Title 19, Title 19: Highways

§ 905. Construction of sidewalks, bicycle paths, and footpaths The legislative body of a municipality may construct and maintain suitable footpaths, bicycle paths, or sidewalks, or any combination of these, within the limits of town highways where they do not conflict with travel…

§ 905a. Curb cuts and ramps All newly constructed intersections or curbs in the State used by pedestrians shall be constructed with curb cuts or ramps that enable persons with ambulatory disabilities to have access to the sidewalk. Specifications for design of curb cuts or ramps …

§ 905b. Crosswalks All crosswalk markings shall be of uniform color, dimension, and location and be in conformance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administrations’ Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. (Added 1985, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amende…

§ 905c. Audible traffic signals Audible warning signals shall be installed at all intersections with an exclusive walk cycle where new traffic light systems are installed. As used in this section, “audible” means a signal that is sufficiently loud as to be heard when the traffic …

§ 906. Penalties A person who willfully drives over or parks or otherwise impedes normal use on a sidewalk or footpath, except where it is necessary to cross the sidewalk for the purpose of entering private grounds, shall be fined not more than $25.00 nor less than $5.00. (Added …

§ 910. Union of towns for highway improvements Two or more municipalities, by vote of their respective boards of aldermen and selectboards, may unite for the purpose of improving or repairing any portion of a highway passing into or through each of them. When a union has been eff…

§ 911. Apportionment of expense The expenses incurred may be apportioned as agreed upon by the committee before the work is begun. Each board named may accept donations for the work. A town or city shall not spend more than one percent of its grand list in any one year, unless a …

§ 916. Obtaining gravel within road limits A town may take gravel, earth, stone, or other material, needed to repair or build highways, that lies within the limits of the highway, whether the material is to be used at the place where taken or elsewhere on town highways. (Added 19…

§ 921. School zones (a) Municipalities shall erect or cause to be erected on all public highways near a school warning signs conforming to the standards of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as provided in 23 V.S.A. § 1025. (b) For the purposes of this section and 23 V…

§ 922. Furnishing signs The Agency is directed to procure a sufficient number of signs for the use of the several municipalities in carrying out the provisions of section 921 of this title. It shall furnish the signs to the municipalities at cost. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.…

§ 922a. Warning signs designating persons with a disability Signs designating the presence of a person with a disability shall be erected only with the consent of the individual or guardian. (Added 1985, No. 138 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; amended 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 119.)

§ 923. Quasi-judicial process In order to protect the rights of interested persons and the public, the process described in this section shall be used whenever so provided by other provisions of this title. As used in this section, “interested person” means a person who has a leg…

§ 924. Change of grade The elevation of a highway shall not be changed by cutting down or raising the roadbed in front of a dwelling house or any other building adjacent to the highway more than three feet without following the procedure under section 923 of this title. (Added 19…

§ 925. Laying fences down When the selectboard determines that a highway is liable to be obstructed by snowdrifts, and the fences adjoining the highway can be conveniently laid down, it may cause any portion to be laid down during the winter. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § …

§ 926. Damages; appeal The selectboard shall follow the procedures established in section 923 of this title in giving notice, inspecting property, determining need, awarding damages, and satisfying appeals. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 927. Snow fence When the selectboard determines that a highway is liable to be obstructed by snowdrifts that may be prevented by erecting a snow fence on land adjoining the highway, and on notice to and hearing of the owner or occupant of the land, it may cause a fence to be bu…

§ 928. Damages; appeal The selectboard shall follow the procedures established in section 923 of this title in giving notice, inspecting property, determining need, awarding damages, and satisfying appeals. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 935. Relocation of highway When a highway is made impassable, or the width reduced to prevent the free and safe passage, by a landslide or washout, or a bridge is swept away by a flood, the selectboard may change the location of the highway or the bridge and may discontinue any…

§ 936. Damages; appeal The selectboard shall follow the procedures established in section 923 of this title in giving notice, inspecting property, determining need, awarding damages, and satisfying appeals. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 940. Diversion When it appears necessary to protect a highway damaged by or expected to be damaged by flood waters or ice jams, the selectboard may change the course of or widen a stream, or provide storage for accumulated ice, and for these purposes may purchase or take the ne…

§ 941. Limitation Section 940 of this title shall not authorize the diversion of a stream, so that the value of a mill, manufactory, or machinery propelled by the water of the stream is diminished, without the consent of all interested persons. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), …

§ 945. Proceedings When it is necessary for the protection of a highway to erect an embankment or dike upon the banks of a stream, and the owner of the stream or of the lands adjacent will not permit town officials to enter upon the lands for this purpose, or requires them to pay…

§ 950. Establishment by selectboard Selectboard may lay out, establish, construct, or cause to be constructed and maintained a drain, ditch, or watercourse leading from a highway in the town, across the lands of any person to a watercourse, to carry away the surface water from th…

§ 951. Damages The selectboard shall follow the procedures established in section 923 of this title. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 952. Maintenance The town shall properly maintain the drain, ditch, or watercourse and keep it in good and sufficient repair until, upon notice and hearing, it is discontinued. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 955. Winter roads When a public highway is so obstructed by snow that travel is impracticable, the selectboard of the town may immediately lay out, prepare, and open a winter highway for travel in place of the obstructed highway. The highway shall be continued only during the w…

§ 956. Damages Before opening a winter highway, the selectboard shall follow the procedures established in section 923 of this title. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 957. Preparation for winter highway When the selectboard determines that a winter highway is likely to be needed, it may cause preparation to be made, using the same procedures described in section 923 of this title. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 958. Laying out roads for removal of lumber If it becomes necessary for the practical removal of lumber, wood, or other material to pass through the lands of a person other than those of the owner of the land from which the lumber, wood, or other material is to be removed, the …

§ 959. Use and discontinuance The selectboard may fix the length of time and conditions of use for the right-of-way. The selectboard may order the right-of-way closed or discontinued when in the selectboard’s judgment it is necessary to do so. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), §…

§ 970. County road commissioners (a) The Superior Court in each county shall appoint three county road commissioners annually, no two of whom shall be residents of the same town. They shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties, and shall hold their office for one …

§ 971. Defective roads and bridges; proceedings When a highway or bridge is out of repair or unsafe for travel, any three citizens or taxpayers in the State may give written and signed notice of the insufficiency to the selectboard of the town in which the highway or bridge is si…

§ 972. Notice and hearing The commissioners, after receiving the complaint with a deposit or other security, shall promptly notify the selectboard of the town, and one or more of the persons filing the complaint, of the time and place where the commissioners will meet for the exa…

§ 973. Report of county commissioners If, after the examination and hearing, the commissioners determine that the highway or bridge is out of repair or unsafe for travel, and that the public good demands that the highway or bridge be repaired, they shall determine what work or re…

§ 974. Filing report The commissioners shall promptly file their report in the office of the clerk of the county in which the highway or bridge is situated and deliver a copy of the report to the selectboard. The report shall be final and conclusive unless an appeal is taken as p…

§ 975. Proceedings upon failure to make required repairs At the expiration of the time limited for the repairs, without further complaint, and upon notice to the town as they deem reasonable, the commissioners shall determine if their order has been complied with by the town. If …

§ 976. Judgment against town; execution The clerk shall file the report and enter judgment in favor of the commissioners against the town for the amount named in the report, with costs. However, the aggrieved party may appeal to the Superior Court by filing with the county clerk,…

§ 977. Agent’s duties and pay The agent shall immediately repair the highway or bridge as directed in the report of the commissioners and receive out of the funds paid him or her up to $100.00 per day for his or her services in making the repairs. Any unexpended balance shall be …

§ 978. Liability of agent An agent appointed under the provisions of this chapter who willfully or negligently fails to spend the money paid to the agent, or to make return to the commissioners or the court of the amount of money not spent by the agent in making or repairing the …

§ 979. Road or bridge between towns or counties If the defective highway or bridge is on the line between two towns, and both towns are liable to keep the highway or bridge in repair, notice shall be given to both towns, and they shall be jointly liable the same as if the highway…

§ 985. Injuries from defective bridges and culverts (a) If damage occurs to a person, or his or her property, by reason of the insufficiency or want of repair of a bridge or culvert that the town is liable to keep in repair, the person sustaining damage may recover in a civil act…

§ 986. When one town is out of State When the damage mentioned in section 985 of this title accrues in consequence of the insufficiency or want of repair of a bridge built and maintained by two or more towns, one or more of which are out of this State, the action shall be brought…

§ 987. Extent of liability; notice required A person shall not recover against a town or other corporation for any damage sustained when crossing a bridge or culvert with a vehicle with a total gross weight exceeding the legal or posted weight limits. An action shall not be had o…

§ 988. Contents of notice The notice shall contain a description of the injury received or damage sustained. If bodily injuries are claimed, the part of the body injured shall be stated, with the extent and effect of the injury upon the health of the person injured, but the provi…

§ 991. Fine When a town, liable to keep in repair a highway or bridge, fails to do so, it may be indicted for this neglect by a grand jury of the county, and may be fined at the discretion of the court, whether any special damage has been sustained or not. The fine so assessed sh…

§ 992. Notice before indictment A town shall not be indicted for not keeping in repair its highways and bridges unless a notice describing the highway or bridge complained of and describing in general terms its defects, signed by some person residing in the State, is delivered to…