A. Whenever the governing body of any county, after consultation with personnel of the Department, adopts a resolution requesting the Department to hard-surface any secondary highway in such county that carries 50 or more vehicles per day with a hard surface of width and strength adequate for such traffic volume, the Department shall give consideration to such resolution in establishing priority in expending the funds allocated to such county. The Department shall consider the paving of highways with a right-of-way width of less than 40 feet under this subsection when land is, has been, or can be acquired by gift for the purpose of constructing a hard-surface highway.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, any unpaved secondary highway that carries at least 50 but no more than 750 vehicles per day may be paved or improved and paved within its existing right-of-way or within a wider right-of-way that is less than 40 feet wide if the following conditions are met:
1. The governing body of the county in which the highway is located has requested paving of such highway as part of the six-year plan for the county under § 33.2-331 and transmitted that request to the Commissioner of Highways; and
2. The Commissioner of Highways, after having considered only (i) the safety of such highway in its current condition and in its paved or improved condition, including the desirability of reduced speed limits and installation of other warning signs or devices; (ii) the views of the residents and owners of property adjacent to or served by such highway; (iii) the views of the local governing body making the request; (iv) the historical and aesthetic significance of such highway and its surroundings; (v) the availability of any additional land that has been or may be acquired by gift or other means for the purpose of paving such highway within its existing right-of-way or within a wider right-of-way that is less than 40 feet wide; and (vi) environmental considerations, shall grant or deny the request for the paving of such highway under this subsection.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections A and B, the governing body of any county, in consultation with the Department, may designate a highway or highway segment as a Rural Rustic Road, provided such highway or highway segment is located in a low-density development area and has an average daily traffic volume of no more than 1,500 vehicles per day. For a highway or highway segment so designated, improvements shall utilize a paved surface width based on reduced and flexible standards that leave trees, vegetation, side slopes, and open drainage abutting the highway undisturbed to the maximum extent possible without compromising public safety. Any highway designated as a Rural Rustic Road shall be subject to § 62.1-44.15:34. The Department, in consultation with the affected local governing body, shall first consider the paving of a highway or highway segment meeting the criteria for a Rural Rustic Road in accordance with this subsection before making a decision to pave it to another standard as set forth in this section.
D. The Commonwealth and its agencies, instrumentalities, departments, officers, and employees acting within the scope of their duties and authority shall be immune for damages by reason of actions taken in conformity with the provisions of this section. Immunity for the local governing body of any political subdivision requesting paving under this section and the officers and employees of any such political subdivision shall be limited to that immunity provided pursuant to § 15.2-1405.
1973, c. 360, § 33.1-70.1; 1977, c. 578; 1985, c. 440; 1997, cc. 715, 729; 1999, cc. 306, 320; 2001, cc. 355, 366; 2002, c. 414; 2003, c. 599; 2006, c. 546; 2008, c. 195; 2011, c. 400; 2013, cc. 756, 793; 2014, c. 805.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems
§ 33.2-301. Contracts for maintenance of components of Interstate System
§ 33.2-302. Funds for establishment and maintenance of Interstate System, generally
§ 33.2-303. Portions of Interstate System within cities and towns
§ 33.2-306. Applicability of §§ 33.2-300 through 33.2-305 to toll projects
§ 33.2-307. Relocation or removal of utility facilities within projects on Interstate System
§ 33.2-309. Tolls for use of Interstate System components
§ 33.2-310. Primary state highway system
§ 33.2-311. Certain highways in parks included in primary state highway system
§ 33.2-312. Maintenance of highways, bridges, and toll facilities within state parks
§ 33.2-313. Maintenance of highways at state institutions
§ 33.2-316. Primary state highway system map
§ 33.2-317. Establishment, construction, and maintenance exclusively by Commonwealth; funds
§ 33.2-318. Bypasses through or around cities and towns
§ 33.2-319. Payments to cities and certain towns for maintenance of certain highways
§ 33.2-322. Counties may perform certain maintenance
§ 33.2-323. Approval of markings and traffic lights erected by towns
§ 33.2-324. Secondary state highway system; composition
§ 33.2-325. Certain school roads in secondary state highway system
§ 33.2-326. Control, supervision, and management of secondary state highway system components
§ 33.2-327. Design standards for secondary state highway system components
§ 33.2-328. Department of Transportation to install and maintain certain signs
§ 33.2-333. Emergency paving of unpaved secondary highways; notice and local concurrence
§ 33.2-334. Requirements for taking new streets into secondary state highway system
§ 33.2-335. Taking certain streets into secondary state highway system
§ 33.2-336. Funds allocated to counties for Rural Addition Program; street standards
§ 33.2-337. Contributions to primary or secondary state highway construction by counties
§ 33.2-338. Construction and improvement of primary or secondary highways by counties
§ 33.2-339. Maintenance, etc., of streets and highways in certain towns from secondary funds
§ 33.2-340. Maintenance, etc., by Commissioner of Highways when no request for allocation
§ 33.2-341. Maps of secondary state highway system
§ 33.2-342. Resumption of responsibility for secondary state highways by counties
§ 33.2-343. Return after withdrawal from secondary state highway system
§ 33.2-344. Election to determine return to the secondary state highway system
§ 33.2-345. Effect of election to determine return to the secondary state highway system
§ 33.2-346. Machinery, etc., owned by returning county
§ 33.2-347. Minimum street and highway standards for certain towns
§ 33.2-349. Character of signs, markings, and signals
§ 33.2-350. Landscape studies for urban highway construction projects
§ 33.2-351. Definition of "allocation."
§ 33.2-352. Asset management practices; report
§ 33.2-353. Commonwealth Transportation Board to develop and update Statewide Transportation Plan
§ 33.2-354. Commonwealth Transportation Board to develop and update Statewide Pedestrian Policy
§ 33.2-355. Goals for addressing transportation needs of populations with limited mobility
§ 33.2-356. Funding for extraordinary repairs
§ 33.2-357. Revenue-sharing funds for systems in certain localities
§ 33.2-358. Allocation of funds to programs
§ 33.2-359. Unpaved secondary highway funds
§ 33.2-360. Allocation of funds for interstate match
§ 33.2-363. Construction of U.S. Route 29 bypass
§ 33.2-367. Highway aid to mass transit
§ 33.2-368. Financial plans for transportation construction projects
§ 33.2-369. State of good repair
§ 33.2-370. High-priority projects program
§ 33.2-371. Highway construction district grant programs
§ 33.2-372. Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program