AB 244

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish an

agricultural road improvement grant program. Under the program, projects are

eligible for reimbursement of up to 100 percent of the costs of a project under the

program if all of the following apply:

1. The project is for the improvement of a local road, minor collector, bridge, or

culvert (agricultural road facility) that is maintained by a political subdivision.

2. The agricultural road facility provides access to agricultural lands used for

the production of agricultural goods and is used by more than one agricultural

producer.

3. Due to structural deficiencies, the agricultural road facility is subject to

weight limitations at least annually.

4. After completion of the project, the agricultural road facility will not be

subject to weight limitations other than under extraordinary or emergency

circumstances.

The bill also requires DOT to prioritize projects that improve access by the

largest number of agricultural producers, projects that make improvements to

agricultural road facilities that are the oldest, projects that will result in the largest

reduction in deferred or repeated trips by vehicles of agricultural producers, projects

that will result in the greatest positive economic impact, projects making

improvements to agricultural road facilities that provide the only feasible route of

access, and projects that are the subject of a grant application by a political

subdivision that faces demonstrable fiscal or administrative difficulties in

completing highway projects.

The bill also requires that for a project under this program, upon request by a

grantee, DOT must be designated as a fiscal agent of a grantee that is a political

subdivision and that, upon agreement by the grantee and the county, a county may

be designated as a fiscal agent of a grantee if the grantee is a town located within the

county. If acting as a fiscal agent under this program, DOT or a county must, upon

request, pay reimbursable costs for a project when incurred and retain or receive

grant moneys in reimbursement of these payments.