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Title 23 — HighwaysRelease 119-73

§205 Forest development roads and trails

Title 23 › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - OTHER HIGHWAYS › § 205

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Funds for forest roads and trails must be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to build and keep up those roads and trails, including ones on experimental Forest Service areas. The Secretary can make contracts with state or local governments and set rules; state or local help can be accepted but is not required. Any construction estimated at $50,000 or more per mile, or $50,000 or more for a project under one mile (excluding bridges and engineering), must be advertised for bids. If costs are below those amounts or if no acceptable bids are received or bids are too high, the Secretary may do the work. The funds can also pay for nearby parking (including electric vehicle charging or natural‑gas refueling), restrooms, water, and fire‑control facilities.

Full Legal Text

Title 23, §205

Highways — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Funds available for forest development roads and trails shall be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to pay for the costs of construction and maintenance thereof, including roads and trails on experimental and other areas under Forest Service administration. In connection therewith, the Secretary of Agriculture may enter into contracts with a State or civil subdivision thereof, and issue such regulations as he deems advisable.
(b)Cooperation of States, counties, or other local subdivisions may be accepted but shall not be required by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(c)Construction estimated to cost $50,000 or more per mile or $50,000 or more per project for projects with a length of less than one mile, exclusive of bridges and engineering, shall be advertised and let to contract. If such estimated cost is less than $50,000 per mile or $50,000 per project for projects with a length of less than one mile or if, after proper advertising, no acceptable bid is received or the bids are deemed excessive, the work may be done by the Secretary of Agriculture on his own account.
(d)Funds available for forest development roads and trails shall be available for adjacent vehicular parking areas, which may include electric vehicle charging stations or natural gas vehicle refueling stations, and for sanitary, water, and fire control facilities.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2012—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–141 inserted “, which may include electric vehicle charging stations or natural gas vehicle refueling stations,” after “parking areas”. 1991—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–240 substituted “$50,000” for “$15,000” wherever appearing. 1968—Subsec. (c). Pub L. 90–495 increased from $10,000 to $15,000 the cost limitation on

Construction

per mile, or per project for projects of less than a mile, which the Forest Service may construct on its own account and struck out provisions spelling out the functions which the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to perform in carrying out such

Construction

. 1964—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–423 inserted “and other” after “experimental”. 1960—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–657 substituted “may enter into contracts” for “may enter into

Construction

contracts”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2012 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1991 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–240 effective Dec. 18, 1991, and applicable to funds authorized to be appropriated or made available after Sept. 30, 1991, and, with certain exceptions, not applicable to funds appropriated or made available on or before Sept. 30, 1991, see section 1100 of Pub. L. 102–240, set out as a note under section 104 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1968 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–495 effective Aug. 23, 1968, see section 37 of Pub. L. 90–495, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

23 U.S.C. § 205

Title 23 — Highways

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73