R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-9 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-9
§ 24-12-9. Powers of authority.
Status: in_force

(a) The authority is hereby authorized and empowered:

(1) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;

(2) To adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure;

(3) To maintain an office at such place or places within the state as it may designate;

(4) To sue and be sued in its own name, plead, and be impleaded; provided, however, that any and all actions at law or in equity against the authority shall be brought only in the county in which the principal office of the authority shall be located;

(5) To determine, subject to the approval of the director of transportation, the location and the design standards of the Newport Bridge, the turnpike, and any additional new facility to be constructed;

(6) To issue bonds of the authority for any of its purposes and to refund its bonds, all as provided in this chapter;

(7) To combine for financing purposes the Newport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the Sakonnet River Bridge, the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, the turnpike, and any additional facility or facilities, or any two (2) or more of such projects;

(8) To borrow money in anticipation of the issuance of bonds for any of its purposes and to issue notes, certificates, or other evidences of borrowing in form as may be authorized by resolution of the authority, the notes, certificates, or other evidence of borrowing to be payable in the first instance from the proceeds of any bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter and to contain on their face a statement to the effect that neither the state, the authority, nor any municipality or other political subdivision of the state shall be obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon except from the proceeds of bonds in anticipation of the issuance of which the notes, certificates, or other evidences of borrowing shall have been issued, or from revenues;

(9) To fix and revise, from time to time, subject to the provisions of this chapter, and to charge and collect tolls for transit over the turnpike and the several parts or sections thereof, and for the use of the Newport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the Sakonnet River Bridge, the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, and any additional facility acquired, financed, or leased under the provisions of this chapter;

(10) To acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties;

(11) To acquire in the name of the authority, by purchase or otherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper, or by the exercise of the rights of condemnation in the manner as provided by this chapter, public or private lands, including public parks, playgrounds, or reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein, rights-of-way, property, rights, easements, and interests as it may deem necessary for carrying out the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that all public property damaged in carrying out the powers granted by this chapter shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition as nearly as practicable;

(12) To designate the locations, with the approval of the director of transportation, and establish, limit, and control the points of ingress to and egress from the turnpike and any additional facility as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to ensure the proper operation and maintenance thereof, and to prohibit entrance to and exit from any point or points not so designated;

(13) To employ, in its discretion, consulting engineers, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary in its judgment, and to fix their compensation;

(14) To apply for, receive, and accept from any federal agency aid and/or grants for or in aid of the repair, maintenance, and/or construction of the turnpike, the Newport Bridge, the Sakonnet River Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, or any additional facility, and to receive and accept from the state, from any municipality, or other political subdivision thereof and from any other source aid or contributions of either money, property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which the grants and contributions may be made;

(15) To construct grade separations at intersections of the turnpike, the approaches, and highway connections of the Newport Bridge, the Sakonnet River Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, and any additional facility with public highways, streets, or other public ways or places, and to change and adjust the lines and grades thereof so as to accommodate the same to the design of the grade separation; the cost of the grade separations and any damage incurred in changing and adjusting the lines and grades of the highways, streets, ways, and places shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project;

(16) To vacate or change the location of any portion of any public highway, street, or other public way or place, sewer, pipe, main, conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, and other equipment and appliance of the state or of any municipality or other political subdivision of the state and to reconstruct the same at such new location as the authority shall deem most favorable for the project and of substantially the same type and in as good condition as the original highway, street, way, place, sewer, pipe, main, conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, equipment, or appliance, and the cost of the reconstruction and any damage incurred in vacating or changing the location thereof shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project; any public highway, street, or other public way or place vacated or relocated by the authority shall be vacated or relocated in the manner provided by law for the vacation or relocation of public roads, and any damages awarded on account thereof shall be paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project;

(17) The authority shall also have the power to make reasonable regulations, subject to the approval of the public utility administrator, for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation and removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles, and other equipment and appliances (herein called public utility facilities) of any public utility as defined in § 39-1-2, in, on, along, over, or under any project. Whenever the authority shall determine that it is necessary that any public facilities that now are, or hereafter may be, located in, on, along, over, or under any project should be relocated in the project, or should be removed from the project, the public utility owning or operating the facilities shall relocate or remove the facilities in accordance with the order of the authority; provided, however, that the cost and expenses of the relocation or removal, including the cost of installing the facilities in a new location, or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal, less the cost of any lands or any rights or interests in lands or any other rights of the public utility paid to the public utility in connection with the relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of any relocation or removal of facilities, the public utility owning or operating the facilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities, with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for as long a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right to maintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;

(18) To make reasonable regulations and to grant easements for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation, and removal of pipelines, other equipment, and appliances of any corporation or person owning or operating pipelines in, on, along, over, or under the turnpike, whenever the authority shall determine that it is necessary that any facilities which now are, or hereafter may be located in, on, along, over or under the turnpike should be relocated in the turnpike, or should be removed from the turnpike, the corporation or person owning or operating the facilities shall relocate or remove the facilities in accordance with the order of the authority; provided, however, that the cost and expense of the relocation or removal, including the cost of installing the facilities in a new location, or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal, less the cost of any lands or any rights or interests in lands or any other rights of any corporation or person paid to any corporation or person in connection with the relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of any relocation or removal of facilities, the corporation or person owning or operating the facilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities, with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for as long a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right to maintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;

(19) To enter upon any lands, waters, and premises for the purpose of making such surveys, soundings, borings, and examinations as the authority may deem necessary or convenient for its purposes, and the entry shall not be deemed a trespass, nor shall an entry for such purposes be deemed an entry under any condemnation proceedings; provided, however, the authority shall pay any actual damage resulting to the lands, water, and premises as a result of the entry and activities as a part of the cost of the project;

(20) To enter into contracts or agreements with any board, commission, public instrumentality of another state or the federal government or with any political subdivision of another state relating to the connection or connections to be established between the turnpike or any additional facility with any public highway or turnpike now in existence or hereafter to be constructed in another state, and with respect to the construction, maintenance, and operation of interstate turnpikes or expressways;

(21) To enter into contracts with the department of transportation with respect to the construction, reconstruction, renovation, acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation, or management of any project and with the Rhode Island state police with respect to the policing of any project;

(22) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter; and

(23) To do all other acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted in this chapter.

(24) To grant and/or contract, through the transfer of funds of the authority to the department of transportation, for the construction, reconstruction, acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation, or management by the department of transportation of any project or projects authorized by this chapter, and the department of transportation is authorized to accept any such grant or transfer of funds.

(b) Provided, the authority, in carrying out the provisions of this section, shall hold public hearings prior to the finalization of any specifications or the awarding of any contracts for any project. Provided, further, that any revenue generated by facilities under the control of the authority shall only be used for the purposes of the authority.

(c) The authority is authorized to enter into contracts with the state, or any department of the state, to operate and/or manage toll facilities on state roads or bridges not owned, leased by, or under the control of the authority, and to collect tolls from such facilities on behalf of the department of transportation, provided such tolls shall be set by the state acting through the department of transportation pursuant to chapter 13.1 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-3 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-3
§ 24-3-3. Hearing on enlargement or relocation in towns  Commissioners of estimate and assessment.
Status: in_force

Whenever the town council of any town named in § 24-3-17, shall adjudge it to be necessary to lay out, enlarge, straighten, improve, or alter any street or highway, or any part thereof, in the town, the council may cause the same to be done in the manner following: Whenever any lands shall be required for the purpose aforesaid, and the town council shall be of the opinion that any estates will be specially benefited thereby, the council shall, after notice to all persons interested, which notice shall specify the time and place of the meetings of the council and the nature and extent of the intended improvement, and after hearing all persons who desire to be heard in the matter, appoint not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) discreet and disinterested persons as commissioners of estimate and assessment, who may be residents and taxpayers in the town; and the council may at the same time determine that a portion of the damage occasioned by taking any real estate for the aforesaid purpose, not exceeding three-fourths (Â¾) thereof, shall be assessed upon the owners of estates which the commissioners shall find will be specially benefited by making the proposed improvement, whether any part of the estates are taken for the improvement or not; provided, that the owners shall not be assessed in any case beyond the amount that the commissioners shall consider their estates to be specially benefited thereby. The commissioners, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall be severally engaged to the faithful discharge of the trust and duties required of them.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-6-1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-6 / Section 24-6-1
§ 24-6-1. Order of abandonment  Reversion of title  Notice.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever, by the judgment of the town council of any town, a highway or driftway in the town, or any part of either, has ceased to be useful to the public, the town council of the town is authorized so to declare it by an order or decree that shall be final and conclusive; and, thereupon, the title of the land upon which the highway or driftway or part thereof existed shall revert to its owner and the town shall be no longer liable to repair the highway or driftway; provided, however, that the town council shall cause a sign to be placed at each end of the highway or driftway, having thereon the words Not a public highway, and after the entry of the order or decree, shall also cause a notice thereof to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, printed in English, at least once each week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper circulated within the city or town and a further and personal notice shall be served upon every owner of land abutting upon that part of the highway or driftway that has been abandoned who is known to reside within this state. Nothing contained in this chapter shall, in any manner, affect any private right-of-way over the land so adjudged to be useless as a highway or driftway if the right had been acquired before the taking of the land for a highway or driftway. Provided, however, that the town of Coventry and any community with a population of not less than one hundred thousand (100,000), receiving a request for the abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value; and provided, further, that the town of North Providence, upon receiving a request for the abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner, at fair market value; and provided further, that the town of New Shoreham, upon receiving a request for the abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value; and provided, further, that the town of Barrington, upon receiving a request for the abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value; and provided, further, that the city of Cranston, upon receipt of a request for abandonment of a highway or driftway within the city of Cranston, where the sale of the highway or driftway to an abutting owner would result in the creation of a new lot that would be in compliance with the minimum-area requirement for construction of a building that is a permitted use, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value; and provided, further, that the city of Warwick, upon receiving a request for the abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value; and provided, further, that the town of Middletown, upon receiving a request for the abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value; and provided, further, that the town of Cumberland, upon receiving a request for abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value; and provided, further, that the town of Narragansett, upon receiving a request for the abandonment of a highway or driftway from an abutting property owner, may sell the highway or driftway to the abutting owner at fair market value.

(b) Provided, further, that nothing in this section shall apply to private ways regardless of their use or maintenance thereof by any municipal corporation.

(c) All abandonments must be recorded in land evidence records by the petitioner(s) in the applicable municipality through the filing of an administrative subdivision in accordance with chapter 23 of title 45. The newly created boundary lines shall be certified to a Class 1 measurement specification pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Rhode Island board of registration for professional land surveyors in accordance with chapter 8.1 of title 5.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-22 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-22
§ 24-5-22. New highway using existing bridge.
Status: in_force

Whenever any highway has been or shall be laid out over any tract or parcel of land used at the time of the laying out as a highway, the laying out shall not be deemed or construed to affect or in any way alter the rights or duties of the town, or any individual, as to the maintenance of bridges over any part of the new highway, which so nearly coincides with the old highway as not to require the removal of the bridges or the building of them in a different place from where they previously stood.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-7-6 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-7 / Section 24-7-6
§ 24-7-6. Judgment and costs on appeal.
Status: in_force

If the person appealing from any assessment of taxes for the making and laying of any sidewalk shall fail to have the taxes reduced on appeal, he or she shall be adjudged to pay the costs of suit, and the collector of taxes in the town may proceed to collect the taxes as if the appeal had not been taken, but if the appellant shall succeed in having the tax reduced, the appellant shall recover costs, and the collector of taxes shall collect from the appellant only so much of the tax as shall have been found on appeal to be due from the appellant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-40D — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-40D
§ 24-12-40D. Additional state guaranteed bonds for Newport Bridge.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this chapter, the authority is hereby authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance at one time or from time to time for completion of the Newport Bridge ten million dollars ($10,000,000) aggregate principal amount of bonds of the authority designated Newport Bridge bonds  Guaranteed by the state. The state guaranteed bonds shall be in addition to the bonds of the authority authorized pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this chapter, (except that the three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) revenue bonds payable solely from toll revenues of the Newport Bridge and the Mount Hope Bridge authorized by § 24-12-40C but unissued by the authority to pay for a part of the cost of completion of the Newport Bridge shall not be issued) and the issuance thereof and the maturities and other details thereof (including the approval of the maturities of the state guaranteed bonds by the general treasurer) shall be governed by the provisions of § 24-12-40B insofar as § 24-12-40B may be applicable and consistent with the provisions of this section. The state guaranteed bonds shall be treated as state guaranteed bonds issued pursuant to § 24-12-40B for the purposes of deposits to the credit of and payments from the special funds established pursuant thereto; provided, however, that a portion of the proceeds of the additional state guaranteed bonds may be deposited to the credit of a special bond reserve fund to be held by the general treasurer and applied (together with any interest income therefrom) to the payment of interest becoming due on the additional state guaranteed bonds issued under the provisions of this section. The authority is further authorized subject to the approval of the general treasurer to provide by resolution for the issuance of bonds of the authority for the purpose of refunding any of the additional state guaranteed bonds. The state hereby guarantees the payment of the principal of and the interest on all the additional state guaranteed bonds, including any bonds issued to refund the bonds, issued under the provisions of this section as the bonds respectively become due and payable, and the full faith and credit of the state is hereby pledged for the payment, and a statement to that effect shall be endorsed on the bonds by the general treasurer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-1.3 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-1.3
§ 24-8-1.3. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(a) Arterial means a public road that provides a high level of travel services for a long, uninterrupted distance.

(b) Major collector means a public road that provides a service to built up areas of towns and traffic generators of regional importance and not directly served by arterials.

(c) Municipal roads means any public road not designated as a state road either under the statute or under the functional classification guidelines.

(d) Pavement management program includes resurfacing, striping and signing; minor drainage improvements, minor guardrail improvements, crack sealing, chip sealing, retaining wall repair, sidewalk and curb repair. The program shall also include educational activities, training programs, research grants, and such technical assistance as can be provided by maximizing the use of state education resources.

(e) Rhode Island highway system means all public roads including both state roads and municipal roads.

(f) Rural means an area not included in the boundary of an urban area.

(g) State roads means all public roads classified as arterials and major collectors, except urban minor arterials located in the eight (8) cities of Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, and Woonsocket.

(h) Urban means an area so designated for purposes of highway functional classification, based on criteria as established by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-7-10 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-7 / Section 24-7-10
§ 24-7-10. Westerly exempt.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the town of Westerly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-18-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-18 / Section 24-18-4
§ 24-18-4. Establishment of the municipal road and bridge revolving fund.
Status: in_force

(a) There is hereby established a municipal road and bridge revolving fund. The agency shall establish and set up on its books the revolving fund, to be held in trust and to be administered by the agency solely as provided in this chapter and in any trust agreement securing bonds of the agency. The agency shall deposit the following monies into the fund:

(1) Amounts appropriated or designated to the agency by the state for the purposes of this chapter;

(2) Loan repayments and other payments received by the agency pursuant to loan agreements with cities and towns executed in accordance with this chapter;

(3) Investment earnings on amounts credited to the fund;

(4) Proceeds of bonds of the agency to the extent required by any trust agreement for such bonds;

(5) Administrative fees levied by the agency;

(6) Other amounts required by provisions of this chapter or agreement, or any other law or any trust agreement pertaining to bonds to be credited to the revolving fund; and

(7) Any other funds permitted by law which the agency in its discretion shall determine to credit thereto.

(b) The agency shall establish and maintain fiscal controls and accounting procedures conforming to generally accepted government accounting standards sufficient to ensure proper accounting for receipts in and disbursements from the revolving fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-14 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-14
§ 24-12-14. Jury trial on price of land.
Status: in_force

Any owner of or persons entitled to any estate in or interested in any part of the land, or interest therein, so taken, who cannot agree with the authority for the price of the land, or interest therein, so taken in which he or she is interested may, within three (3) months after personal notice of the taking, or, if he or she have no personal notice, may within one year from the first publication of the copy of the resolution and statement, apply by petition to the superior court in and for the county in which the land, or interest therein, lies, setting forth the taking of his or her land or interest therein, and praying for an assessment of damages by a jury. Upon filing of the petition the court shall cause twenty (20) days notice of the pendency thereof to be given to the authority by serving the chairperson or vice chairperson of the authority with a certified copy thereof, and may proceed after notice to the trial thereof; and the trial shall determine all questions of fact relating to the value of the land, or interest therein, and the amount thereof, and judgment shall be entered upon the verdict of the jury and execution shall be issued therefor against the money so deposited in court and in default thereof against any other property of the authority. In case two (2) or more conflicting petitioners make claim to the same land, or to any interests therein, or to different interests in the same parcel of land, the court upon motion shall consolidate their several petitions for trial at the same time by the same jury, and may frame all necessary issues for the trial thereof; and all proceedings taken pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall take precedence over all other civil matters then pending before the court, or if the superior court in and for the county in which the land, or interest therein, lies, is not in session in the county, then the matter may be heard in the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-19 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-19
§ 24-8-19. Designation and maintenance of detours.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever it is necessary for the purpose of constructing, reconstructing, or repairing state roads to close such roads to the traveling public, the department of transportation shall provide suitable detours, and when roads other than state roads are designated by the department of transportation as detours, then the other roads shall be maintained in reasonably good condition by the department of transportation during their use as detours, and for the purpose of providing and maintaining the detours, may expend in the aggregate from appropriations available for the construction, reconstruction or repair, a sum not exceeding thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) annually and the state controller is hereby directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of so much thereof as may be from time to time required upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

(b) The designation and use as a detour of any road other than a state road, and the maintenance of another road so used shall in no way be construed as acceptance as a state road, and the other road shall not come under the supervision of the department of transportation except for use as a detour as provided in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-47 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-47
§ 24-12-47. Inconsistent laws inapplicable.
Status: in_force

All other general or special laws inconsistent with any provision of this chapter are hereby declared to be inapplicable to the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-10-1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-10 / Section 24-10-1
§ 24-10-1. Freeway defined.
Status: in_force

A freeway is a way especially designed for through traffic over which abutters have no easement or right of light, air, or access by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon the way.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-36 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-36
§ 24-12-36. Annual report and audit.
Status: in_force

Within the first ninety (90) days of each fiscal year of the authority, the authority shall make an annual report to the governor of its activities for the preceding fiscal year. Each report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering its operations during the year. The state director of administration shall cause an annual audit of the books, records, and accounts of the authority to be made and the costs thereof shall be treated as a part of the cost of operation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-5 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-5
§ 24-3-5. Commissioners estimate and report.
Status: in_force

The commissioners shall cause a survey and plat of the proposed alteration to be made; and shall cause notice to be given to all persons interested in the lands to be taken or in the improvement to be made, and to all persons who are owners of lands which, in the opinion of the commissioners, will be benefited by the proposed alterations, of the time and place of making an estimate of the value of the property so required to be taken, and of the special benefits to be conferred by making the alterations; and at the time and place appointed in the notice, the commissioners shall proceed to make a just estimate of the amount of the damage occasioned to the respective owners, lessees, parties, or persons entitled to or interested in the lands taken for the alteration, and also a just estimate of the value of the special benefits, if any, caused thereby, to the several owners of lands not required for the proposed improvements, but which will, in the opinion of the commissioners, be benefited thereby; and the commissioners shall report thereon to the town council or city council without unnecessary delay. The commissioners shall set forth in the report the names of the owners of, and persons in any way interested in, any of the land taken for the proposed improvement, so far as the names can be ascertained, and a description or designation of the several parcels thereof, with the damage and benefit to each respectively. The commissioners shall further apportion and assess a portion of the damage and cost of improvements as the town or city council may have directed, ascertained as provided, upon the owners of the estate so specially benefited, in proportion to the special benefits conferred; provided, that the amount of the assessment shall not exceed the amount of the special benefits, ascertained as provided.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-19 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-19
§ 24-5-19. Bridges and fences along preexisting watercourses.
Status: in_force

Whenever any highway has been or shall be laid out, over, or by the side of any artificial watercourse made previously to the laying out of the highway, the town laying out the highway shall make and maintain the necessary bridges over the watercourse and the fences along the side of the watercourse as may be needed for the safety of travelers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-23 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-23
§ 24-5-23. Bridges and culverts built by adjoining landowners.
Status: in_force

Any person owning land adjoining any public highway may build such bridges or culverts over the ditches, which may be made in the highway for the passage of water, as may be necessary to render the passage from the land to the highway safe and convenient; and no bridge or culvert shall be altered, removed, or disturbed by any person, except under the direction of the town council of the town where the bridge or culvert may be situated, or of some person by them appointed for that purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-9 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-9
§ 24-3-9. Election by council to make or discontinue improvements.
Status: in_force

The town or city council shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the first publication of notice required by § 24-3-8, elect whether or not they will make improvements, and the town or city council may, at any time before election, discontinue all further proceedings relative thereto, but the town or city, upon the discontinuance, shall be liable for all costs, fees and expenses which shall have accrued; and the court may enter judgment and issue execution therefor as to the costs accrued on an appeal.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-29 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-29
§ 24-8-29. Succession of director to stone bridge commissioner.
Status: in_force

Whenever the words commissioner of the Rhode Island stone bridge occur in any general law, public law, or resolution of the general assembly or are used in any document, record, instrument, or proceeding authorized by any such law or resolution relating to the commissioner of the Rhode Island stone bridge, the words shall be construed to mean the director of the department of transportation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-30 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-30
§ 24-12-30. Remedies of bondholders.
Status: in_force

Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter or any of the coupons appertaining thereto, and the trustee under the trust agreement, except to the extent the rights herein given may be restricted by the trust agreement, may, either at law or in equity, by civil action, mandamus or other proceeding, protect and enforce any and all rights under the laws of the state or granted under this chapter or under the trust agreement or the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds, and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this chapter or by the trust agreement or resolution to be performed by the authority or by any officer thereof, including the fixing, charging, and collecting of tolls.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-10-18 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-10 / Section 24-10-18
§ 24-10-18. Backing up prohibited.
Status: in_force

Any person who backs up a motor vehicle on a roadway or shoulder of any freeway within the state, shall be subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-42 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-42
§ 24-8-42. Emergency management  Lane clearance.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever any public safety agency through the legitimate exercise of its police powers determines that an emergency is caused by the immobilization of any vehicle(s) on the interstate system or limited access highway, as defined in § 31-1-23(e), resulting in lane blockage and posing a threat to public safety, public safety agencies and those acting at their direction or request shall have emergency authority to move the immobilized vehicle(s).

(b) There shall be no liability incurred by any state or local public safety department or agents directed by them whether those agents are public safety personnel or not for damages incurred to the immobilized vehicle(s), its contents or surrounding area caused by the emergency measures employed through the legitimate exercise of the police powers vested in that agency to move the vehicle(s) for the purpose of clearing the lane(s) to remove any threat to public safety.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-16 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-16
§ 24-12-16. Repayment of excess deposits.
Status: in_force

Whenever from time to time the authority has satisfied the court that the amount deposited with the court is greater than is amply sufficient to satisfy the claims of all persons interested in the land, the court may order that the amount of any excess including any interest or increment on any sums so deposited shall be repaid to the authority. Whenever the authority has satisfied the court that the claims of all persons interested in the land taken have been satisfied, the unexpended balance including any interest or increment on any sums so deposited shall be paid immediately to the authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-4
§ 24-12-4. Officers of authority  Quorum  Reimbursement of expenses of members.
Status: in_force

(a) The authority shall elect one of its members as chairperson and another as vice-chairperson and shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer who may or may not be members of the authority. Three (3) members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the vote of three (3) members shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority. No vacancy in the membership of the authority shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority. The members of the authority shall receive no salary for their services as authority members but shall be paid their necessary expenses while engaged in the performance of their duties, and the appointed members of the authority shall be paid the sum of forty dollars ($40.00) for each day or portion thereof in which they are engaged in the performance of their duties.

(b) The secretary and the treasurer shall receive such salaries as shall be fixed by the authority from time to time.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-1-2 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-1 / Section 24-1-2
§ 24-1-2. Filing of plat and declaration.
Status: in_force

Within one year after its passage, the city or town council shall cause to be filed in the land evidence records a copy of its resolution declaring that the public interest and convenience makes necessary or advantageous the acquisition of real property in the manner prescribed by this chapter and also a description of the land or other real property indicating the nature and extent of the estate or interest therein taken as provided in this chapter and a plat thereof, and a copy of the resolution, description and plat shall be certified by the city or town clerk.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-11 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-11
§ 24-3-11. Confirmation of reports.
Status: in_force

The town council or city council, after the election to make improvements, as provided in § 24-3-9, shall confirm the report of the commissioners to all persons who have not given notice of their intention to claim a jury trial as provided in § 24-3-8, and shall finally confirm the report, as to those persons who shall have claimed a trial by jury, in accordance with the verdicts rendered, or in accordance with such other disposition as shall have been made of the claims for a jury trial; and the report, so confirmed, shall be final and conclusive upon the parties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-1.1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-1.1
§ 24-5-1.1. Alteration of roadways.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person, firm, or corporation including utilities and contractors who or that alter a roadway that is subject to the provisions of this chapter shall restore that portion of the roadway that was altered to the same or better condition that existed prior to alteration or as required in accordance with the state or municipal permit requirements. Repaving and repair of a roadway by a public utility or utility facility shall be in accordance with and subject to the provisions of chapter 2.2 of title 39.

(b) Municipalities shall adopt by ordinance standards for use of steel or other suitably manufactured plates on municipal roadways that shall, at a minimum, require compliance with the provisions specified in § 24-8-45.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-8 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-8
§ 24-5-8. General duties of surveyors of highways.
Status: in_force

Every surveyor of highways shall execute the directions given to the surveyor by the town council or the committee thereof as provided for in this chapter, and shall purchase and use such materials and employ such personnel, teams, and road making apparatus as may be necessary therefor at the rates of compensation fixed by the town council. The surveyor shall keep himself or herself informed as to the condition of all the highways in the surveyors district, taking particular care to do so immediately after all storms and freshets, and shall seasonably communicate such information to the town council or to the committee thereof having care of his or her district; and it shall be the surveyors duty, in case of sudden and unforeseen damage to any highway or bridge, to immediately repair the damage at the expense of the town so that it will be safe and passable, without instruction or direction from the town council or committee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-24 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-24
§ 24-12-24. Pension fund for ferry company employees.
Status: in_force

The town of Jamestown, by vote of the qualified electors of the town at any special or annual financial town meeting, is hereby authorized and empowered to use all or any part of any balance of the two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) paid to the town together with the proceeds realized from the sale or lease of any of the other assets of the Jamestown and Newport ferry company for the establishment of a pension fund for the care of retired employees of the Jamestown and Newport ferry company.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-50 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-50
§ 24-12-50. Relationship to department of transportation.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of transportation is hereby constituted as the agency for the authority in carrying out all of the powers to construct, acquire, operate, and maintain turnpikes and bridges as conferred by the general laws upon the authority.

(b) Nothing in chapter 13 of title 42 or in this amendment to chapter 12 of title 24 shall limit the discretions, powers, and authorities of the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority necessary or desirable for it to execute and carry out the covenants, agreements, duties, and liabilities assumed by it in the trust agreement by and between the authority and the then serving trustee under indenture dated as of April 1, 2010, as supplemented from time to time, nor shall these chapters be construed in any way to affect the rights, privileges, powers, and remedies of any trustee and its successors, or of the holders of the bonds issued under the indenture, or under any resolutions of the authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-12 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-12
§ 24-5-12. Fine for neglect to keep highways in repair.
Status: in_force

Every town which shall neglect to keep in good repair its highways and bridges shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), and execution shall issue therefor against the town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-8 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-8
§ 24-8-8. Space between curb and traveled highway.
Status: in_force

The director of transportation whenever and wherever laying out the plans and drawing up the specifications for the building and construction of curbs and sidewalks, as provided in this chapter, shall, whenever and wherever feasible and practical, cause and order the curb to be placed and set back from the outside paved or metal edge of the state road not less than eight feet (8²). The intervening part of the road between the outside paved or metal edge of the road and the curb shall be brought up to the proper grade and line of the road and shall have a continuous smooth surface so that the road shall have a continuous smooth surface from the center line of the road to the face of the curb. Whenever and wherever the director of transportation decides that in his or her opinion and judgment on certain roads and portions of certain roads it is not feasible and practical to build and construct the curb placed and set back not less than eight feet (8²) from the outside paved or metal edge of the roads as provided in this chapter, the director of transportation shall cause and order the curb placed and set against the outside paved or metal edge of the roads; provided, the adjacent outside lane of vehicle travel of the paved or metal portion of the road is not less than twelve feet (12²) in width where feasible and practicable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-5 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-5
§ 24-12-5. Power to construct, reconstruct, renovate, acquire, maintain, repair, operate or manage projects or additional facilities and to issue bonds.
Status: in_force

In order to facilitate vehicular traffic, remove many of the present handicaps and hazards on the congested highways in the state, alleviate the barriers caused by large bodies of water, and promote the agricultural and industrial development of the state, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority is hereby authorized and empowered: to construct the Newport Bridge, the turnpike, any portion thereof or any additional facility hereafter authorized to be constructed; to acquire the Mount Hope Bridge, to acquire the Sakonnet River Bridge, to acquire the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge and any additional facility hereafter authorized to be acquired; to maintain, construct, reconstruct, renovate, acquire, repair, operate or manage any project or projects; and to issue bonds of the authority as provided in this chapter to finance any project or projects; provided, however, that the Mount Hope Bridge shall only be acquired as provided for by § 24-12-40A.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-55 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-55
§ 24-12-55. The Claiborne Pell Bridge.
Status: in_force

The Newport Bridge shall hereafter be named and known as the Claiborne Pell Bridge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-7 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-7
§ 24-5-7. Special appropriations for particular projects.
Status: in_force

Whenever any town shall make, in addition to its annual appropriation for the maintenance and repair of its highways and bridges, a special appropriation for the building or repair of any particular highway or bridge or other highway work, and shall not provide that the appropriation be expended by contract, the town council of the town shall determine whether the appropriation shall be so expended; and if not expended by contract, it shall be expended by the surveyor of highways of the district within which the work is to be done.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-7-2 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-7 / Section 24-7-2
§ 24-7-2. Order to lay sidewalk  Notice and hearing.
Status: in_force

Whenever the town council shall determine by its vote that a sidewalk shall be made and laid in and upon any street or highway in the town, they may order the sidewalk to be made and laid upon like notice to the abutting landowner, as is provided in § 24-3-23. At the same time and place named in the notice, the town council shall proceed to hear all the parties and to make and pass an order in reference to the making and laying of the sidewalk as they may think proper.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-25 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-25
§ 24-8-25. Bringing new bridges into state system.
Status: in_force

Any bridge lying in any highway or highways which have been constructed by or upon which work has been done by the state under the supervision of the director of transportation, which shall not be constructed, repaired, or reconstructed by the director of transportation before the making of the directors next annual report, may be included in the directors next or any subsequent annual report and recommended for construction, reparation, or reconstruction, and the general assembly may appropriate money for the construction, reparation, or reconstruction. And whenever hereafter the director of transportation shall recommend the relocating, regrading, or improving of any highway which shall include any bridge, the bridge shall come under the supervision of the director of transportation, and the legislature shall, upon appropriating money for the relocating, regrading, or improving of the highway, also make a specific appropriation for the construction, reparation, or reconstruction of the bridge according to the recommendations of the director of transportation, except that each public utility using any of the bridges shall repay to the state the portion of the cost of construction, reparation, or reconstruction of the bridges to be determined in such manner as is provided by § 24-8-23. The bridges when so constructed, repaired, or reconstructed shall thereupon become a part of the state highway system, and shall henceforth be maintained by the state, except those bridges which are used by any public utility which shall pay a part of the cost of maintenance of the bridges in the manner provided by § 24-8-23.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-4-7 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-4 / Section 24-4-7
§ 24-4-7. Refund of surplus contributions to cities and towns.
Status: in_force

In the event the actual cost on any project is less than the estimated cost as provided in the project agreement, the general treasurer shall refund to any city or town any money remaining from the actual contribution of the city or town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-4
§ 24-3-4. Assessment of benefits and damages in cities.
Status: in_force

Whenever the city council of any city shall adjudge it to be necessary to lay out, enlarge, straighten, improve or alter any street or highway, or any part thereof, in the city, and any lands shall be required for the purpose aforesaid, and the city council shall be of the opinion that any estates will be specially benefited thereby, and the city council shall determine what portion of the damage occasioned by taking any real estate for the aforesaid purpose, not exceeding three-fourths (Â¾) thereof, shall be assessed upon the owners of estates which the commissioners appointed under this chapter shall find to be specially benefited by making the proposed improvement, whether any part of the estates are taken for the improvement or not (provided, that the owners shall not be assessed in any case beyond the amount that the commissioners shall consider their estates to be specially benefited thereby), the city council of the city shall thereupon proceed in the same manner and with the same powers and authority as is given to town councils in § 24-3-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-2-5 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-2 / Section 24-2-5
§ 24-2-5. Platting of highways previously declared.
Status: in_force

In case any lands have previously been declared to be a public highway under § 24-2-1, and no such plat was made and recorded as provided in § 24-2-4, the town council may cause the lands, appropriated by such declaration as a public highway, to be marked out, platted, and recorded as provided in § 24-2-4; in which case they shall give the notice and their proceedings shall be subject to the appeal provided in § 24-2-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-1-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-1 / Section 24-1-4
§ 24-1-4. Vesting of title to property taken.
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of the copy of the resolution, description and plat in the land evidence records and upon the making of the deposit in accordance with the order of the superior court, title to the real property in fee simple absolute or such lesser estate or interest therein specified in the resolution shall vest in the city or town, and the real property shall be deemed to be condemned and taken for the use of the city or town, and the right to just compensation for the real property shall vest in the persons entitled thereto.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-39 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-39
§ 24-8-39. Exit ramp control devices for divided highways.
Status: in_force

The department of transportation shall install bidirectional control devices on all new or upgraded ramps exiting from any divided highway within this state. These devices shall be placed at the end of each ramp and shall conform with § 2E-41 of the manual for uniform traffic control devices. The device shall have red and white raised pavement markers that show red to drivers travelling the wrong way and white to drivers travelling the right way.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-12 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-12
§ 24-3-12. Termination of leases and contracts on land taken.
Status: reserved

Whenever the whole of any lot or parcel of land, or any building under lease or other contract, shall be taken as provided in § 24-3-10, for any of the purposes as provided in this chapter, upon the election of the town or city council, as provided in § 24-3-9, to make improvements, the lease or contract shall immediately cease and determine and be absolutely discharged. In case only part of any parcel of real estate so under lease or other contract shall be taken, all contracts and engagements respecting the parcel shall, from the time of the election, cease and determine, and be absolutely discharged as to the part so taken, but shall remain valid as to the residue, and the rents, considerations, and payments, reserved or payable and to be paid for or in respect of the time, shall be apportioned so that the just proportional part thereof shall be demanded or paid or recoverable for or in respect of the rents, considerations, and payments.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-56 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-56
§ 24-12-56. Honorable John F. Conley Bridge.
Status: in_force

The Greenwood Avenue bridge in the city of East Providence shall hereafter be known as the Honorable John F. Conley Bridge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-18-6 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-18 / Section 24-18-6
§ 24-18-6. Payment of state funds.
Status: in_force

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b), upon the written request of the agency, the general treasurer shall pay to the agency, from time to time, from the proceeds of any bonds or notes issued by the state for the purposes of this chapter or funds otherwise lawfully payable to the agency for the purposes of this chapter, such amounts as shall have been appropriated or lawfully designated for the revolving fund. All amounts so paid shall be credited to the revolving fund in addition to any other amounts credited or expected to be credited to the revolving fund.

(b) The agency and the state shall enter into, execute, and deliver one or more agreements setting forth or otherwise determining the terms, conditions, and procedures for, and the amount, time, and manner of payment of, all amounts available from the state to the agency under this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-1-14 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-1 / Section 24-1-14
§ 24-1-14. Orders as to charges on lands.
Status: in_force

The superior court shall have power to make such orders with respect to encumbrances, liens, taxes, and other charges on the land, if any, as shall be just and equitable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-16 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-16
§ 24-5-16. Diversion of water to damage of individuals prohibited.
Status: in_force

No surveyor of highways shall cause any watercourse in any highway to be so conveyed as to incommode any persons land, house, store, shop or other building, or to obstruct any person in the prosecution of his or her business or occupation, without the consent or approbation of the town council of the town, signified in writing to the surveyor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-9 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-9
§ 24-8-9. Regulations of sidewalks and curbs.
Status: in_force

The director of transportation shall have the power and authority to alter, to maintain, to keep in good condition, to remove ice and snow therefrom, to remove posts, steps and any other obstructions therein, to regulate the placement, structure, and alteration of curbs constructed adjacent to state roads, to regulate the height, size, and shape of awnings, signs, and any other structures which project over all curbs and all sidewalks now constructed, in the process of construction or to be constructed on state roads; except, on portion or portions of state roads in cities or towns where the territory contiguous thereto is closely built up.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-15 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-15
§ 24-5-15. Penalty for failure to remove snow.
Status: in_force

If the snow is allowed to remain in any public highway in any town so as to obstruct any person in passing along the highway with his or her team, sled, or sleigh, for twenty-four (24) hours after the highway shall become obstructed, the town shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100); but nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to subject any town to the fine provided for in this section if the surveyor of highways, or some other person duly authorized for that purpose by the town, with the power vested in him or her by the laws of the state, shall have commenced the removal of the obstructions within the time provided for in this section, and shall within three (3) days remove the obstructions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-7 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-7
§ 24-3-7. Publication and posting of notices.
Status: in_force

The notice required by §§ 24-3-3  24-3-6 in addition to the personal notice, shall be given by publishing the notice once a week for two (2) succeeding weeks in at least two (2) newspapers such as the town council or city council may order; and they shall also cause three (3) or more copies of the notice to be posted in conspicuous public places on or near the place where the proposed improvements are to be made; provided, however, that the first publication of the notice required by § 24-3-6 shall be made within fourteen (14) days after the filing of the report.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-9-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-9 / Section 24-9-4
§ 24-9-4. Payments from emergency account.
Status: in_force

All obligations and expenses incurred by the director in the exercise of the powers and duties vested in the director by the foregoing provisions of this chapter shall be paid by the general treasurer out of available funds in the storm emergency account; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much thereof as may be required, upon receipt by the state controller of proper vouchers duly approved by the director of transportation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-21 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-21
§ 24-8-21. Jurisdiction of bridges on state highways.
Status: in_force

All bridges lying in any highway or highways which have been constructed by or upon which work has been done by the state under the supervision of the state board of public roads shall hereafter come under the supervision of the director of transportation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-44 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-44
§ 24-12-44. Construction of connecting highways.
Status: in_force

As the construction of a highway from a point at or near the Kingston interchange on state route 3 (the same being interstate route 95) to a point at or near the Jamestown Bridge is necessary to effectuate the powers granted by this chapter, the general assembly shall appropriate the sum or sums as it may deem necessary to provide for the construction of the highway before the opening for traffic of the Newport Bridge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-7 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-7
§ 24-8-7. Specifications for curbs and sidewalks.
Status: in_force

Whenever and wherever the director of transportation shall order and cause the building and construction of curbs and sidewalks as provided in this chapter, the curb shall be made and constructed of a suitable and hard material. The curb shall be set and shall not project above the edge of the highway more than twelve inches (12") nor less than four inches (4"). The width of the curb at the top shall not be more than twelve inches (12") and not less than four inches (4"). The sidewalk shall be made and constructed of a suitable and hard material with a smooth hard finished surface or face. Whenever and wherever feasible and practical, the surface or face of the sidewalk shall be set and laid flush with the top of the curb and shall not be less than four feet (4²) wide from the inside top edge of the curb.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-53 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-53
§ 24-12-53. William E. Powers Memorial Bridge.
Status: in_force

The bridge on Board Street (route 114) in the town of Cumberland shall be named and known as the William E. Powers Memorial Bridge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-6-2 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-6 / Section 24-6-2
§ 24-6-2. Notice to abutting landowners of proposed abandonment.
Status: in_force

Every town council, before proceeding to abandon any highway or driftway or any part thereof, shall give notice to the owners of the lands abutting upon any part of the highway or driftway within the town to appear, if they see fit, and be heard for or against the abandonment, and as to the damage, if any, which they will sustain thereby. Notice shall be given by advertisement once a week for three (3) successive weeks next prior to the meeting of the town council at which the abandonment is to be first considered, in some newspaper of general circulation within the city or town printed in English and a further and personal notice shall be served upon every person known to reside within this state who is an owner of land, abutting upon that part of the highway or driftway which it is proposed to abandon.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-15-10 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-15 / Section 24-15-10
§ 24-15-10. Creation of board.
Status: in_force

There is hereby authorized, created, and established within the executive department a scenic roadways board consisting of nine (9) members as follows: one member shall be the director of the department of transportation or the directors designee who shall be a subordinate within the department of transportation; one member shall be the director of the department of environmental management or the directors designee who shall be a subordinate within the department of environmental management; one member shall be the chair of the historical preservation and heritage commission; one member shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate giving due consideration to the recommendation of Grow Smart Rhode Island; one member shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate giving due consideration to the recommendation of the Rhode Island builders association; four (4) members shall be appointed by the governor from the general public with the advice and consent of the senate, in making these appointments, the governor shall take into consideration the impact on the local communities. The governor shall give due consideration to members of local land trusts, chamber of commerce recommendations, and shall also consider the need for individuals with expertise in landscape architecture, community planning, and/or transportation engineers with experience with traffic calming and flexible design policies. The members shall be chosen as far as is reasonably practicable to represent geographical diversity and communities where designated scenic roadways exist. During the month of January in each year, the governor shall appoint a member to succeed the departing member. The newly appointed member shall serve for a term of three (3) years or until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. The members of the board shall be eligible to succeed themselves. Any vacancy of a public member that may occur in the board shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the members predecessor as prescribed in this section. The membership of the board shall receive no compensation for their services, and shall not be reimbursed for any expenses. Those members of the board as of the effective date of this act [July 9, 2005] who were appointed to the board by members of the general assembly shall cease to be members of the board on the effective date of this act, and the governor shall thereupon appoint the four (4) new members as prescribed in this section. Those members of the board as of the effective date of this act [July 9, 2005] who were appointed to the board by the governor shall continue to serve the balance of their current terms. Upon the expiration of the term of the member representing the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, the governor shall appoint a new member, and shall give due consideration to the recommendation of Grow Smart Rhode Island. Thereafter, the appointments shall be made by the governor as prescribed in this section. No one shall be eligible for appointment unless they are a resident of this state. The director of the department of transportation shall direct staff to support the board within the constraints of available resources.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-37.2 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-37.2
§ 24-12-37.2. Driver/registered owner liability.
Status: in_force

(a) The registered owner of the motor vehicle shall be primarily responsible in all prosecutions brought pursuant to the provisions of §§ 24-12-37 and 24-12-37.1.

(b) In all prosecutions of nonpayment of toll violations, there is a rebuttable presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle was the operator of the vehicle and may be liable for the violation. The registered owner of the vehicle may assume liability for the violation by paying the fine; or by defending the violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-32 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-32
§ 24-5-32. Penalty for failure to maintain guideposts.
Status: in_force

Every town which shall neglect or refuse to keep, at all times, guideposts erected and maintained at the places and in the manner above prescribed, shall be fined three dollars ($3.00) for every month it shall so neglect or refuse.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-6-3 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-6 / Section 24-6-3
§ 24-6-3. Damages payable to abutting landowners.
Status: in_force

The owners of land abutting upon a highway or driftway in any town shall be entitled, upon the abandonment of the highway or driftway, either wholly or in part, to receive compensation from the town for the damages, if any, sustained by them by reason of the abandonment; and the town council, whenever it abandons the whole or any part of a public highway or driftway, shall at the same time appraise and award the damages.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-33 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-33
§ 24-12-33. Negotiability of bonds.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this chapter or any recitals in any bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, all bonds shall be deemed to be negotiable instruments under the laws of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-10-17 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-10 / Section 24-10-17
§ 24-10-17. Soliciting rides in motor vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who endeavors by words, gestures, or otherwise to beg, invite, or secure transportation in any motor vehicle on any freeway within the state, except in the case of a bona fide emergency or in the case of sickness, is subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

(b) Any person who endeavors to solicit a ride in a motor vehicle in the manner described in this section on the traveled portion of any other public highway in this state shall be subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-16-3 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-16 / Section 24-16-3
§ 24-16-3. Reports.
Status: in_force

(a) No later than two (2) years after the effective date of this chapter, the department of transportation shall publish a report showing how the department of transportation has complied with this section of highway law and changed their procedures to institutionalize complete streets design features into planning, project scoping, design and implementation of highway and road projects. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a discussion of the review of and revisions to various guidance documents regarding lane width, design speed, average daily traffic thresholds, level of service and roadway classification. The report shall also show any best practices that the transportation agency utilized in complying with § 24-16-2 of the highway law.

(b) In establishing such best practices, consideration shall be given to the procedures for identifying the needs of the mix of users, including primary and secondary users and the identification of barriers, and summary of the documentation required by subsection 24-16-2(b) of the highway law regarding why the transportation agency could not comply with subsection (a).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-4
§ 24-5-4. Appropriations expended under department of transportation  State aid.
Status: in_force

Whenever any town shall make an annual appropriation equal to or in addition to the sum of twenty cents ($.20) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of the ratable property of such town, and whenever the electors at the meeting shall direct that the appropriation be expended under the care and direction of the department of transportation, the town shall be entitled to state aid in the care and maintenance of its public highways, causeways, and bridges, other than state highways, in the following amount: A sum of money not exceeding one-fifth ( ) of the money appropriated as aforesaid by any town, out of any money specifically appropriated by the general assembly to be used and expended by the department of transportation for the repair, care, and maintenance of public highways, causeways, and bridges in the respective towns; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her order upon the general treasurer for the money so appropriated, upon proper vouchers signed by the director of transportation. Whenever the electors at the meeting shall direct the appropriation as aforesaid to be expended under the direction of the department of transportation, the town treasurer of the town shall pay such highway bills for highway expenditures in the town as are properly audited by the director of transportation, not exceeding the amount of the towns appropriation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-2-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-2 / Section 24-2-4
§ 24-2-4. Platting of highway.
Status: in_force

In declaring lands which have been quietly, peaceably and actually used and improved and considered as public highways and streets for the space of twenty (20) years, to be public highways as provided in § 24-2-1, the town council of the town in which the lands lie shall determine, mark out, plat, or cause to be marked out and platted, the lands, in width as well as length, by use and improvement appropriated as public highways, and declared as such, and shall cause the plats to be recorded; but nothing contained in this section shall be so construed as to affect the requirements or provisions of § 24-2-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-2-8 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-2 / Section 24-2-8
§ 24-2-8. Acceptance and opening of highway on land specially granted.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided by special act concerning particular cities and towns, whenever the owner of any land shall make a deed thereof to the town in which the land lies, for the especial purpose of being used and improved as a public highway, and the deed shall have been duly acknowledged and recorded, the land shall be thenceforward a public highway to all intents and purposes, and be liable to be opened by the town council of the town where the land shall lie, in the same manner as highways which are laid out by the town council; but no town shall be liable to repair a highway, until the town council thereof shall decree and order that the highway shall be repaired at the expense of the town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-36 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-36
§ 24-8-36. Right to administrative appeal.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, or corporation aggrieved by a decision of the director pursuant to this chapter has the right to an appeal in accordance with the procedures contained within chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-29 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-29
§ 24-12-29. Trust funds  Trustee.
Status: in_force

All money received pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, whether as proceeds from the sale of bonds or as revenues, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in this chapter. The authority shall, in the resolution authorizing the bonds or in the trust agreement securing the bonds, provide for the payment of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds and the revenues to be received to a trustee, which shall be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state, who shall act as trustee of the funds, and hold and apply the bonds to the purposes of this chapter, subject to the regulations as this chapter and the resolution or trust agreement may provide.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-18-10 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-18 / Section 24-18-10
§ 24-18-10. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or the application of this chapter to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-10-5 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-10 / Section 24-10-5
§ 24-10-5. Fuel and service facilities adjacent to freeways.
Status: in_force

(a) In order to permit the establishment of adequate fuel and other service facilities by private owners or their lessees for the users of a freeway, the director of transportation shall provide for access roads within the states right-of-way of any freeway established or designated as provided in this chapter, at points which in his or her opinion, will best serve the public interest.

(b) The location of fuel and other service facilities may be indicated to the users of the freeway by appropriate sign, the size, style, and specifications of which shall be determined by the director of transportation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-40C — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-40C
§ 24-12-40C. Additional state guaranteed and revenue bonds for Newport Bridge.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this chapter, the authority is hereby authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance at one time or from time to time for completion of the Newport Bridge seven million dollars ($7,000,000) aggregate principal amount of bonds of the authority consisting of (1) state guaranteed bonds of the authority in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) and designated Newport Bridge bonds  Guaranteed by the state, and (2) with the approval of the governor, revenue bonds of the authority in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) and designated Newport Bridge revenue bonds. The state guaranteed bonds and revenue bonds shall be in addition to the bonds of the authority authorized pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this chapter, and the issuance thereof and the maturities and other details thereof (including the approval of the maturities of the state guaranteed bonds by the general treasurer) shall be governed by the provisions of § 24-12-40B insofar as § 24-12-40B may be applicable and consistent with the provisions of this section. The state guaranteed bonds and revenue bonds shall be treated, respectively, as state guaranteed bonds and revenue bonds issued pursuant to § 24-12-40B for the purposes of deposits to the credit of and payments from the special funds established pursuant thereto; provided, however that the proceeds of the additional state guaranteed bonds shall be deposited to the credit of a special bond reserve fund to be held by the general treasurer and applied (together with any investment income therefrom), first, to the reimbursement of the state for all payments theretofore made by the state for interest due on outstanding Newport Bridge bonds  Guaranteed by the state of the authority pursuant to the guaranty of the state endorsed on the bonds, and second, to the payment, pursuant to the guaranty, of interest becoming due on Newport Bridge bonds  Guaranteed by the state of the authority, including the additional state guaranteed bonds issued under the provisions of this section. The authority is further authorized, subject to the approval of the general treasurer, to provide by resolution for the issuance of bonds of the authority for the purpose of refunding any of the additional state guaranteed bonds. The state hereby guarantees the payment of the principal of and the interest on all the additional state guaranteed bonds, including any bonds issued to refund the bonds, issued under the provisions of this section as the bonds respectively become due and payable, and the full faith and credit of the state is hereby pledged for the payment, and a statement to that effect shall be endorsed on the bonds by the general treasurer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-6 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-6
§ 24-8-6. Authority for sidewalks and curbs.
Status: in_force

The director of transportation shall have the power and authority to make, lay in and upon, and construct sidewalks, including curbs, adjacent to and along either or any one side or both sides of any state road, now constructed, in the process of construction, or to be constructed, which in his or her opinion and judgment require sidewalks and curbs for pedestrian travel.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-8 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-8
§ 24-12-8. Expenses limited to funds provided.
Status: in_force

All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter shall be payable solely from funds provided under the provisions of this chapter and no liability or obligation shall be incurred by the authority under this chapter beyond the extent to which moneys shall have been provided under the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-4
§ 24-8-4. Improvement, reconstruction, or widening of roads  Widening at town expense.
Status: in_force

The director of transportation shall have the power and authority to improve, rebuild, and reconstruct any existing state highway in accordance with this section, if the improvement, rebuilding, and reconstruction will facilitate the free and easy movement of vehicle traffic and help to increase the safety of the state highways. The director of transportation in carrying out all the construction and improvement shall avoid as far as possible the creation of sharp angles, turns or grades. Any city or town desiring to have a highway constructed or improved to a greater width than the width determined upon by the director of transportation may agree in writing with the director of transportation for such additional width as the city or town may desire; provided, the entire expense of the additional width shall be paid by the city or town to the general treasurer, and be credited to the amount available for use by the director of transportation for the purpose of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-18-7 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-18 / Section 24-18-7
§ 24-18-7. Procedure for project approval.
Status: in_force

(a) By September 1, 2013, the department shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing the project evaluation criteria and the process through which a city or town may submit an infrastructure plan. By December 31, 2013, the agency shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this chapter which may include, without limitation, forms for financial assistance applications, loan agreements, and other instruments. All rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter shall be promulgated in accordance with the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.

(b) Cities and towns shall submit infrastructure plans to the department in accordance with the departments rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The department shall evaluate all submitted infrastructure plans and, in accordance with the project evaluation criteria, identify all eligible projects, and after a public hearing, the department shall finalize and provide the agency and statewide planning with a project priority list. The agency shall not award financial assistance to any project not listed on the project priority list other than as set forth in subsection (f) herein.

(d) The agency shall not obligate more than fifty percent (50%) of available funding in any calendar year to any one city or town unless there are no other eligible projects on the project priority list.

(e) Upon issuance of the project priority list, the agency shall award financial assistance to cities and towns for approved projects. The agency may decline to award financial assistance to an approved project that the agency determines will have a substantial adverse effect on the interests of holders of bonds or other indebtedness of the agency or the interests of other participants in the financial assistance program, or for good and sufficient cause affecting the finances of the agency. All financial assistance shall be made pursuant to a loan agreement between the agency and the city or town, acting by and through the officer or officers, board, committee, or other body authorized by law, or otherwise its chief executive officer, according to terms and conditions as determined by the agency, and each loan shall be evidenced and secured by the issue to the agency of city or town obligations in fully marketable form in principal amount, bearing interest at the rate or rates specified in the applicable loan agreement, and shall otherwise bear such terms and conditions as authorized by this chapter and/or the loan agreement.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the agency may provide financial assistance for an approved project without the necessity of the approved project being listed on a project priority list if the financial assistance for the approved project is to provide match to other state funding for the approved project.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-14-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-14 / Section 24-14-4
§ 24-14-4. Junkyards prohibited.
Status: in_force

No person, firm, corporation or association shall establish, operate or maintain a junkyard, any portion of which is within one thousand feet (1000²) of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of any interstate or primary highway, except the following:

(1) Those which are screened by natural objects, plantings, fences, or other appropriate means so as not to be visible from the main traveled way of the system, or otherwise removed from sight.

(2) Those located within areas which are zoned for industrial use under authority of law.

(3) Those located within unzoned industrial areas, which areas shall be determined from actual land uses and defined by regulations to be promulgated by the director of transportation.

(4) Those which are not visible from the main traveled way of the system.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-30 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-30
§ 24-3-30. Payment of damages  Action for recovery.
Status: in_force

The town in which the change of grade of a street or highway shall be made shall be liable to any abutting proprietor whose estate therein shall be injured thereby, and the damages therefor, whether agreed on, or appraised, by the town council or by the court, shall be paid by the town treasurer of the town, against whom, if he or she refuse or neglect to pay the damages, an action may be had and maintained for the money by the person to whom the damages is due and payable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-2-7 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-2 / Section 24-2-7
§ 24-2-7. Proceedings and plats as evidence of highway.
Status: in_force

The proceedings before the town council under §§ 24-2-1  24-2-6, insofar as the proceedings shall not have been set aside on appeal as provided in § 24-2-3, with the accompanying plat or duly certified copies thereof, shall forever thereafter be conclusive evidence upon the town and all parties notified, and their privies, as to the existence of the highway in width and length as platted, and prima facie evidence thereof as to all others.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-29 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-29
§ 24-5-29. Failure to determine places for guideposts.
Status: in_force

Every town council which shall, at their meeting held next after the first day of October in any year, neglect or refuse to determine upon proper places at which guideposts shall be erected and maintained, shall be fined five dollars ($5.00) for every month they shall so neglect or refuse.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-24 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-24
§ 24-5-24. Undermining of walls and fences.
Status: in_force

No surveyor of highways shall remove the earth so near to any wall or fence erected upon or without the limits of a highway as to undermine or overthrow the wall or fence, unless the undermining or overthrowing shall be absolutely necessary for the security or convenience of the public; and, in that case, the repairs shall be made under the supervision of the town council, or of some person appointed by them; and the town shall be at the expense of repairing or resetting the wall or fence removed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-1-12 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-1 / Section 24-1-12
§ 24-1-12. Late filing of petition.
Status: in_force

In case any owner of or any person having an estate or interest in real property shall fail to file his or her petition as provided in § 24-1-8, the superior court for the county in which the real property is situated, in its discretion, may permit the filing of the petition within one year subsequent to the year following the time of the deposit in the superior court of the sum of money estimated to be just compensation for the property taken; provided, the person shall have had no actual knowledge of the taking of the land in season to file the petition; and provided, no other person or persons claiming to own the real property or estate or interest therein shall have been paid the value thereof; and provided, no judgment has been rendered against the city or town for the payment of the value to any other person or persons claiming to own the real estate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-1.2 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-1.2
§ 24-8-1.2. Rhode Island highway system  Establishment.
Status: in_force

There is hereby established a Rhode Island highway system which shall include state roads and municipal roads. The determination of those roads designated as state roads and those designated as municipal roads shall be based upon a functional classification system, as established by the state planning council.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-17-1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-17 / Section 24-17-1
§ 24-17-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the East Bay Bridge System Act of 2012.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-1
§ 24-3-1. Power to mark out, widen or relocate municipal roads.
Status: in_force

Town councils may mark out, relay, widen, straighten, or change the location of the whole of or any part of any municipal road, whether laid out by the state or otherwise, except the highways on both sides of the Woonasquatucket River directed to be laid out by chapter 362 of the Public Laws, passed at the January session of the general assembly in the year 1861; and thereupon like proceedings shall be had in all respects, so far as the same are applicable, including appeals, as are provided in this chapter in case of taking land and ascertaining damages to the owners of lands taken in laying out or in case of the abandonment of highways.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-1-6 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-1 / Section 24-1-6
§ 24-1-6. Publication of notice.
Status: in_force

After the filing of a resolution, description and plat, the city or town council shall cause a copy of the resolution to be published in some newspaper having general circulation in the city or town at least once a week for three (3) successive weeks. The newspaper notice containing the full resolution, description, and plat shall be inserted once in its entirety and thereafter a weekly formal legal notice shall be inserted stating that there was a taking by the city or town with a brief description of the real property and a reference to the original advertisement which contained the full resolution, description, and plat.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-10 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-10
§ 24-3-10. Taking of possession by town  Removal of crops and improvements.
Status: in_force

The town or city, after electing by the town or city council to make the improvements as provided in § 24-3-9, shall become seized of all the land in the report mentioned that shall be required for making the improvements, in trust for use as a public highway. And the town or city may, by the person and at such time as the town council or city council shall order, take possession of the land or any part thereof, without any process of law, and remove all buildings and other impediments as the town council or city council shall order and direct; provided, that the owner of the land shall have the right, within thirty (30) days after the town or city council shall have elected to make the improvements, or within such further time as the town council or city council may grant, to remove all crops, trees, buildings or other improvements thereon, for his or her own use and benefit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-1-11 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-1 / Section 24-1-11
§ 24-1-11. Representation of infants and incompetents.
Status: in_force

If any real property or any estate or interest therein, in which any infant or other person not capable in law to act in his or her own behalf is interested, is taken under the provisions of this chapter, the superior court, upon the filing therein of a petition by or in behalf of the infant or person or by the city or town council, may appoint a guardian ad litem for the infant or other person. Guardians may, with the advice and consent of the superior court, and upon such terms as the superior court may prescribe, release to the city or town all claims for damages for the land of the infant or other person or for any estate or interest therein. Any lawfully appointed, qualified and acting guardian or other fiduciary of the estate of the infant or other person, with the approval of the court of probate within this state having jurisdiction to authorize the sale of lands and properties within this state of the infant or other person, may before the filing of a petition, agree with the city or town council upon the amount of damages suffered by the infant or other person for any taking of his or her real property or of his or her interest or estate therein, and may, upon receiving such amount, release to the city or town all claims for damages for the infant or other person for the taking.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-9-3 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-9 / Section 24-9-3
§ 24-9-3. Emergency expenditures.
Status: in_force

Whenever any extreme climatic phenomena or other unpredictable emergency shall in the considered judgment of the director of transportation, impose upon the department of transportation extraordinary duties relating to maintenance of roads or related matters, not foreseeable by the director at the time of submitting budget estimates for the department, the director may meet such emergencies by employing for the duration of the emergencies additional personnel, and by hiring or otherwise acquiring all necessary appliances and equipment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-7-5 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-7 / Section 24-7-5
§ 24-7-5. Appeal of assessment.
Status: in_force

Whenever any abutting landowner shall deem himself or herself aggrieved by the assessment of any tax for the making and laying of any sidewalk, as provided in § 24-7-4, the landowner may appeal therefrom, according to provisions of law with reference to appeals from town councils.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-27 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-27
§ 24-12-27. Amount of tolls.
Status: in_force

Tolls shall be so fixed and adjusted in respect of the aggregate of tolls from the project or projects or the portion or portions thereof in connection with which bonds shall have been issued under the provisions of this chapter as to provide a fund sufficient with other revenues, if any, to pay (1) the cost of maintaining, repairing, and operating the project or projects or portion or portions thereof and (2) the principal of and the interest on the bonds as the principal and interest shall become due and payable, and to create reserves for such purposes; provided, however, that the authority shall establish commutation rates for traffic over the Mount Hope Bridge by all vehicles, which rates shall not be in excess of the commutation rates in effect for vehicles on January 1, 1960. Tolls shall not be subject to supervision or regulation by any commission, board, bureau or agency of the state or of any municipality or other political subdivision of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-45 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-45
§ 24-8-45. Steel plate use.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of the department of transportation shall establish rules and regulations for the use of steel plates on roadway surfaces used to protect an excavation. At a minimum, the rules and regulations shall consider steel plates designed for the safety of vehicles and pedestrians to include:

(1) Steel plates shall withstand traffic loading without movement;

(2) When two (2) or more steel plates are used, the plates shall be welded in a manner to eliminate vertical movement;

(3) All steel plates shall be marked with the utility or contractor name and contact information;

(4) Steel plates shall be installed to extend a minimum of eighteen inches (18³) beyond the edge of the excavation;

(5) Temporary paving with a cold asphalt mix or installation of other suitably manufactured equipment shall be used to feather the edges of the plate to form a wedged taper to cover the edges of the steel plate;

(6) Each corner of the steel plate shall be marked with durable and highly reflective white pavement marking tape no less than four inches (4³) in width;

(7) The exposed surface area of the steel plate shall be slip resistant when required by the DPW director or other appropriate municipal approval authority; and

(8) All signage advising motorists of the steel plate shall be in compliance with the current edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

(b) The director of the department of transportation may authorize use of steel plates on roadway surfaces that fail to comply with subsection (a) in an emergency situation or for public safety purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-14-1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-14 / Section 24-14-1
§ 24-14-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This act may be cited as the Junkyard Control Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-1-10 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-1 / Section 24-1-10
§ 24-1-10. Consolidation of petitions.
Status: in_force

In case two (2) or more petitioners make claim to the same real property, or to any estate or interest therein, or to different estates or interests in the same real property, the court shall, upon motion, consolidate their several petitions for trial at the same time, and may frame all necessary issues for the trial thereof.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-2-10 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-2 / Section 24-2-10
§ 24-2-10. Liability of town for maintenance of highways.
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in § 24-2-9 shall be so construed as to render any town liable for the mending and repairing of any highway, unless the highway shall have been declared to be a public highway by the town council of the town wherein it lies.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-4-4 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-4 / Section 24-4-4
§ 24-4-4. Preparation and forwarding of federal forms.
Status: in_force

Whenever the director of transportation shall give his or her approval to any proposed project, the director shall forthwith cause to be prepared the appropriate forms in a manner satisfactory to the federal highway administration. The forms when so prepared shall be forwarded to the federal highway administrator for disposition as provided by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-12 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-12
§ 24-12-12. Taking of possession of lands.
Status: in_force

Upon the filing of the copy of the resolution, plat, and statement in the land evidence records of the city or town, the filing in the superior court, of the statement, and the depositing in the superior court, to the use of the persons entitled thereto, of such sum as the court shall determine to be amply sufficient to satisfy the claims of all persons interested in the land (and the court may, in its discretion, take evidence on the question to determine the sum to be deposited), title to the land, or interest therein, shall vest in the authority in fee simple absolute and the authority thereupon may take possession of the land, or interest therein.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-15-3 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-15 / Section 24-15-3
§ 24-15-3. Designation as a scenic highway.
Status: in_force

The director, or the governing body of any municipality as to any highway (including a state highway) within its borders, may apply to the board for the designation of a highway as a scenic highway. A municipality making application for a state highway shall notify the director of the Rhode Island department of transportation. The director shall have thirty (30) days to comment on the application. After holding a public hearing, the board shall approve or deny the application for designation of a highway as a scenic highway submitted under this section. Provided, however, that prior to any approval or denial of any application, the applicant shall notify the owners of the properties fronting the application area that an application has been filed and the board shall provide the fronting property owners with an opportunity to attend a public hearing in the municipality subject to the application, and in the Town of Westerly no application for designation of a highway or road, or portion of a highway or road, shall be approved unless the owners of a majority of the lineal lot frontage abutting the highway or road agree to the designation by filing with the director or governing municipal body, within sixty (60) days immediately following the application, a written statement or statements agreeing to the designation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-9-2 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-9 / Section 24-9-2
§ 24-9-2. Emergency account established.
Status: in_force

There is hereby established a special account to be known as the storm emergency account. The governor may from time to time in the event of any emergency, within the purview of this chapter, allocate funds to the account, which shall be available for expenditure in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-34 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-34
§ 24-12-34. Refunding bonds.
Status: in_force

The authority is hereby authorized to provide for the issuance of revenue refunding bonds of the authority for the purpose of refunding any bonds then outstanding which shall have been issued under the provisions of this chapter, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon or any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of redemption of the bonds, the cost of issuing the refunding bonds and, if deemed advisable by the authority, for the additional purpose of constructing improvements, extensions or enlargements of the project in connection with which the bonds to be refunded shall have been issued. The authority is further authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of its revenue bonds for the combined purpose of (1) refunding any bonds then outstanding which shall have been issued under the provisions of this chapter, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon and any interest accrued on or to accrue to the date of redemption of the bonds, and (2) paying all or any part of the cost of any additional project, and, if deemed advisable by the authority, the cost of any improvements, extensions, or enlargements. Pending the application of the proceeds of the revenue refunding bonds, with any other available funds, to the payment of the principal, accrued interest and premium of the bonds being refunded and, if so provided or permitted in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the revenue refunding bonds or in the trust agreement securing the bonds, to the payment of any interest on the refunding bonds, the authority may invest the proceeds in direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and the interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America which shall mature, or which shall be subject to redemption by the holder thereof at the option of the holder, not later than the respective dates when the proceeds, together with the interest accruing thereon, will be required for the purposes intended or, in lieu of the investments, the authority may place all or part of the proceeds in interest bearing time deposits or make other similar arrangements with regard thereto which will assure that the proceeds, together with the interest accruing thereon, will be available when required for the purposes intended. The issuance of the bonds, the maturities and other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof, and the rights, duties, and obligations of the authority in respect of the bonds shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter insofar as this chapter may be applicable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-14 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-14
§ 24-5-14. Snow and ice removal.
Status: in_force

The several towns shall provide by ordinance in a manner and under such penalties as they may deem expedient, for removing snow from the public highways so as to render the public highways passable with teams, sleds, and sleighs; but nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as to render any town or city liable for any injury to person or property caused by snow or ice obstructing any or any part of the highways therein, unless notice in writing of the existence of the particular obstruction shall have been given to the surveyor of highways within whose district the obstruction exists, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the injury was caused, and the town or surveyor shall not thereupon within twenty-four (24) hours of notification have commenced the removal of the obstruction, or caused any sidewalk which may have been obstructed by ice to be rendered passable, by spreading ashes or other like substances thereon. Whenever any highway is blocked up or encumbered with snow, the surveyor shall cause so much thereof to be removed or trod down as to render the highway passable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-1.1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-1.1
§ 24-8-1.1. Rhode Island highway system  Purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of §§ 24-8-1.1  24-8-1.7 is to establish a pavement management program to better maintain the states highways in a safe and serviceable condition. In order to fairly distribute funds for a pavement management program, an equitable system to determine jurisdiction on highways is needed. The principles of highway functional classification, or the importance of roads in terms of the type of travel service provided, shall be used to determine jurisdiction. Roads serving longer-distance travel, connecting city and town centers and major traffic generators shall be the states responsibility. Roads serving local travel shall be under city or town jurisdiction.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-28 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-28
§ 24-3-28. Appeal of appraisals and assessments.
Status: in_force

Every person having been notified as provided in § 24-3-23, and having objected in writing to the action of the town council, on or before the day specified in the notice, who shall be aggrieved by any appraisal of damages made by any town council under the provisions of § 24-3-27, or who shall be aggrieved by the assessment of any curbstone tax ordered as is provided in § 24-3-25, may appeal therefrom according to the provisions of law with reference to appeals from town councils.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-10-19 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-10 / Section 24-10-19
§ 24-10-19. Advertising motor vehicles for sale on state highways.
Status: in_force

Any person who parks a motor vehicle in a designated parking area provided by the state for a period in excess of twelve (12) hours, for the purpose of advertising the vehicle for sale shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-20 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-20
§ 24-3-20. Council action on commissioners report  Recording.
Status: in_force

The town council shall, after hearing the persons appearing to be heard, proceed to reject, confirm, or recommit the report of the commissioners in whole or in part, to the same or new commissioners, to be appointed by the town council for that purpose, who shall revise the report and make a return thereof without delay to the town council; whereupon the town council shall reject or confirm, or again recommit the report in the manner as provided in § 24-3-11, as right and justice shall require. And if the report shall be confirmed, the town council shall cause the report, together with the profile plat accompanying the report, to be recorded.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-18 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-18
§ 24-12-18. Bonds.
Status: in_force

(a) Issuance and sale of revenue bonds. The authority is hereby authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance, at one time or in series from time to time, of revenue bonds of the authority for the purpose of paying all or a part of the cost of any one or more projects, the construction, reconstruction, renovation, acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation or management of which is authorized by this chapter, and making provision for working capital and a debt service reserve. The principal of and the interest on the bonds shall be payable solely from the funds herein provided for the payment. The bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall bear interest at such rate or rates per annum, shall mature at such time or times not exceeding fifty (50) years from their date or dates, as may be determined by the authority, and may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the authority, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the authority prior to the issuance of the bonds. The authority may sell such bonds in such manner, either at public or private sale, and for such price, as it may determine to be for the best interests of the authority.

(b) Form and execution of all bonds. The authority shall determine the form and the manner of execution of all bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, including any interest coupons to be attached thereto, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of the principal and interest, which may be at any bank or trust company within or without the state. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be an officer before the delivery of the bonds, the signature or the facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if the officer had remained in office until the delivery, and any bond may bear the facsimile signature of, or may be signed by, the persons as at the actual time of the execution of the bond shall be the proper officers to sign the bond although at the date of the bond the persons may not have been the officers. The bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, and in certificated or book entry only form as the authority may determine, and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone and also as to both principal and interest, for the reconversion into coupon bonds of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest, and for the interchange of registered and coupon bonds.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-51.1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-12 / Section 24-12-51.1
§ 24-12-51.1. Former Jamestown Verrazano Bridge  Public fishing area.
Status: in_force

(a) The directors of the department of transportation and department of environmental management are hereby authorized and directed to retain the state-owned land adjacent to the former Jamestown Bridge on the North Kingstown side of the former bridge for use as a public parking area and public shore access site. The land so retained shall be open to the general public at no charge, and shall be made accessible to persons with disabilities, and shall provide the public with free and unfettered access to the shore and/or to any structure built over the water, in accordance with subsection (b) below.

(b) The directors of the department of transportation and department of environmental management are hereby authorized and directed to give due consideration to further development of the public shore access site provided for in this section, particularly with regard to recreational fishing opportunities. Such consideration shall include, but not be limited to, the potential establishment of a public fishing pier, boat access, and/or park. In pursuing further development of the site, the directors shall seek to maximize public use and enjoyment of the site, particularly with regard to fishing access. Any structures or facilities so developed shall be open to the general public at no charge and shall be made accessible to persons with disabilities.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any general or public law, rule or regulation, the state of Rhode Island shall be responsible for maintenance and security of the site described in this section.

(d) Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the directors of the department of transportation and the department of environmental management are hereby authorized to limit public access to the site described in this section, between sunset and sunrise.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-4.2 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-4.2
§ 24-8-4.2. Use of truck mounted attenuator.
Status: in_force

(a) At any and all times during which construction and/or maintenance work is being undertaken on any state highway and/or interstate connector, under the terms of either the highway or bridge contract in which an attenuator truck is required under federal and/or Rhode Island department of transportation guidelines, no attenuator truck shall be left unattended while work is actively being performed. Further, at all times while that work is actively being performed, an attenuator truck shall be deployed on the worksite. A minimum of one attenuator truck shall be equipped with a first-aid kit and two (2) fire extinguishers. The operator of the attenuator truck shall have completed appropriate training and be certified in both first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A copy of both first aid and CPR certifications shall be kept with the truck driver.

(b) The penalty for failure to comply with this section shall be as set forth in § 31-27-22.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-1.6 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-1.6
§ 24-8-1.6. Review.
Status: in_force

The initial review of the functional classification system for jurisdictional purposes shall be completed by May 15, 1988. A review of this functional classification system shall take place every ten (10) years. The review shall come under the supervision and authority of the state planning council. Any amendment made to the functional classification system within the ten (10) year period, shall not change the jurisdictional responsibilities for maintenance of those roads affected by the modification.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-5-30 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-5 / Section 24-5-30
§ 24-5-30. Erection of guideposts  Specifications.
Status: in_force

The town councils shall cause to be erected and maintained, at the several corners and angles as determined pursuant to § 24-5-28, substantial posts not less than eight feet (8²) high, upon the upper end of which shall be placed a board upon which shall be plainly and legibly painted the name of the next town, with the other noted town or place as may be judged most expedient for the direction of travelers, to which each of the roads may lead, together with the number of miles to the next town; and also the figure of a hand, with the forefinger thereof pointing toward the town or place to which the road may lead.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-7-11 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-7 / Section 24-7-11
§ 24-7-11. William J. George Steps.
Status: in_force

The Ocean Road steps at Matunuck Point in the town of South Kingstown shall be named and known as the William J. George Steps.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-15-1 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-15 / Section 24-15-1
§ 24-15-1. Purpose.
Status: in_force

In order to create and preserve rustic and scenic highways for vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian travel in unhurried, quiet, and leisurely enjoyment; to protect and preserve recreational driving, culture, beauty, trees, vegetation, shoreline, and wildlife by establishing protective standards of scenic highway design, speed, maintenance, and identification, which will promote a continuous system of scenic highways and scenic easements for the public health and welfare; a state system of scenic highways is created.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-24 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-24
§ 24-3-24. Establishment and curbing of sidewalks.
Status: in_force

Whenever any highway is graded, or the grade thereof is changed, the town council may order sidewalks therein to be established, and the sidewalks to be curbed, upon like notice to the abutting proprietors of lands as provided in § 24-3-23.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-3-15 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-3 / Section 24-3-15
§ 24-3-15. Compensation and expenses of commissioners.
Status: in_force

The commissioners shall be entitled to receive for their services a reasonable compensation, to be allowed by the town council or city council; and all sums reasonably expended for maps, plats, and clerk hire and other necessary expenses, shall be paid by the town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-24 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-24
§ 24-8-24. Bridges incorporated into state system  Responsibility for maintenance.
Status: in_force

All bridges so repaired, constructed, or reconstructed pursuant to the provisions set forth in this chapter shall, upon the completion of the construction, reparation or reconstruction, be and become a part of the state highway system, and shall henceforth be repaired, maintained, and reconstructed by the state under the supervision of the director of transportation, except that where any of the bridges are used by any public utility, then the public utility shall pay in the manner provided by § 24-8-23 toward the maintenance, reparation, and reconstruction of the bridge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-8-38 — RI Code / Title 24 / Chapter 24-8 / Section 24-8-38
§ 24-8-38. Bristol road striping.
Status: in_force

The state shall on or before the twenty-seventh day of June of each year cause the center yellow lines in the town of Bristol to be painted red, white, and blue beginning on Hope Street at the intersection of Chestnut Street continuing south on Hope Street to the intersection of High Street and then continuing north on High Street to the intersection of State Street at which point the line shall end.