314.21 - LIVING ROADWAY TRUST FUND.

        314.21  LIVING ROADWAY TRUST FUND.         1. a.  The living roadway trust fund is created in the office      of the treasurer of state.  The moneys in this fund shall be used      exclusively for the development and implementation of integrated      roadside vegetation plans.  Except as provided in subsections 2 and      3, the moneys shall only be expended for areas on or adjacent to      road, street, and highway right-of-ways.  The state department of      transportation in consultation with the department of natural      resources shall establish standards relating to the type of projects      available for assistance.  For the fiscal period beginning July 1,      1988, and ending March 31, 1990, the moneys in the fund shall be      expended as follows:  fifty-six percent on state department of      transportation projects; thirty percent on county projects; and      fourteen percent on city projects.         b.  A city or county which has a project which qualifies for      the use of these funds shall submit a request for the funds to the      state department of transportation.  A city or county may, at its      option, apply moneys allocated for use on city or county projects      under this subsection toward qualifying projects on the primary      system.  The state department of transportation in consultation with      the department of natural resources shall determine which projects      qualify for the funds and which projects shall be funded if the      requests for the funds exceed the availability of the funds.  In      ranking applications for funds, the department shall consider the      proportion of political subdivision matching funds to be provided, if      any, and the proportion of private contributions to be provided, if      any.  In considering the proportion of political subdivision matching      funds provided, the department shall consider only those moneys which      are in addition to those which the political subdivision has      historically provided toward such projects.  Funds allocated to the      cities, the counties, and the department which are not programmed by      the end of each fiscal year shall be available for redistribution to      any eligible applicant regardless of the original allocation of      funds.  Such funds shall be awarded for eligible projects based upon      their merit in meeting the program objectives established by the      department under section 314.22.  The department shall submit a      report of all projects funded in the previous fiscal year to the      governor and to the general assembly on January 15 of each year.         c.  Beginning April 1, 1990, the moneys in the living roadway      trust fund shall be allocated between the state, counties, and cities      in the same proportion that the road use tax funds are allocated      under section 312.2, subsection 1, paragraphs "a", "b",      "c", and "d".  However, after April 1, 1990, a city or county      shall not be eligible to receive moneys from the living roadway trust      fund unless the city or county has an integrated roadside vegetation      management plan in place consistent with the objectives in section      314.22.         2. a.  The department may authorize projects which provide      grants or loans to local governments and organizations which are      developing community entryway enhancement and other planting      demonstration projects.  Planning, public education, installation,      and initial maintenance planning and development may be determined by      the department to be eligible activities for funding under this      paragraph.  Projects approved under this paragraph require a local      match or contribution toward the overall project cost.         b.  The department may authorize projects which provide grants      or loans to local governments for the purchase of specialized      equipment and special staff training for the establishment of      alternative forms of roadside vegetation.  Projects approved under      this paragraph require a local match or contribution toward the      overall project cost.         c.  The department, in order to create greater visual effect,      shall investigate alternatives for concentrating plantings at      strategic locations to gain a greater visual impact and appeal as      well as stronger scenic value.  Equal attention shall be given to      providing safe and effective habitats for wildlife which can coexist      with highways.         d.  The department may authorize projects which provide grants      or loans to local jurisdictions for increased protection through the      use of easements, fee title acquisition, covenants, zoning      ordinances, or other provisions for protection of vegetation and      desirable environment adjacent to the right-of-way.  Off-right-of-way      projects shall emphasize vegetation protection or enhancement, scenic      and wildlife values, erosion control and enhancement of vegetation      management projects within the right-of-ways.         3. a.  Moneys allocated to the state under subsection 1 shall      be expended as follows:         (1)  Fifty thousand dollars annually to the department for the      services of the integrated roadside vegetation management coordinator      and support.         (2)  One hundred thousand dollars annually for education programs,      research and demonstration projects, and vegetation inventories and      strategies, under section 314.22, subsections 5, 6, and 8.         (3)  All remaining moneys for the gateways program under section      314.22, subsection 7.         b.  Moneys allocated to the counties under subsection 1 shall      be expended as follows:         (1)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1995, and ending June      30, 1996, and each subsequent fiscal year, seventy-five thousand      dollars to the university of northern Iowa to maintain the position      of the state roadside specialist and to continue its integrated      roadside vegetation management program providing research, education,      training, and technical assistance.         (2)  All remaining money for grants or loans under subsection 2,      paragraph "a".         c.  Moneys allocated to the cities shall be expended for      grants or loans under subsection 2, paragraph "a".  
         Sion History: Recent Form
         88 Acts, ch 1019, §5; 89 Acts, ch 246, §5; 89 Acts, ch 317, § 28;      91 Acts, ch 268, §516; 93 Acts, ch 169, § 16; 95 Acts, ch 220, § 26;      2009 Acts, ch 133, §238         Referred to in § 312.2, 314.20, 314.22, 455A.19