S.B. 256

1

TRANSPORTATION AMENDMENTS
2 2001 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
5 This act modifies the Transportation Code by allowing the Department of Transportation
6 to acquire rights-of-way for public transit projects. This act amends definitions and makes
7 conforming amendments.
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
10 72-5-102, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 270, Laws of Utah 1998
11 72-5-103, as last amended by Chapter 324, Laws of Utah 2000
12 72-5-109, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 270, Laws of Utah 1998
13 72-5-110, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 270, Laws of Utah 1998
14 72-5-115, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 270, Laws of Utah 1998
15 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
16 Section 1. Section 72-5-102 is amended to read:
17 72-5-102. Definitions.
18 As used in this part, "state [highway] transportation purposes" includes:
19 (1) highway and public transit rights-of-way, including those necessary [for state
20 highways] within cities and towns;
21 (2) the construction, reconstruction, relocation, improvement, and maintenance of the state
22 highways and other highways, roads, and streets under the control of the department;
23 (3) limited access facilities, including rights of access, air, light, and view and frontage and
24 service roads to highways;
25 (4) adequate drainage in connection with any highway, cut, fill, or channel change and the
26 maintenance of any highway, cut, fill, or channel change;
27 (5) weighing stations, shops, offices, storage buildings and yards, and road maintenance

28 or construction sites;
29 (6) road material sites, sites for the manufacture of road materials, and access roads to the
30 sites;
31 (7) the maintenance of an unobstructed view of any portion of a highway to promote the
32 safety of the traveling public;
33 (8) the placement of traffic signals, directional signs, and other signs, fences, curbs,
34 barriers, and obstructions for the convenience of the traveling public;
35 (9) the construction and maintenance of storm sewers, sidewalks, and highway
36 illumination;
37 (10) the construction and maintenance of livestock highways; and
38 (11) the construction and maintenance of roadside rest areas adjacent to or near any
39 highway.
40 Section 2. Section 72-5-103 is amended to read:
41 72-5-103. Acquisition of rights-of-way and other real property -- Title to property
42 acquired.
43 (1) The department may acquire any real property or interests in real property necessary
44 for temporary, present, or reasonable future state [highway] transportation purposes by gift,
45 agreement, exchange, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise.
46 (2) (a) (i) Title to real property acquired by the department or the counties, cities, and
47 towns by gift, agreement, exchange, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise for highway
48 rights-of-way or other [highway] transportation purposes may be in fee simple or any lesser estate
49 or interest.
50 (ii) Title to real property acquired by the department for a public transit project shall be
51 transferred to the public transit district responsible for the project.
52 (iii) A public transit district shall cover all costs associated with any condemnation on its
53 behalf.
54 (b) If the highway is a county road, city street under joint title as provided in Subsection
55 72-3-104 (3), or right-of-way described in Title 72, Chapter 5, Part 3, Rights-of-way Across Federal
56 Lands Act, title to all interests in real property less than fee simple held under this section is held
57 jointly by the state and the county, city, or town holding the interest.
58 (3) A transfer of land bounded by a highway on a right-of-way for which the public has

59 only an easement passes the title of the person whose estate is transferred to the middle of the
60 highway.
61 Section 3. Section 72-5-109 is amended to read:
62 72-5-109. Contributions of property by counties and municipalities.
63 Counties and municipalities may contribute real or personal property to the department for
64 state [highway] transportation purposes.
65 Section 4. Section 72-5-110 is amended to read:
66 72-5-110. Acquisition of personal property.
67 The department may acquire by gift, agreement, exchange, purchase, or otherwise
68 machinery, tools, equipment, materials, supplies, or other personal property necessary for the
69 administration, construction, maintenance, and operation of the state highways, and may sell,
70 exchange, or otherwise dispose of the machinery, tools, equipment, materials, supplies, and other
71 personal property when no longer suitable or required for state [highway] transportation purposes.
72 Section 5. Section 72-5-115 is amended to read:
73 72-5-115. Acquisition of property devoted to or held for other public use.
74 (1) If property devoted to or held for some other public use for which the power of eminent
75 domain might be exercised is to be taken for state [highway] transportation purposes, the
76 department may, with the consent of the person or agency in charge of the other public use,
77 condemn real property to be exchanged with the person or agency for the real property to be taken
78 for state [highway] transportation purposes.
79 (2) This section does not limit the department's authorization to acquire, other than by
80 condemnation, property for exchange purposes.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-12-01 4:45 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel