilities. He shall repair or replace any damage done due to negligence on his part. Materials removed under this operation, unless otherwise specified, shall remain the property of the owner but shall be removed from the road right-of-way.
B. 
Excavation shall consist of the loosening, loading, depositing rough and fine grading and the compacting of all materials of every name and nature, wet or dry, necessary for the preparation of subgrades of roads, forming ditches, trenches and shoulders and pits for structures, to grade the site to the elevation shown on the drawings or as required to make embankments and fills for obtaining material from borrow pits, other than borrowed topsoil or for any other operation necessary to complete the work as shown on the approved plans.
A. 
Subgrades for roadways shall be accurately shaped and crowned to the grades and levels shown on the drawings or as directed. In the process of preparing subgrades for roadways, all topsoil must be removed on both present grade levels and where fill is required to raise the present grade level. If fill is required, it is to be applied in not more than eight-inch layers and rolled before additional fill is added. Fill for subgrades must be free of topsoil, stone, roots and organic matter. All subgrades for pavement shall be compacted with an approved self-propelled vibratory roller weighing not less than 10 tons. Subgrades shall be rolled only during optimum moisture contents to the satisfaction of the Highway Superintendent. In case soft clay, quicksand, muck, wet spots or other unsuitable material is encountered in the subgrade, it shall be removed to the limits designated by the Highway Superintendent or Town Engineer and properly drained with a six-inch perforated pipe to the side ditches and then refilled with dry material or granular material as directed by the Highway Superintendent or Town Engineer and then properly compacted to the maximum density of 95% Proctor and bearing capacity. Granular material shall be such size as will pass through a four-inch-square hole; not more than 70% by weight shall pass the No. 40 mesh sieve, and not more than 10% by weight shall pass the No. 200 mesh sieve.
B. 
The material shall be spread in such depths that the thickness of any layer, after compaction, shall have a maximum of eight inches. Water shall be added in such amounts as the Highway Superintendent may consider necessary to secure satisfactory compaction. When the moisture content of the layer is within the limits for proper compaction, the entire surface shall be rolled with an approved vibratory roller having a minimum weight of 10 tons or equal. Each portion of the layer shall be covered by a minimum of eight passes of the roller.
C. 
For heavier and more efficient types of rolling equipment, the minimum number of passes required on all portions of the layer shall be determined by the Highway Superintendent after appropriate field tests provided by the developer to evaluate the efficiency of the equipment. In limited areas where the use of a roller is impractical, approved mechanical tampers shall be used to compact the material. After compaction, the course shall be true to grade and cross section.
[Amended 1-7-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
D. 
Any depressions that develop during rolling shall be filled with additional granular material and further rolled until the entire surface of the subgrade is true to grade and cross section. Should the subgrade become churned up into or mixed with the granular material through any cause whatsoever, the owner shall, at his own expense, remove such mixture of subgrade and replace with additional granular material.
E. 
Minimum drainage requirements shall be as previously specified or as shown on the attached drawings. Where extraordinary conditions exist, additional drainage provisions as directed by the Highway Superintendent shall be provided. All utilities shall be installed at the time of construction. Where such utilities cross the roadway, such crossing shall be made before paving operations commence. Trenches for utility crossing shall be backfilled with select material and compacted as ordered by the Highway Superintendent. Utility trenches shall be inspected by the Highway Superintendent and Town Engineer before commencing paving operations.
[Amended 1-7-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
After the subgrade has been approved, a layer of geotextile material, selected from the most current New York State Department of Transportation's approved materials list, shall be placed on the subgrade. This publication is available from New York State Department of Transportation's web site (www.dot.state.ny.us) under Publications, Regional Director in Buffalo or Soil Mechanics Bureau, shall be placed on the subgrade. The geotextile shall be protected from exposure to sunlight during transport and storage. After placement, the geotextile shall not be left uncovered for more than two weeks. Traffic or construction equipment will not be permitted directly on the geotextile. Geotextile may be joined by either sewing or overlapping. Sewn seams shall be lapped a minimum of four inches and double sewn. The thread used to sew the seam shall be nylon or polypropylene. Overlapped seams shall have minimum overlap of 1.5 feet. All seams shall be subject to the approval of the Engineer. Geotextile which becomes torn or damaged shall be replaced or patched. The patch shall extend 1.5 feet beyond the perimeter of the tear or damage. Geotextile shall extend two feet into the shoulder. The Geotextile shall be placed and anchored on a prepared surface approved by the Engineer. The geotextile shall be laid loosely so that placement of the overlying materials will not stretch or tear the geotextile. Care shall be taken to avoid smearing the fabric surface with wet soil. All stone filling shall not be dropped into the geotextile from a height exceeding three feet.
A. 
Foundation course shall consist of 12 inches of NYSDOT No. 2 run-of-crusher limestone or blast furnace slag properly spread and compacted. The developer shall provide density tests for the placement of new subbase foundation course of the new pavement. When the tests are performed, the results shall indicate that not less than 98% of standard proctor maximum density. Density tests shall be taken at five-hundred-foot maximum intervals. Compaction for asphalt binder and top courses shall follow the most recent New York State Department of Transportation's standard specifications for construction and materials. The developer shall take boring samples and provide an engineering report for design of the new proposed pavement section for the new road. Borings shall be taken at five-hundred-foot maximum intervals. Boring locations will be subject to approval by the Town Highway Superintendent and Town Engineer. The typical pavement section on page A11327 shall be a minimum. The Highway Superintendent and Town Engineer reserves the right to evaluate the use of additional fabric layers or use a stronger fabric materials and/or a heavier (thicker) foundation course where conditions warrant. After the foundation course has been spread evenly so that it will have the required thickness after compaction, it shall be compacted over the entire surface by such mechanical means as approved by the Highway Superintendent. Compaction shall continue until the course is stabilized sufficiently to permit rolling with an approved vibration roller without displacement of the course. The entire area of the foundation course shall be thoroughly rolled with an approved vibratory roller weighing not less than 10 tons. Rolling shall begin at the sides and continue toward the center and shall continue until there is no movement of the course ahead of the roller. When the stone foundation course is thoroughly compacted, stone screening shall be spread evenly to fill all voids and irregularities in the surface. These screenings shall be vibrated into the voids by a single pass of a mechanical vibrator. Any areas not completely filled by the above operation shall be filled by hand spreading and brooming. Care shall be exercised to see that the voids in the foundation course are completely filled, but the quality of the screenings used and the method of filling shall not be such as to cause floating of the course aggregate. After rolling, the foundation course shall be true to line and grade.
[Amended 1-7-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
B. 
Base course. The base course shall be a minimum four-inch course (after compaction) of dense binder mix of asphalt concrete, Type 3 binder under New York State Department of Transportation specifications. This course shall be spread at a temperature of 250° F. to 325° F. and compacted using a ten-ton roller. After proper rolling, a minimum one-and-one-half-inch course (after compaction) of fine mix of asphalt concrete, Type 7F top (high friction) under New York State Department of Transportation specifications shall be spread at a temperature of 280° F. to 320° F. and compacted using a ten-ton roller.
[Amended 1-7-2004 by L.L. No. 1-2004]
After the top course has been completed, the shoulders shall be constructed of clean approved NYSDOT No. 2 run-of-crusher limestone or blast furnace slag that meets the most current New York State Department of Transportation's standard specifications for Construction and Materials.
A. 
That portion of the highway specifications governing rights-of-way, turnaround dimensions and permissable grade or other design standards shall not apply to any platted unimproved street in an approved subdivision.
B. 
The construction standards of these specifications shall not apply to any proposed highway for which the construction design has been approved, in writing, by the Highway Superintendent or to any street under construction on the date of this chapter.