reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.01 | Department of Transportation Definitions.

Effective:
June 29, 1999
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 86 - 123rd General Assembly
As used in Chapters 5501., 5503., 5511., 5513., 5515., 5516., 5517., 5519., 5521., 5523., 5525., 5527., 5528., 5529., 5531., 5533., and 5535. of the Revised Code:
(A) "Transportation facilities" means all publicly owned modes and means of transporting people and goods, including the physical facilities, garages, district offices, and other related buildings therefor, and including, but not limited to, highways, rights-of-way, roads and bridges, parking facilities, aviation facilities, port facilities, rail facilities, public transportation facilities, rest areas, and roadside parks.
(B) "Public transportation" means publicly owned or operated transportation by bus, rail, or other conveyance, which provides to the public transit or paratransit service on a regular and continuing basis within the state, and may include demand-responsive transportation, subscription bus service, shared-ride taxi service, car pools, van pools, or jitney service. "Public transportation" does not include school bus transportation or charter or sightseeing services.
(C) "Road" or "highway" includes all appurtenances to the road or highway, including but not limited to, bridges, viaducts, grade separations, culverts, lighting, signalization, and approaches on or to such road or highway.
(D) "Right-of-way" has the same meaning as in division (UU)(2) of section 4511.01 of the Revised Code.
(E) "Telecommunications service provider" means an entity that, for a fee, provides telecommunications services, including, but not limited to, voice, data, interactive or two-way telecommunications services, without regard to the way such services are delivered.
(F) "Telecommunications facility" means a facility for the provision of telecommunications services. The facility may include, but is not limited to, a tower, monopole, antenna or other ancillary equipment, or buildings used to deliver telecommunications services.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.02 | Director of Transportation to Prescribe Rules and Appoint Employees.

Effective:
September 17, 1996
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 572 - 121st General Assembly
All duties, powers, and functions conferred by law on the department of transportation and the divisions of the department shall be performed under such rules as the director of transportation may prescribe, and shall be under the director's control. The director shall appoint such employees of the department as are necessary, and shall prescribe their titles and duties.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.031 | Energy Conservation in Planning, Design, and Utilization of Transportation Facilities.

Effective:
March 17, 1989
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 357 - 117th General Assembly
The department of transportation shall:
(A) Consider energy conservation as an integral factor along with economics, engineering, safety, and the environment in the planning, design, and utilization of transportation facilities;
(B) Reevaluate existing plans for highways and other transportation modes and require regional transportation studies and local planning agencies operating under state coordination or with state funds to cooperate in such reevaluation. Such reevaluation shall consider shifts to energy conservation modes and improvement in modal energy efficiencies, and shall include both technological alternatives and administrative or management strategies. Short-term conservation measures must be adaptable to long-term conservation requirements to include permanent reductions in gasoline usage and revitalization of railroads.
(C) Take all necessary steps to increase the level of awareness of transportation professions and related government sectors of those techniques that are immediately available to reduce petroleum consumption in improving operation and maintenance of transportation facilities;
(D) Review construction specifications and design standards for highway construction and maintenance, with a view to pursuing the elimination of those found to be unnecessary and wasteful of energy;
(E) Submit recommendations to the department of development and to the general assembly, designed to reduce the energy intensive nature of the existing transportation system, control the growth of gasoline demand, and support other efforts to conserve energy;
(F) In cooperation with the department of development, encourage and promote the establishment of carpool and vanpool programs including preferential parking for vehicles used in carpools or vanpools. The department of transportation shall also study the feasibility of preferential traffic control for public transportation vehicles and variable working hours as additional conservation measures.
The department shall undertake to utilize to the fullest extent funds made available under federal or state programs for the development of park-and-ride lots to serve carpools and vanpools and encourage the use of public transportation facilities. Potential locations and funds for park-and-ride lots shall be identified in at least one location in each standard metropolitan statistical area in the state. These locations shall be reported to the department of development.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.04 | Distribution of Duties, Powers, and Functions of the Department; Deputy Directors.

Effective:
September 10, 2012
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly
Pursuant to section 5501.02 of the Revised Code, the director of transportation shall distribute the duties, powers, and functions of the department among the divisions of the department.
Each division shall be headed by a deputy director, whose title shall be designated by the director, and shall include those other officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out the work of the division. Each deputy director of each division shall be in the unclassified civil service of the state and shall serve at the pleasure of the director. The director shall be responsible for the determination of general policies in the performance of the duties, powers, and functions of the department and of each division. The director shall have complete executive charge of the department, shall be responsible for the organization, direction, and supervision of the work of the department and the performance of the duties, powers, and functions assigned to each division, and may establish necessary administrative units therein. Each deputy director of each division, with the approval of the director and subject to Chapter 124. of the Revised Code, shall appoint the necessary employees of the division and may remove such employees for cause.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.05 | Prohibiting Use of Highway Funds for Non-Highway Purposes.

Effective:
April 6, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly
Moneys appropriated to the department of transportation and derived from fees, excises, or license taxes relating to the registration, operation, or use of vehicles on public highways, or to fuels used for propelling such vehicle, shall not be expended for any purpose other than as provided in Section 5a of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, and such moneys may be expended only for expenses directly chargeable to the purposes set forth in such section. The director of transportation may make rules facilitating, to the extent practical under the circumstances, the use of public transportation systems and aviation systems by persons with disabilities.
Last updated March 10, 2023 at 1:08 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.051 | Transfer of Realty to Municipality for Health Care Services.

Effective:
April 16, 1993
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 297 - 119th General Assembly
Notwithstanding section 5501.05 of the Revised Code, real property purchased with money appropriated to the department of transportation may be transferred to a municipality with a population of no more than ten thousand persons as of December 31, 1992, if the real property is to be used for the public purpose of providing health care services to the community.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.06 | Department of Transportation Succeeds to Rights and Duties of Department of Highways.

Effective:
September 28, 1973
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly
(A) For the purpose of succession to all duties, powers, and functions transferred, and of the conduct and completion of matters relating thereto, the department of transportation or the director of transportation shall be held to constitute the continuation of the department of highways and the director of highways. All rules, regulations, acts, determinations, and decisions pertaining to such duties, powers, and functions of the department of highways and the director of highways, in force and effect at the time of such transfer, shall continue in force and effect until further action thereon by the department of transportation or the director of transportation. Wherever the department of highways is referred to in any provision of law, or in any contract or document that pertains to such duties, powers, and functions, the reference or designation shall be held to refer to the department of transportation or the director of transportation. No pending action or proceeding to which the department of highways or the director of highways is a party and which pertains to such duties, powers, and functions shall be affected by any provision effecting the transfer of such duties, powers, and functions, but may be prosecuted or defended in the name of the department of transportation or of the director of transportation; and in any such action or proceeding, the department or the director, upon application to the court, shall be substituted as a party.
(B) The director shall make annually, at the end of each fiscal year, in quadruplicate, a report of the transactions and proceedings of his department for such fiscal year, specifically disclosing the total receipts and disbursements of each division within the department, together with a summary of the official acts of the director and the department. On the first day of August of each year, one of such reports shall be filed with the governor, one with the secretary of state, one shall be kept on file in the office of the department and one with the legislative auditor who shall transmit copies to the members of the house and senate finance committees.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.071 | Deposit of Public Transportation Program Funds to Highway Operating Fund.

Effective:
June 30, 1995
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 107 - 121st General Assembly
All funds received by the department of transportation from federal, local, or private sources for the purpose of carrying out public transportation programs shall be deposited into the highway operating fund.
Last updated April 21, 2022 at 3:30 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.08 | Metrics for Statewide Strategic Transportation Planning.

Effective:
July 1, 2015
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 53 - 131st General Assembly
The department of transportation, in order to assist in statewide strategic transportation planning, shall develop metrics that allow the comparison of data across transportation modes and that also incorporate the full spectrum of state strategic transportation goals, including all of the following:
(A) Anticipated future costs of maintaining infrastructure in acceptable condition, both short-term and long-term;
(B) Short-term economic impact, one to five years, and long-term economic impact, thirty years and longer;
(C) Economic impact on a region's future rate of job growth and job retention;
(D) Motorist, bicyclist, and pedestrian counts, and number of accidents by mode.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.10 | Classification and Prioritization of New Construction Plans and Contracts.

Effective:
June 30, 1995
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 107 - 121st General Assembly
Within three months of the effective date of this act, the department of transportation shall establish a written policy for the classification and prioritization of all new construction plans and contracts. The policy shall consider all aspects of new construction planning in a manner allowing the comparison of competing projects. The director of transportation shall utilize the policy in regard to all new construction plans and contracts.
Last updated April 21, 2022 at 3:34 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.11 | Department of Transportation With Respect to Highways.

Effective:
June 29, 2005
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 68 - 126th General Assembly
(A) The functions of the department of transportation with respect to highways shall be to do all of the following:
(1) Establish state highways on existing roads, streets, and new locations and construct, reconstruct, widen, resurface, maintain, and repair the state system of highways and the bridges and culverts thereon;
(2) Cooperate with the federal government in the establishment, construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, and repair of post roads and other roads designated by the federal authorities;
(3) Conduct research and cooperate with organizations conducting research in matters pertaining to highway design, construction, maintenance, material, safety, and traffic;
(4) Cooperate with the counties, municipal corporations, townships, and other subdivisions of the state in the establishment, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and improvement of the public roads and bridges.
(B) To fulfill its functions under division (A) of this section, the department shall develop and maintain a pavement management system. The system shall inventory and evaluate basic road and bridge conditions throughout the state highway system and develop strategies to improve those conditions, minimize annual maintenance of the state highway system, and ensure that a disproportionate percentage of the roads and bridges on the state highway system are not due for replacement or major repair at the same time. The department shall identify and promote longer pavement life spans to lessen user delays and the disruption to traffic on the state highway system.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.12 | Chief Engineer.

Effective:
September 17, 1996
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 572 - 121st General Assembly
The director of transportation shall appoint a chief engineer, who shall be a registered professional engineer and who shall serve at the pleasure of the director. The chief engineer is exempt from state civil service requirements and regulations, and shall perform such duties as are designated by the director.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.14 | Division of State Into Districts - District Deputy Directors.

Effective:
September 17, 1996
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 572 - 121st General Assembly
The director of transportation shall divide the state into not exceeding twelve districts and give to each district an appropriate number or name. Each district shall manage all activities within the area of the district, including transportation planning, intermodal coordination, design, operation, and maintenance of highways and bridges, and any associated administrative activities.
The director may appoint and assign to each district a district deputy director. Each district deputy shall serve during the pleasure of and perform such duties as are prescribed by the director. Each district deputy shall exercise professional judgment in the administration of all district activities and shall be accountable for all district duties. Policy, procedures, and operational plans of a district deputy shall follow the overall goals and objectives of the department of transportation.
The director may establish, equip, and staff an office in each district for the use of the district deputy, and the director may acquire suitable space for such office by purchase or lease or by the purchase of a site and the erection of a building thereon.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.16 | Chief Clerk and Secretaries.

Effective:
March 17, 1989
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 357 - 117th General Assembly
The director of transportation may appoint a chief clerk, who shall be exempt from civil service requirements or regulations.
The director may appoint a secretary to the director and a secretary to each assistant director. Secretaries so appointed shall be exempt from civil service requirements or regulations.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.17 | Assistants to Prepare Plans and Surveys - Contracts With Planning Commissions.

Effective:
July 1, 2013
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 51 - 130th General Assembly
The director of transportation may employ such assistants as are necessary to prepare plans and surveys. Compensation paid for the preparation of plans, surveys, and specifications shall be regarded as a part of the cost and expense of the improvement for which they were made and shall be paid from funds set aside for the improvement.
The director may appoint additional clerks and stenographers, and such other engineers, inspectors, technicians, and other employees as are necessary to carry out Chapters 4561., 5501., 5503., 5511., 5513., 5515., 5516., 5517., 5519., 5521., 5523., 5525., 5527., 5528., 5529., 5531., 5533., and 5535. of the Revised Code. All such technicians employed under the authority of this section shall be eligible to receive pay during periods of on the job training or while attending special training schools conducted by the department of transportation. Such employees and appointees, in addition to their salaries, shall receive their actual necessary traveling expenses when on official business.
The director may contract with regional, county, or municipal planning commissions or county engineers having adequate staffs, and with planning agencies of adjacent states, for the preparation of comprehensive transportation and land use studies and major thoroughfare reports, or parts thereof, and pay the commissions, county engineers, or planning agencies of adjacent states for such work from funds available to the department.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.21 | Department Seal - Records, Documents - Deposition of Director.

Effective:
July 3, 2019
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 62 - 133rd General Assembly
The director of transportation shall provide a seal of the department of transportation, which shall be inscribed: "State of Ohio, Department of Transportation."
Copies of records or parts thereof, and copies of any plan, drawing, document, or paper writing in the department when certified by the director to be true and correct copies of the record, plan, drawing, document, or paper writing and attested by the seal of the department shall be received in evidence in the courts of the state in the same manner and with the same effect as though the record, plan, drawing, document, or paper writing were offered. Any such copy as may be required by any party to any suit, upon request of such party, shall be furnished by the director.
The director need not produce in any court an original paper or electronic record, plan, drawing, or other document.
All records, plans, and other documents and drawings of the department shall be open to the inspection of any interested person, subject to such reasonable rules as to the time of inspection and as to supervision, as the director prescribes.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.22 | Actions Against Director.

Effective:
September 28, 1973
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly
The director of transportation shall not be suable, either as a sole defendant or jointly with other defendants, in any court outside Franklin county except in actions brought by a railroad company under section 4957.30 of the Revised Code, or by a property owner to prevent the taking of property without due process of law, in which case suit may be brought in the county where such property is situated, or in any action otherwise specifically provided for in Chapters 5501., 5503., 5511., 5512., 5513., 5515., 5516., 5517., 5519., 5521., 5523., 5525., 5527., 5528., 5529., 5531., 5533., and 5535. of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.23 | Lectures by Director.

Effective:
September 28, 1973
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly
The director of transportation, either in person or through a representative of the department of transportation, may accept invitations to give addresses or lectures before persons interested in transportation improvement and development. In such cases the director, or the person designated by him, shall receive his actual and necessary expenses in addition to his salary.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.24 | Director May Call Conference.

Effective:
September 28, 1973
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly
The director of transportation may call into conference any employee of the department of transportation or the officials of any county, township, or municipal corporation for any purpose connected with the director's official duties. Any employee of the department so called into conference shall be entitled to receive his actual and necessary expenses in addition to his salary.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.25 | Bond of Employees.

Effective:
September 28, 1973
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly
Each employee or appointee under Chapters 5501., 5503., 5511., 5512., 5513., 5515., 5516., 5517., 5519., 5521., 5523., 5525., 5527., 5528., 5529., 5531., 5533., and 5535. of the Revised Code in cases other than where the amount of the bond is fixed, may be required to give bond in such sum as the director of transportation may determine. All bonds shall be conditioned upon the faithful discharge of the duties of their respective positions and such bonds, except the bond of the director which shall be approved as to sureties by the governor, shall be approved as to the sufficiency of the sureties by the director, and as to legality and form by the attorney general, and shall be deposited with the secretary of state. The premium on such bonds shall be paid out of appropriate funds of the department of transportation. Bonds authorized or required by this section may, in the discretion of the director, be individual, schedule, or blanket bonds.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.27 | Increased Penalties for Traffic Violations in Construction Zone.

Effective:
June 1, 2004
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 52 - 125th General Assembly
(A) The director of transportation shall adopt rules that do the following:
(1) Rules governing the posting of signs advising motorists that increased penalties apply for certain traffic violations occurring on streets or highways in a construction zone;
(2) Rules governing the posting of signs to be used pursuant to section 2903.081 of the Revised Code giving notice to motorists of the prohibitions set forth in sections 2903.06 and 2903.08 of the Revised Code regarding the death of or injury to any person in a construction zone as a proximate result of a reckless operation offense or speeding offense.
(B) The rules required under divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section shall include guidelines to determine which areas are appropriate to the posting of such signs. The guidelines may include consideration of the following: the duration of the work on the street or highway, the proximity of workers to moving traffic, the existence of any unusual or hazardous conditions, the volume of traffic on the street or highway, and any other appropriate factors. The director shall formulate design specifications for the signs described in division (A)(1) of this section advising motorists of the increased penalties and the signs described in division (A)(2) of this section notifying motorists of the prohibitions set forth in sections 2903.06 and 2903.08 of the Revised Code regarding the death of or injury to any person in a construction zone as a proximate result of a reckless operation offense or speeding offense as described in that division. For purposes of traffic violation penalties, nothing in this section is intended to conflict with any standard set forth in the federal manual of uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways.
(C) As used in this section and in section 4511.98 of the Revised Code, "construction zone" means that lane or portion of street or highway open to vehicular traffic and adjacent to a lane, berm, or shoulder of a street or highway within which lane, berm, or shoulder construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, or any other work of a repair or maintenance nature, including public utility work, is being conducted, commencing with the point where the first worker or piece of equipment is located and ending where the last worker or piece of equipment is located.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.32 | Purchase of Real Property for Highway Purposes.

Effective:
April 5, 2001
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 295 - 123rd General Assembly
The director of transportation may purchase property in fee simple in the name of the state by warranty deed, and all or any part of a tract of land when the acquisition of a part of the land needed for highway purposes will result in substantial damages to the residue by severance, controlled access, or isolation. The warranty deed shall contain a description of the property suitable for platting on tax maps. Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to this section shall identify the agency of the state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.33 | Accepting Donations of Real Property.

Effective:
June 21, 1990
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 185 - 118th General Assembly
At any time during the development of a highway project, subject to section 5501.331 of the Revised Code, the owner of an interest in real property may donate to the state, and the director of transportation may accept in the name of the state, all or part of the interest that is needed for purposes of the highway project.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.331 | Deed for Donated Property.

Effective:
June 21, 1990
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 185 - 118th General Assembly
If an interest in real property is donated under section 5501.33 of the Revised Code before adoption of an environmental document prepared by the department of transportation for the highway project, the deed by which the donation is made shall clearly state each of the following:
(A) All alternatives to a proposed alignment of the highway project shall be studied and considered pursuant to the "National Environmental Policy Act of 1969," 83 Stat. 852, 42 U.S.C.A. 4321 et seq., as amended.
(B) Acceptance of the donation shall not influence the environmental assessment of the highway project, including the decision relative to the need to construct the project or selection of its specific location.
(C) The donated interest shall revert to the grantor or his successors or assigns if the interest is not required for the alignment chosen for the highway project after public hearings, if hearings are required, and adoption of the environmental document.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.332 | Deed Releasing Donated Property.

Effective:
September 30, 2021
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly
Upon the occurrence of the condition stated in a deed pursuant to division (C) of section 5501.331 of the Revised Code, the director of transportation shall prepare and issue a certification of the occurrence to the grantor or the grantor's successors or assigns, the governor, and the director of administrative services.
Upon receipt of the certification, the director of administrative services, with the assistance of the attorney general, shall prepare a deed releasing the property donated under section 5501.33 of the Revised Code to the grantor or the grantor's successors or assigns. The deed shall declare the occurrence of the condition and the consequent reversion. The deed shall be executed by the governor, countersigned by the secretary of state, recorded in the office of the director of administrative services, and delivered to the grantor or the grantor's successors or assigns.
Last updated August 11, 2021 at 1:34 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.38 | Reusing Petroleum Contaminated Sands, Gravel and Soils as Highway Construction Materials.

Effective:
June 30, 1997
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 215 - 122nd General Assembly
The director of transportation has determined that it is feasible to use in the construction of highways sands, gravel, and soils that contain varying amounts of petroleum products resulting from the upgrading of underground storage tanks. In order to maximize the beneficial reuse of these petroleum contaminated sands, gravel, and soils, the director shall establish a program to promote the reuse of these materials as highway construction materials.
Not later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this section, the director of transportation, in consultation with the chief of the bureau of underground storage tanks and the director of environmental protection, shall issue highway construction specifications that facilitate the reuse of petroleum contaminated sands, gravel, and soils that are removed during the repair, removal, or closure of underground storage tanks that are under the jurisdiction of the chief of the bureau of underground storage tanks. Following issuance of the specifications, the director of transportation shall prepare and distribute to any interested party information describing the program of the department to facilitate the reuse of such petroleum contaminated sands, gravel, and soils in the construction of highways.
In order to accumulate a sufficient and ready supply of petroleum contaminated sands, gravel, and soils that meet the specifications, the director of transportation is authorized to construct and operate temporary covered structures in locations that are in close proximity to highway projects and accumulate bulk quantities of these sands, gravel, and soils for reuse. These materials shall be made available to the department of transportation and its contractors for reuse on highway construction projects.
As used in this section, "petroleum" has the same meaning as in division (J) of section 3737.87 of the Revised Code, except that it does not include used oil.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.39 | Research Laboratory.

Effective:
November 23, 1977
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 221 - 112th General Assembly
The director of transportation shall maintain a laboratory of research and tests and employ qualified personnel to conduct research pertaining to materials, supplies, and equipment used in road construction and maintenance and to test materials, supplies, and equipment used in the construction and maintenance of the state highway system. The director may make tests of road building materials for authorities of any county, municipal corporation, township, or other subdivision of the state. When the director makes such tests he shall collect from such county, municipal corporation, township, or other subdivision of the state a fee sufficient to cover the actual cost of making such tests. The fees collected shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the state highway operating fund.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.40 | Housing and Care of Equipment.

Effective:
September 28, 1973
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly
The director of transportation may secure suitable buildings for housing, storing, caring for, and keeping in repair, automobiles, motor trucks, road machinery, and other equipment owned by the department of transportation. Such buildings may be secured by purchase or lease or by the purchase of a suitable site and the erection thereon of suitable buildings. The director may equip such buildings with the necessary tools and equipment for the care and repair of such automobiles, trucks, machinery, and other equipment. The expense incurred by the director in providing such sites and buildings, and storing, housing, caring for, and repairing such automobiles, trucks, machinery, and equipment, shall be paid from any available funds of the department.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.41 | Removal of Snow and Ice.

Effective:
July 3, 2019
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 62 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) The director of transportation may remove snow and ice from state highways, purchase the necessary equipment including snow fences, employ the necessary labor, and make all contracts necessary to enable such removal. The director may remove snow and ice from the state highways within municipal corporations, but before doing so the director must obtain the consent of the legislative authority of such municipal corporation. The board of county commissioners on county highways, and the board of township trustees on township roads, shall have the same authority to purchase equipment for the removal of and to remove snow and ice as the director has on the state highway system.
(B)(1) The director may provide road salt to a political subdivision if all of the following apply:
(a) The director has excess road salt.
(b) The political subdivision is otherwise unable to acquire road salt.
(c) The political subdivision is in an emergency situation.
(2) The director shall seek reimbursement from a political subdivision for road salt provided under this division. The reimbursement amount shall equal the price at which the director purchased the road salt.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.42 | Supervision of Trees and Shrubs.

Effective:
September 28, 1973
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly
The director of transportation shall have supervision and control of all trees and shrubs within the limits of a state highway. The department of agriculture or other proper department may, with the consent of the director of transportation, take charge of the care of such trees, and such department, in the event it takes charge of such trees, may, with the consent of the director of transportation, plant additional trees within the limits of a state highway. The cost and expense of caring for or planting such trees may be paid out of any funds available to the director or for the development of forestry of the state.
The director may cut, trim, or remove any grass, shrubs, trees, or weeds growing or being within the limits of a state highway.
The powers conferred by this section upon the director shall be exercised only when made necessary by the construction or maintenance of the highway or for the safety of the traveling public.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.43 | Contracts in Name of State.

Effective:
September 17, 1996
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 572 - 121st General Assembly
Any contract made by the director of transportation under Chapters 4561., 5501., 5503., 5511., 5513., 5515., 5516., 5517., 5519., 5521., 5523., 5525., 5527., 5528., 5529., 5531., 5533., and 5535. of the Revised Code shall be made in the name of the state and executed on its behalf by the director. No appointee of the director, other than the assistant directors of transportation, may bind the director in a contract, except when given general or special authority by the director.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.441 | Toll Enforcement Agreements.

Effective:
August 31, 2022
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 338 - 134th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section, "private toll transportation facility" means any person, as defined by section 1.59 of the Revised Code, or other business entity engaged in the collecting or charging of tolls on a toll bridge that was previously owned by a municipal corporation.
(B) The governor, or the governor's designee, may enter into agreements with other states that govern the reciprocal enforcement of highway, bridge, and tunnel toll violations. Such agreements shall pertain to any public toll transportation facility and may include any private toll transportation facility located in those other states. The governor, or the governor's designee, shall make such agreements in consultation with the director of public safety.
(C) Any agreement governing enforcement of toll violations made under the authority of division (B) of this section shall provide for all of the following:
(1) That a driver of a motor vehicle that is registered in one state that is a party to the agreement and who is operating in another state that is a party to the agreement receive the same benefits, privileges, and exemptions as are accorded to a driver of a motor vehicle that is registered in that other state;
(2) That refusal of an application for motor vehicle registration or transfer of motor vehicle registration, in accordance with the laws of the state in which the toll violation occurred, is one mechanism by which toll violations shall be enforced pursuant to the agreement;
(3) That provision of notice between the states regarding toll violations and enforcement of those violations be made by electronic means.
Last updated June 17, 2022 at 4:42 PM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.451 | Leasing State Lands for Erecting Advertising Devices.

Effective:
May 15, 1997
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 85 - 122nd General Assembly
In accordance with section 5501.45 of the Revised Code, the director of transportation shall implement a program allowing, by lease or permit, the use of lands owned by the state and acquired or used for the state highway system or for highways or in connection with highways or as incidental to the acquisition of land for highways by persons erecting advertising devices on the property. The program shall be operated in accordance with guidelines in effect on January 1, 1996.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit or restrict the director from determining that property on which an advertising device is located has become necessary for state highway or recreation purposes and terminating a lease or permit. Nothing in this section shall require the director to maintain a lease or permit at a specific location or prohibit the director from modifying the terms of a specific lease or permit.
As used in this section "advertising device" has the same meaning as in section 5516.01 of the Revised Code.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.46 | Conveying Land to Department of Transportation by Other State Agencies and Political Subdivisions.

Effective:
July 22, 1994
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 715 - 120th General Assembly
Notwithstanding section 9.70 and Chapters 123., 339., 501., 511., 721., 723., 747., 749., 759., 903., 3301., 3313., 3337., 3339., 3341., 3343., 3349., and 3375. of the Revised Code, the various departments of state, institutions, commissions, subdivisions, and districts of the state, and other public agencies, without competitive bidding, may grant, convey, or transfer real property to the department of transportation in fee simple or in any such lesser estate as it determines and for such consideration as is mutually agreed upon, provided that any such transactions under authority of this section with a valuation of forty thousand dollars or more shall first be approved by the state controlling board. Any title to such property or lands taken shall be taken in the name of the state.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.48 | Toll Bridge Inspection.

Effective:
June 30, 2021
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 74 - 134th General Assembly
The operator of a toll bridge located entirely or partly in the state shall inspect such bridge on a schedule established by the director of transportation, but at least once every twenty-four months. The operator shall file a copy of the inspection report with the director. Inspection shall be made or supervised by a professional engineer.
Last updated April 12, 2021 at 9:55 AM
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.49 | Lift Bridge Inspection.

Effective:
June 30, 2007
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 67 - 127th General Assembly
(A) The director of transportation is responsible for the construction, reconstruction, major maintenance and repair, and operation of all bridges located on the state highway system within a municipal corporation. The public entity responsible for maintaining the pavements and sidewalks on either end of the bridge is responsible for the routine maintenance of all bridges located on the state highway system within the municipal corporation.
(B) The director may enter into an agreement with the legislative authority of a municipal corporation or a county, upon mutually agreeable terms, for the municipal corporation or county to operate and perform major maintenance and repair on any bridge located on the state highway system within the municipal corporation or county.
(C) The director is not required to obtain the consent of a municipal corporation prior to the performance of any major bridge maintenance and repair. Except in an emergency, the director shall give a municipal corporation reasonable notice prior to the performance of any work that will affect the flow of traffic. No utilities, signs, or other appurtenances shall be attached to a bridge without the prior written consent of the director.
(D) As used in this section:
(1) Major and routine maintenance and repair relates to all elements of a bridge, including abutments, wingwalls, and headwalls but excluding approach fill and approach slab, and appurtenances thereto.
(2) "Major maintenance" includes the painting of a bridge, and the repair of deteriorated or damaged elements of bridge decks, including emergency patching of bridge decks, to restore the structural integrity of a bridge.
(3) "Routine maintenance" includes without limitation, clearing debris from the deck, sweeping, snow and ice removal, minor wearing surface patching, cleaning bridge drainage systems, marking decks for traffic control, minor and emergency repairs to railing and appurtenances, emergency patching of deck, and maintenance of traffic signal and lighting systems, including the supply of electrical power.
(4) "Operation" relates solely to lift bridges and to those expenses that are necessary for the routine, daily operation of a lift bridge, such as payroll, workers' compensation and retirement payments, and the cost of utilities.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.51 | Reimbursing Utility for Facilities Relocated by Highway Project.

Effective:
July 1, 2013
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 51 - 130th General Assembly
(A) The state shall reimburse a utility for the cost of relocation of utility facilities necessitated by the construction of a highway project only in the event that the utility can evidence a vested interest in the nature of a fee interest, an easement interest, or a lesser estate in the real property it occupies in the event that the utility possesses a vested interest in such property. The utility shall present evidence satisfactory to the state substantiating the cost of relocation. The director may audit all financial records which the director determines necessary to verify such actual costs.
(B) The director of transportation may establish and enforce such rules and procedures as the director may determine to be necessary to assure consistency governing any and all aspects of the cost of utility relocations. The director may adopt such amendments to such rules as are necessary and within the guidelines of this section.
(C) As used in this section:
(1) "Cost of relocation" includes the actual cost paid by a utility directly attributable to relocation after deducting any increase in the value of the new facility and any salvage value derived from the old facility.
(2) "Utility" includes all of the following:
(a) Publicly, privately, and cooperatively owned utilities that are subject to the authority of the public utilities commission of Ohio;
(b) A cable operator as defined in the "Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984," 98 Stat. 2780, 47 U.S.C. 522, as amended by the "Telecommunications Act of 1996," 110 Stat. 56, 47 U.S.C. 151, and includes the provision of other information or telecommunications services, or both;
(c) An electric cooperative and a municipal electric utility, both as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code;
(d) County-owned or county-operated water and sewer facilities.
2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 55 | Roads-Highways-Bridges › Chapter 5501 | Department of Transportation › Section 5501.52 | Annual Reports Summarizing State and Federal Money Spent on Highway Projects.

Effective:
July 1, 1989
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 381 - 118th General Assembly
Not later than the thirty-first day of December of each year, the Ohio department of transportation shall submit reports to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives summarizing, by county and by project, the amounts of state and federal money spent on encumbered for highway projects during the preceding fiscal year. The summaries shall indicate whether a project is for new construction, reconstruction, repair, or maintenance; when it was commenced and when it was or is expected to be completed; the total amount that has been spent on the project; and what the total cost of the project will be when it is completed. Upon request, a copy of the summaries required by this section shall be made available to any county engineer or member of the general assembly.