reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.23 — Destruction Of Noxious Weeds.

160.23
MS 1953 [Repealed, 1957 c 943 s 72]
160.23 DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS WEEDS.
Road authorities, including road authorities of cities shall cause all noxious weeds on their respective highways and streets to be cut down or otherwise destroyed or eradicated as often as may be necessary to prevent the ripening or scattering of seed and other propagating parts of such weeds.
History:
1959 c 500 art 1 s 23; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.232 — Mowing Ditches Outside Cities.

160.232 MOWING DITCHES OUTSIDE CITIES.
(a) To provide enhanced roadside habitat for nesting birds and other small wildlife, road authorities may not mow or till the right-of-way of a highway located outside of a home rule charter or statutory city except as allowed in this section and section 160.23.
(b) On any highway, the first eight feet away from the road surface, or shoulder if one exists, may be mowed at any time.
(c) An entire right-of-way may be mowed after July 31. From August 31 to the following July 31, the entire right-of-way may only be mowed if necessary for safety reasons, but may not be mowed to a height of less than 12 inches.
(d) A right-of-way may be mowed as necessary to maintain sight distance for safety and may be mowed at other times under rules of the commissioner, or by ordinance of a local road authority not conflicting with the rules of the commissioner.
(e) A right-of-way may be mowed, burned, or tilled to prepare the right-of-way for the establishment of permanent vegetative cover or for prairie vegetation management.
(f) When feasible, road authorities are encouraged to utilize low maintenance, native vegetation that reduces the need to mow, provides wildlife habitat, and maintains public safety.
(g) The commissioner of natural resources shall cooperate with the commissioner of transportation to provide enhanced roadside habitat for nesting birds and other small wildlife.
History:
1985 c 127 s 2; 1986 c 398 art 27 s 1; 1989 c 179 s 1; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 2 s 137
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.2325 — Highways For Habitat Program.

160.2325 HIGHWAYS FOR HABITAT PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1.
Definitions.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.
(b) "Integrated roadside vegetation management" means an approach to right-of-way maintenance that combines a variety of techniques based on sound ecological principles, which establish and maintain safe, healthy, and functional roadsides. Integrated roadside vegetation management includes but is not limited to judicious use of herbicides, spot mowing, biological control, prescribed burning, mechanical tree and brush removal, erosion prevention and treatment, and prevention and treatment of other right-of-way disturbances.
(c) "Program" means the highways for habitat program established in this section.
Subd. 2.
Program establishment.
The commissioner must establish a highways for habitat program to enhance roadsides with pollinator and other wildlife habitat and vegetative buffers.
Subd. 3.
Management standards.
(a) The commissioner, in consultation with native habitat biologists and ecologists, must develop standards and best management practices for integrated roadside vegetation management under the program.
(b) The standards and best management practices must, to the extent practicable, include:
(1) guidance on seed and vegetation selection based on the Board of Water and Soil Resources' native vegetation establishment and enhancement guidelines;
(2) requirements for roadside vegetation management protocols that avoid the use of pollinator lethal insecticides as defined under section 18H.02, subdivision 28a;
(3) practices that are designed to avoid habitat destruction and protect nesting birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, except as necessary to control noxious weeds as provided under section 160.23; and
(4) identification of appropriate right-of-way tracts for wildflower and native habitat establishment.
Subd. 4.
Legislative report.
(a) By January 15 of each odd-numbered year, the commissioner must submit a performance report on the program to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. At a minimum, the report must include:
(1) information that details the department's progress on implementing the highways for habitat program;
(2) a fiscal review that identifies expenditures under the program; and
(3) an investment plan for each district of the department for the next biennium.
(b) The performance report must be reviewed by the department's chief engineer.
(c) This subdivision expires December 31, 2033.
History:
2023 c 68 art 4 s 14
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.235 — Traffic Signal Timing Optimization.

160.235 TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING OPTIMIZATION.
(a) A road authority that has ownership of a traffic signal on a principal arterial roadway or roadway with an average daily traffic greater than 20,000 vehicles per day must complete an inventory of all traffic signals under its ownership and submit it to the Department of Transportation district engineer. The inventory must include age of all signals, control equipment, communications, detection type, timing plans in operation, and date of last timing optimization.
(b) Based on the information from the inventory, a road authority subject to paragraph (a) must develop and implement a traffic signal system optimization plan, which must include re-evaluation of traffic signal timing at least once every five years. Each road authority with a traffic signal optimization plan must annually certify compliance with its plan and submit the certification as part of its annual maintenance expenditure report.
(c) Upon request of a local road authority, the commissioner shall provide reasonable technical assistance to meet the requirements under this section.
History:
2015 c 75 art 2 s 6
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.24 — Logging Railroads Across Highways.

160.24
MS 1953 [Repealed, 1957 c 943 s 72]
160.24 LOGGING RAILROADS ACROSS HIGHWAYS.
Subdivision 1.
Permission to locate.
The road authorities may grant to the owner of any logging railroad permission to locate, construct, and maintain a logging railroad across any highway under their jurisdiction.
Subd. 2.
Contents of permit.
The permit shall specify the place at which such railroad shall cross the highway, the time during which it may be maintained thereon, which shall in no case exceed five years, the manner of its construction and maintenance, and the measures that shall be taken for the protection of the highways and of the public using the highways.
Subd. 3.
Control by road authority.
The construction and maintenance of the railroad crossing shall be under the supervision and control of the road authority granting the permit.
Subd. 4.
Removal from highway.
The person to whom the permit is granted shall, at the expiration of the time therein limited or at such earlier time as the crossing is no longer necessary, remove the railroad therefrom and restore the highway to such condition as the authority granting the permit shall require.
Subd. 5.
[Repealed, 1991 c 326 s 27]
History:
1959 c 500 art 1 s 24
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.25 — Tunnels Under Highways.

160.25
MS 1953 [Repealed, 1957 c 943 s 72]
160.25 TUNNELS UNDER HIGHWAYS.
Subdivision 1.
Permit to construct.
The road authorities may permit any owner or lessee of land abutting both sides of a highway to tunnel under the highway for such purposes as the owner or lessee deems desirable in utilizing the lands. The tunnel and appurtenances thereto shall be constructed and maintained so as not to endanger or unduly inconvenience the public in the use of the highway and, except as hereinafter provided, shall be constructed by and at the expense of the owner or lessee.
Subd. 2.
Contents of permit.
The permit shall specify the location, size, kind, design, manner of construction of the tunnel, and such safeguards for the traveling public that the road authority deems necessary. All tunnels, bridges, and appurtenances thereto shall be constructed in accordance with the permit.
Subd. 3.
Tunnel maintained by road authority.
Any tunnel constructed as provided in this section under any highway shall be maintained by the road authority having jurisdiction over the highway. A town board may charge the costs of maintenance of the tunnel to the users if the users and the town board agree on the amount to be charged.
Subd. 4.
Agreements for construction and maintenance.
When any road authority determines that the construction of such tunnel is necessary for the safety and convenience of public travel, it may construct and maintain the tunnel, or it may enter into agreements with the abutting landowners for the equitable division of the costs of the construction.
History:
1959 c 500 art 1 s 25; 1985 c 169 s 2; 1Sp1985 c 16 art 2 s 9; 1986 c 444
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.26 — Moving Buildings Over Highways.

160.26
MS 1953 [Repealed, 1957 c 943 s 72]
160.26 MOVING BUILDINGS OVER HIGHWAYS.
Subdivision 1.
Moved without unnecessary interference.
Buildings or structures moved or caused to be moved upon, across, or along any road or street, including city streets, shall be moved in such manner as not to unnecessarily interfere with, damage, or destroy any bridges, trees, hedges, fences, telephone or electric power poles, wires, cables, or any appurtenance upon the road or street.
Subd. 2.
Permit requirement, authority.
(a) Buildings or structures together with the vehicle or vehicles moving same of a size or weight exceeding the maximums specified in chapter 169 and acts amendatory thereto shall not be moved or caused to be moved upon, across, or along any road or street without first obtaining a written permit from the road authority including road authorities of cities having supervision over such road or street. The county board as to highways under its jurisdiction may authorize the county engineer to issue the permits.
(b) When a permit is granted by the commissioner for the moving of buildings or structures exclusively on trunk highways no other permit shall be required from any political subdivision of the state for the moving of such buildings or structures on such trunk highways. When a permit is granted by the county board or county engineer for the moving of buildings or structures exclusively on highways under the jurisdiction of the county board no other permit shall be required from any political subdivision for moving such buildings or structures on such county highways.
Subd. 3.
[Repealed, 1983 c 293 s 115]
Subd. 4.
Cost of removing fences, poles.
No person, firm, or corporation shall be required to displace or temporarily remove the fences, poles, wires, cables, or other appurtenances of that person, firm, or corporation to permit the moving of any building or structure upon, along, or across the road or street, nor shall guard rails and appurtenances placed upon the road or street be displaced or moved for like reason until the reasonable cost of the displacement, removal, and replacement shall have been paid or tendered.
Subd. 5.
Not to apply to road-building or maintenance equipment.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to road-building or maintenance equipment while operating on a road or street under construction or maintenance.
History:
1959 c 500 art 1 s 26; 1961 c 748 s 1; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1986 c 444
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.264 — Replacing Bikeways And Pedestrian Ways.

160.264 REPLACING BIKEWAYS AND PEDESTRIAN WAYS.
Whenever an existing bikeway, pedestrian way, or roadway used by bicycles or pedestrians or the sole access to such is destroyed by any new, reconstructed, or relocated federal, state, or local highway, the road authority responsible shall replace the destroyed facility or access with a comparable facility or access. Replacement is not required where it would be contrary to public safety or when sparsity of population, other available ways or other factors indicate an absence of need for such facility or access.
History:
1976 c 199 s 16; 1987 c 255 s 5
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.2715 — Right-of-way Use; Misdemeanors.

160.2715 RIGHT-OF-WAY USE; MISDEMEANORS.
(a) Except for the actions of the road authorities, their agents, employees, contractors, and utilities in carrying out their duties imposed by law or contract, and except as herein provided, it shall be unlawful to:
(1) obstruct any highway or deposit snow or ice thereon;
(2) plow or perform any other detrimental operation within the road right-of-way except in the preparation of the land for planting permanent vegetative cover or as authorized under section 160.232;
(3) erect a fence on the right-of-way of a trunk highway, county state-aid highway, county highway, or town road, except to erect a lane fence to the ends of a livestock pass;
(4) erect or reconstruct driveway headwalls in or on the right-of-way of a highway or road, except as may be allowed by permit from the road authority imposing reasonable regulations as are necessary to prevent interference with the construction, maintenance, and safe use of the highway or road and its appurtenances;
(5) dig any holes in any highway, except to locate markers placed to identify sectional corner positions and private boundary corners;
(6) remove any earth, gravel, or rock from any highway;
(7) obstruct any ditch draining any highway or drain any noisome materials into any ditch;
(8) place or maintain any building or structure within the limits of any highway;
(9) place or maintain any advertisement within the limits of any highway, except as provided in section 160.27, subdivision 7;
(10) paint, print, place, or affix any advertisement or any object within the limits of any highway, except as provided in section 160.27, subdivision 7;
(11) deface, mar, damage, or tamper with any structure, work, material, equipment, tools, signs, markers, signals, paving, guardrails, drains, or any other highway appurtenance on or along any highway;
(12) remove, injure, displace, or destroy right-of-way markers, or reference or witness monuments, or markers placed to preserve section or quarter-section corners;
(13) improperly place or fail to place warning signs and detour signs as provided by law;
(14) drive over, through, or around any barricade, fence, or obstruction erected for the purpose of preventing traffic from passing over a portion of a highway closed to public travel or to remove, deface, or damage any such barricade, fence, or obstruction.
(b) Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
History:
1959 c 500 art 1 s 27; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1980 c 435 s 1; 1980 c 533 s 2; 1986 c 398 art 27 s 2; 1986 c 435 s 1; 1989 c 179 s 2; 1995 c 23 s 1; 1998 c 283 s 1; 2004 c 295 art 2 s 15
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.272 — Safety Rest Area And Travel Information Center Leases.

160.272 SAFETY REST AREA AND TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTER LEASES.
Subdivision 1.
Lease agreements.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision 3, and notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner may enter into lease agreements through negotiations with public or not-for-profit entities or through best value, as defined in section 16C.02, subdivision 4, with private entities relating to the use of safety rest areas and travel information centers. For purposes of this section, "private entity" means a chamber of commerce, a tourist and visitors bureau, or other organization that exists to promote tourism and economic development.
(b) A lease under this subdivision may:
(1) with the approval of the commissioner of administration, prescribe a lease term length of up to 20 years, with options for renewal;
(2) allow the lessee to operate a safety rest area facility in whole or in part;
(3) allow the lessee to offer for sale products or services under section 160.2725; and
(4) allow the lessee to add leasehold improvements to the site after approval by the commissioner.
(c) A lease agreement for a safety rest area is subject to section 160.273 regarding vending at safety rest areas.
(d) A lease agreement must include terms that promote and encourage the employment of needy elderly persons according to section 160.282.
(e) The commissioner may publicly acknowledge the lessee and may erect signs adjacent to the main travel lanes of a highway acknowledging the lessee. Acknowledgment on the main line may consist of placement of up to one sign for each direction of traffic served. The placement of signs shall only be allowed (1) as approved through the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices process for experimentation, (2) in accordance with federal standards and policies, and (3) so that no sign exceeds 100 square feet. No more than three acknowledgment signs or displays may be placed at any one rest area, in addition to the main-line signs.
Subd. 2.
Revenues deposited.
The commissioner shall deposit revenues from leases authorized under this section into the safety rest area account established in section 160.2745.
Subd. 3.
Application to other law.
Nothing in this section affects existing contracts under section 248.07 or their renewal.
History:
2004 c 295 art 2 s 2,15
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.2721 — Commercial Vehicle Drivers At Rest Areas.

160.2721 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVERS AT REST AREAS.
(a) The commissioner shall allow a commercial motor vehicle operator who is subject to hours of service regulations under Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, part 395, to stop and park continuously, for a period of up to ten hours as necessary to comply with the hours of service regulations, at any Department of Transportation safety rest area or travel information center that has parking stalls designed to accommodate a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 16.
(b) Any clause or provision in a lease or other agreement for the operation of a Department of Transportation safety rest area or travel information center that purports to limit the requirements under paragraph (a) is void and without effect.
History:
2008 c 287 art 1 s 6
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.2725 — Sales At Safety Rest Areas.

160.2725 SALES AT SAFETY REST AREAS.
Subdivision 1.
Sales authorized.
Notwithstanding section 160.08, the commissioner may sell travel and tourism-related publications and maps and travel and tourism-related merchandise and services. The commissioner may rent or sell items for the convenience of persons using safety rest areas, including local attraction tickets, and permits and licenses issued by units of government. Notwithstanding section 16A.1285, the commissioner of transportation may collect a service fee for the sale of lottery tickets, local attraction tickets, and permits and licenses.
Merchandise that competes with vending machine sales authorized under section 160.273 is subject to the provisions of subdivision 5. Food and beverage sales are limited to those items that are sold from vending machines.
Subd. 2.
Advertising.
The commissioner may advertise the availability of a program or item offered under this section.
Subd. 3.
Software sales.
Notwithstanding section 16E.15 or 160.08, the commissioner may sell or license intellectual property and software products or services developed by a government unit or custom-developed by a vendor for a government unit.
Subd. 4.
Revenues deposited.
Money received by the commissioner under this section must be deposited in the safety rest area account established in section 160.2745.
Subd. 5.
Competing merchandise.
The commissioner and the designated state licensing agency authorized under United States Code, title 20, sections 107 to 107e, shall enter into an interagency agreement before rest areas are leased or before nonvending machine sales occur at rest areas. The interagency agreement must identify what constitutes competing merchandise and establish policies and procedures related to the sale of competing merchandise at rest areas.
History:
2004 c 295 art 2 s 3,15; 2005 c 156 art 5 s 23
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.273 — Vending Machines.

160.273 VENDING MACHINES.
Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the commissioner may contract for or authorize the placement of vending machines dispensing food, nonalcoholic beverages, milk, or other items the commissioner deems appropriate and desirable in highway safety rest areas, travel information centers, and weigh stations on marked interstate highways and primary trunk highways. The commissioner shall only place vending machines operated under United States Code, title 20, sections 107 to 107e and as provided in section 248.07.
History:
1967 c 167 s 1; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1984 c 417 s 4; 1988 c 570 s 1; 2004 c 295 art 2 s 10,15
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.2735 — Sponsorship Of Safety Rest Areas.

160.2735 SPONSORSHIP OF SAFETY REST AREAS.
Subdivision 1.
Sponsorship program.
The commissioner may enter into agreements for public or private sponsorship of highway safety rest areas by transportation and tourism-related entities. The commissioner may publicly acknowledge sponsors and may erect signs adjacent to the main travel lanes of a highway acknowledging the sponsors. Acknowledgment on the main line may consist of placement of up to one sign for each direction of traffic served. The placement of signs shall only be allowed (1) as approved through the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices process for experimentation, (2) in accordance with federal standards and policies, and (3) so that no sign exceeds 100 square feet. No more than three acknowledgment signs or displays may be placed at any one rest area, in addition to the main-line signs.
Subd. 2.
Revenue.
The commissioner shall deposit revenue from the sponsorship program to the safety rest area account established in section 160.2745.
Subd. 3.
Prohibition.
The commissioner shall take no action under this section that would result in the loss of federal highway funds or require the payment of highway funds to the federal government.
History:
2004 c 295 art 2 s 4
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.274 — Sale Of Surplus Rest Area Property.

160.274 SALE OF SURPLUS REST AREA PROPERTY.
Subdivision 1.
Reconveyance of land.
The commissioner may reconvey land no longer needed for safety rest area purposes, subject to section 161.44.
Subd. 2.
Proceeds deposited; appropriation.
Proceeds from the sale of real estate and buildings under this section must be paid into the safety rest area account established in section 160.2745 and are appropriated to the commissioner (1) for the actual cost of selling the real estate or buildings, (2) for the fees required to be paid under sections 161.23 and 161.44, and (3) as provided in section 160.2745.
Subd. 3.
Prohibition.
The commissioner shall take no action under this section that would result in the loss of federal highway funds or require the payment of highway funds to the federal government.
History:
2004 c 295 art 2 s 5
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.2745 — Safety Rest Area Account.

160.2745 SAFETY REST AREA ACCOUNT.
Subdivision 1.
Account established.
A safety rest area account is established in the trunk highway fund. Funds in the account are available until expended.
Subd. 2.
Deposits.
The commissioner shall deposit in the safety rest area account revenue received from leasing or sponsoring safety rest areas, advertising at safety rest areas, selling safety rest area property and lands, and other revenue generated with respect to safety rest areas.
Subd. 3.
Appropriation; expenditures.
Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner. The commissioner may spend proceeds of the account for safety rest areas, including program administration, maintenance and operations, development and improvements, and services to customers.
History:
2004 c 295 art 2 s 6
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.2755 — Prohibited Activities At Rest Areas.

160.2755 PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AT REST AREAS.
Subdivision 1.
Prohibited activities.
It is unlawful at rest areas to:
(1) dispose of travel-related trash and rubbish, except if depositing it in a designated receptacle;
(2) dump household or commercial trash and rubbish into containers or anywhere else on site; or
(3) drain or dump refuse or waste from any trailer, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle except where receptacles are provided and designated to receive the refuse or waste.
Subd. 2.
Penalty.
Violation of this section is a petty misdemeanor.
History:
2010 c 351 s 3
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.28 — Plans For Public Travel Facilities.

160.28
MS 1953 [Repealed, 1957 c 943 s 72]
160.28 PLANS FOR PUBLIC TRAVEL FACILITIES.
Subdivision 1.
Safety rest areas; travel information centers; weigh stations.
Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, the commissioner of transportation may have plans, specifications, and detailed designs prepared for the construction of buildings and facilities for highway safety rest areas, travel information centers in combination with rest areas, and weigh stations when the commissioner deems these buildings and facilities to be necessary in the interest of safety and convenient public travel on highways.
Subd. 2.
[Renumbered 160.273]
History:
1967 c 167 s 1; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1984 c 417 s 4; 1988 c 570 s 1; 2004 c 295 art 2 s 10,15
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.281 — Tourist Information Center In South Dakota.

160.281
MS 1957 [Repealed, 1959 c 500 art 6 s 13]
160.281 TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
Subdivision 1.
Authority to acquire site.
The commissioner of transportation is authorized to enter into an agreement with appropriate officials of the federal government and the state of South Dakota, to acquire by gift or purchase for trunk highway uses and purposes such land in the state of South Dakota as the commissioner may deem necessary for use as a site for and to construct and operate thereon a combination rest area and tourist information center, which center shall be located not more than one mile west of the Minnesota-South Dakota state lines, along the eastbound lane of Interstate 90.
Subd. 2.
Operation and maintenance of center.
The personnel who shall operate the center authorized by subdivision 1, shall be employees of the state of Minnesota. However, the commissioner of transportation may enter into an agreement with the appropriate officials of the state of South Dakota, under which the maintenance to be provided to the center itself and the site in toto may be provided by persons not employees of the state of Minnesota, which persons may be employees of the state of South Dakota. The agreement may provide for reasonable compensation.
Subd. 3.
Payment of taxes and assessments.
The commissioner may, in connection with the construction, maintenance, operation, and use of the center, pay any and all taxes or special assessments, if any, that may be assessed against said property by the state of South Dakota or its political subdivisions or taxing districts. Provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to authorize the commissioner to pay any tax or special assessment which would not be required to be paid by the state of South Dakota for similarly held and used property.
Subd. 4.
Costs paid out of trunk highway fund.
The cost of the land acquisition, the construction, operation, and maintenance costs as agreed, of the center provided for herein shall be paid out of the trunk highway fund.
History:
1969 c 89 s 1-4; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1986 c 444
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.282 — Public Travel Facilities.

160.282 PUBLIC TRAVEL FACILITIES.
Notwithstanding any other statute to the contrary, the commissioner of transportation may negotiate contracts, with or without requiring the submission of bids therefor, for the providing of maintenance services for interstate and trunk highway rest stop and tourist information centers. The terms and conditions of such contracts shall be as agreed upon and shall be such as to promote and encourage the employment of needy, elderly persons.
History:
1969 c 157 s 1; 1976 c 166 s 7
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.283 — Resort Information Signs; Purpose.

160.283 RESORT INFORMATION SIGNS; PURPOSE.
Subdivision 1.
[Repealed, 2014 c 227 art 1 s 23]
Subd. 2.
Applicability.
The provisions of sections 160.283 to 160.285 only apply to directional devices or signs that may be erected pursuant to the provisions of sections 160.283 to 160.285 on those county state-aid highways, county highways and town roads within one-half mile of areas that have restrictions on the erection of advertising devices along or adjacent thereto imposed under the applicable provisions of chapter 173.
Subd. 3.
Resort defined.
For the purposes of sections 160.283 to 160.285 the term "resort" shall be as defined in section 157.15 or a golf course, restaurant, or motel as defined in section 157.15 or recreational camping area as defined in section 327.14, subdivision 8.
History:
1971 c 675 s 1; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1982 c 617 s 1; 1984 c 417 s 5; 1987 c 384 art 1 s 18; 1995 c 207 art 9 s 60
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.284 — Resort Signs; Design And Manufacture.

160.284 RESORT SIGNS; DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE.
The Department of Transportation shall design a sign of such size and dimension and of a type sufficient to provide directional information, on slats designed for that purpose, for at least five individual resorts. The Department of Transportation shall contract for the construction or manufacture of such signs, either with private industry or through some agency of the state. All such signs shall be of a standard size and design.
History:
1971 c 675 s 2; 1976 c 166 s 7
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.285 — Resort Signs; County Participation.

160.285 RESORT SIGNS; COUNTY PARTICIPATION.
Subdivision 1.
Expenditures for signs.
Any county of this state is authorized to expend county road and bridge funds for the purchase of signs under section 160.283, and for the erection of such signs along or adjacent to highways under their jurisdiction or along and adjacent to town roads within the county, provided that the cost of the signs to the counties must be 100 percent reimbursed by the requester.
Subd. 2.
Erection and maintenance.
Counties may erect and maintain these signs at the expense of the requester on those county state-aid highways, county highways and town roads designated in section 160.283, subdivision 2 provided that these signs shall not be erected closer than 500 feet from trunk highways forming a part of the interstate system as provided in section 173.16, subdivision 4, paragraph (d), or closer than 300 feet from other trunk highways as provided in section 173.16, subdivision 4, paragraph (e).
Subd. 3.
Fund credited.
All money received from the purchase of signs from any county must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the trunk highway fund.
History:
1971 c 675 s 3; 1973 c 35 s 33; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1984 c 417 s 6
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.29 — Vacation Of Public Ways By Municipality.

160.29
MS 1953 [Repealed, 1957 c 943 s 72]
160.29 VACATION OF PUBLIC WAYS BY MUNICIPALITY.
Subdivision 1.
Municipality defined.
For purposes of this section the term "municipality" means any city, county or town. The term "public way" means any highway, road, street, cartway, alley or lane or other publicly owned interest in real property which is open to the free passage and use of the public.
Subd. 2.
Effect on easements.
In proceedings under statute or charter to vacate a public way or portion thereof, a municipality may specify the extent to which such vacation affects existing easements therein and the extent to which the vacation affects the authority of any person, corporation or municipality owning or controlling electric or telephone poles and lines, gas and sewer lines, or water pipes, mains and hydrants, thereon or thereunder, to continue maintaining the same or to enter upon such way or portion thereof vacated to maintain, repair, replace, remove or otherwise attend thereto.
History:
1971 c 461 s 1,2; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.293 — Specific Service Signs; Intended Use.

160.293 SPECIFIC SERVICE SIGNS; INTENDED USE.
Subdivision 1.
Purpose.
Specific service signs are to be used to create and implement a system of signing for the purpose of displaying specific service information to the traveling public on nonfreeway trunk highways in rural areas.
Subd. 2.
Signs at intersections and interchanges.
A specific service sign may be erected at the intersection or interchange of a trunk highway with a controlled-access road or a local road, and at the intersection or interchange of two trunk highways. A specific service sign may not be erected if the place of business is readily visible, if effective directional advertising is visible, or if an advertising sign can be legally and effectively located near the intersection or interchange.
Subd. 3.
Number of trunk highway intersections or interchanges.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in paragraph (b), a specific service sign for a rural agricultural or tourist-oriented business, place of worship, restaurant, motel, resort, recreational camping area, or gasoline service station or other retail motor fuel business is limited to one intersection or interchange on the trunk highway system.
(b) Specific service signs are permitted at two intersections or interchanges on the trunk highway system if the place of business is located between trunk highways and within 15 miles of each qualifying intersection or interchange.
Subd. 4.
Trailblazing.
Appropriate signing on local roads between a trunk highway intersection or interchange and a specific service shall be the responsibility of the specific service and the local road authority.
Subd. 5.
Signing standards.
Placement of specific service sign assemblies shall be in accordance with sections 160.292 to 160.296 and existing traffic-control device standards.
Subd. 6.
Rural road markings.
Rural roads, named and marked in accordance with resolutions from their road authority, shall continue to be identified.
History:
1980 c 413 s 2; 1981 c 55 s 2-4; 1984 c 417 s 8,9; 1988 c 595 s 3,4; 1989 c 181 s 3; 1991 c 16 s 1,2; 1996 c 456 s 9-12; 2016 c 98 s 1
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.294 — Specific Service Sign Details.

160.294 SPECIFIC SERVICE SIGN DETAILS.
Subdivision 1.
Construction of sign.
Specific service sign panels shall be made of reflective sheeting and shall be on blue background with white letters, arrows and border. The directional arrow and mileage shall be displayed on the same side of the panel as the direction of turn on specific service sign panels located on nonfreeway trunk highways at grade intersections and on exit ramps at interchanges located on bypasses of outstate municipalities. The specific service sign panel shall display only the name or optional business panel, or both, when installed on nonfreeway trunk highways at interchanges located on bypasses of outstate municipalities.
Subd. 1a.
Business panels.
Business panels shall be made of reflective sheeting and shall not resemble a traffic sign, signal, or device. The business' trademark, symbol, or logo shall be consistent on all business panels for a specific business. The business panel shall not include any supplemental messages or additional verbiage.
Subd. 2.
Specific service sign assemblies.
No specific service sign or assembly shall be placed at a location that will interfere with other necessary signing as determined by the commissioner of transportation.
History:
1980 c 413 s 3; 1996 c 456 s 13-15
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.295 — Criteria For Specific Service Signs.

160.295 CRITERIA FOR SPECIFIC SERVICE SIGNS.
Subdivision 1.
Conformity with law.
A specific service identified on a specific service sign shall be in conformity with all applicable laws and rules concerning the provisions for public accommodation without regard to race, religion, color, sex or national origin.
Subd. 2.
Distance to specific service.
A specific service sign may be placed on a nonfreeway trunk highway if the specific service is located within 15 miles of the qualifying site.
Subd. 3.
Motel, restaurant, and resort.
Motels, restaurants, and resorts served by the specific service signing shall be licensed by the state Department of Health as required by section 157.16.
Subd. 4.
Recreational camping area.
Recreational camping areas shall possess a state Department of Health license as required by section 327.15 and the following:
(1) a minimum of 15 camping spaces;
(2) modern sanitary facilities (flush, chemical, or incinerator toilets) and drinking water; and
(3) services available 24 hours a day.
Subd. 5.
Rural agricultural business or tourist-oriented business.
A rural agricultural or tourist-oriented business must be open a minimum of eight hours per day, six days per week, and 12 months per year. However, a seasonal business may qualify if it is open eight hours per day and six days per week during the normal seasonal period.
History:
1980 c 413 s 4; 1981 c 55 s 5; 1984 c 417 s 10,11; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 595 s 5; 1989 c 181 s 4; 1996 c 451 art 4 s 70; 1996 c 456 s 16
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.296 — Specific Service Signs; Administration; Rules.

160.296 SPECIFIC SERVICE SIGNS; ADMINISTRATION; RULES.
Subdivision 1.
Procedure.
(a) A person who desires a specific service sign panel shall request the commissioner of transportation to install the sign. The commissioner of transportation may grant the request if the applicant qualifies for the sign panel and if space is available. All signs shall be fabricated, installed, maintained, replaced and removed by the commissioner of transportation. The applicant shall pay a fee to the commissioner of transportation to cover all costs for fabricating, installing, maintaining, replacing and removing.
(b) If the applicant desires to display a business panel, the business panel for each specific service sign panel shall be supplied by the applicant. All costs to fabricate business panels shall be paid by the applicant. All business panels shall be installed and removed by the appropriate road authority. The costs for installing and removing business sign panels on specific service signs located on nonfreeway trunk highways are included in the fee specified in paragraph (a). If a business panel is stolen or damaged beyond repair, the applicant shall supply a new business panel paid for by the applicant.
Subd. 2.
Seasonal services.
All sign panels for seasonal services shall be covered or removed when the service is not available.
Subd. 3.
Communications.
Any new or participating specific service business shall respond to any communication from the commissioner of transportation within 30 days or an in place sign panel will be removed.
Subd. 4.
Sign removal.
The specific service sign panels shall be removed by the commissioner of transportation if any of the requirements in sections 160.292 to 160.296 are not continually met.
History:
1980 c 413 s 5; 1996 c 456 s 17; 1998 c 403 s 7
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.297 — Other Sign Laws.

160.297 OTHER SIGN LAWS.
Sections 160.292 to 160.296 provide additional authority to erect signs on nonfreeway trunk highways and do not limit the authority to erect highway signs provided by other law or rule.
History:
1980 c 413 s 6; 1996 c 456 s 18
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.298 — Highway Sign Program; Billing, Account, Appropriation.

160.298 HIGHWAY SIGN PROGRAM; BILLING, ACCOUNT, APPROPRIATION.
The commissioner of transportation may bill highway operations units of the department and local road authorities for the costs of a centrally managed highway sign program. These costs may include equipment acquisition and rental, labor, materials, and other costs as determined by the commissioner. Receipts must be credited to a special account, which is established in the trunk highway fund, and are appropriated to the commissioner to pay the costs for which the billings are made. Amounts credited to the account are exempt from statewide and agency indirect costs payments.
History:
1Sp2005 c 6 art 3 s 3
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.801 — Highway Sponsorship Program.

160.801 HIGHWAY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1.
Sponsorship program.
(a) The commissioner is authorized to establish a program designed to encourage businesses, civic groups, or individuals to voluntarily assist with the improvement and maintenance of real property comprising the trunk highway system, including bicycle and pedestrian trails, roadside monuments, and historic sites.
(b) All support provided by volunteers or vendors must be carried out in a manner consistent with construction and maintenance plans approved by the commissioner after consultation with the volunteers.
(c) The commissioner may provide assistance to (1) enhance volunteer safety, and (2) facilitate the implementation and administration of the sponsorship program.
Subd. 2.
Agreements.
The commissioner may enter into volunteer agreements with businesses, civic groups, or individuals to support, maintain, and make improvements to real property included in the trunk highway system. Agreements under this section are not subject to section 161.32.
Subd. 3.
Support activities.
(a) The volunteer support activities include but are not limited to:
(1) work to create, protect, and enhance pollinator habitat along highway rights-of-way;
(2) work to pick up litter along roadsides;
(3) work to install enhancements, including landscaping materials, on trunk highway property;
(4) financial support provided to the department for specific roadside improvements;
(5) financial support consisting of the sponsor hiring a professional landscape contractor to install vegetation, maintain landscape plantings, or pick up litter, or for other similar activities along a selected area of highway right-of-way; or
(6) installation of features that enhance the aesthetics of trunk highway property or the amenities available to highway users.
(b) All volunteer support activities must have prior commissioner approval.
Subd. 4.
Acknowledgment of sponsors.
The commissioner may erect signs to publicly recognize and express appreciation to businesses, civic groups, and individuals that provide volunteer funding or services under the sponsorship program.
Subd. 5.
Highway sponsorship program account; appropriation.
Funds received under this section must be deposited in the highway sponsorship program account, which is created in the special revenue fund. The account consists of funds as provided by law, and any other money donated, allotted, transferred, or otherwise provided to the account. Funds in the account are annually appropriated to the commissioner for the purpose specified in the volunteer agreement.
Subd. 6.
Prohibition.
The commissioner must not take action under this section that would result in the loss of federal highway funds or require payment of highway funds to the federal government.
History:
1Sp2017 c 3 art 3 s 17
2023 Minnesota Statutes › Chapters 160 - 174A — Transportation › Chapter 160 — Roads, General Provisions › Section 160.81 — Highways In Scenic Areas.

160.81 HIGHWAYS IN SCENIC AREAS.
Subdivision 1.
Joint standards.
The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with the commissioner of natural resources, shall establish standards for trunk highway segments located in areas of unusual scenic interest. The standards shall:
(1) establish and ensure that the safety of the traveling public is maintained or enhanced;
(2) define "areas of unusual scenic interest," which must include major recreational areas, historic areas, and major publicly and privately owned tourist attractions;
(3) prescribe standards for right-of-way, shoulders, and parking areas for trunk highway segments in such areas; and
(4) prescribe standards for scenic overlooks, parking piers and other parking areas, tourist information facilities, public water access points and other facilities intended to expand the recreational use of trunk highway segments in such areas.
Subd. 2.
Plan.
The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with the commissioner of natural resources, shall prepare a plan for the recreational uses of trunk highway right-of-way and adjacent public land in areas of unusual scenic interest. The plan must ensure that the safety of the traveling public is maintained or enhanced. The plan must provide for the enhancement of such recreational uses by the construction of new recreational facilities or the improvement or rehabilitation of existing recreational facilities, as enumerated in subdivision 1, clause (4). The plan must provide for joint development of these facilities by the Departments of Transportation and Natural Resources, where feasible, and must contain provisions permitting local units of government and regional development commissions to participate in the planning and development of recreational facilities.
Subd. 3.
Recreational facilities.
The commissioner of transportation may, in areas of unusual scenic interest:
(1) construct, improve, and maintain recreational facilities, including parking areas, scenic overlooks, and tourist information facilities, on trunk highway right-of-way and adjacent areas; and
(2) construct, improve, and maintain access ramps and turnoffs to connect trunk highways with recreational land owned by the Department of Natural Resources.
Subd. 4.
[Repealed, 1987 c 321 s 8]
History:
1986 c 454 s 4; 1987 c 321 s 1; 1994 c 635 art 1 s 2; 2005 c 120 s 1; 2005 c 135 s 1