The purpose of this chapter is to establish road classifications,
including the classification of minimum maintenance road, in the Town
of Little Valley, which is a rural Town having a population density
which does not exceed 150 persons per square mile. By establishing
such road classifications, the Town Board of the Town of Little Valley
intends to implement in the Town of Little Valley the Local Roads
Classification Task Force Report issued on December 30, 1992, by the
New York State Local Roads Research and Coordination Council.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURAL LAND ACCESS ROAD
A road which provides access to farm land on which traffic
volumes are low and vary seasonally. Such roads should be wide enough
to accommodate farm equipment.
FARM ACCESS ROAD
A road which provides access to a farm's center of operation,
including the residence. Traffic volume is generally low on such roads,
but may include occasional heavy trucks and farm equipment.
LOW-VOLUME COLLECTOR
A road which collects traffic from any of the other classifications
and channels it to higher level roads, such as arterials and interstates.
LOW-VOLUME RURAL ROAD
A road having an average traffic volume of less than 400
vehicles per day and includes the classifications "low volume collector,"
"residential access," "farm access," "resource/industrial access,"
"agricultural land access," "recreational land access" and "minimum
maintenance road."
MINIMUM MAINTENANCE ROAD
A low-volume road or road segment which has an average traffic
volume of less than 50 vehicles per day and which principally or exclusively
provides agricultural or recreational land access and shall not include
farm access roads or roads which provide access to one or more year-round
residences.
RECREATION LAND ACCESS
A road which provides access to recreational land, including
seasonal dwellings and parks. Traffic volumes may vary with the type
of recreation facility and season of the year and may include recreational
vehicles.
RESIDENTIAL ACCESS ROAD
A road which provides access to one or more residences. Year-round
access for fire trucks, ambulances and school buses should be provided.
RESOURCE/INDUSTRIAL ACCESS ROAD
A road which provides access to industrial and mining operations.
Traffic volume varies and can include heavy trucks and significant
numbers of employees' automobiles.
TOWN BOARD
The Town Board of the Town of Little Valley, Cattaraugus
County, New York.
The Town Superintendent of Highways, in the event he finds it
to be in the best interests of the Town, may designate Town roads
in the Town of Little Valley, or portions thereof, in one of the following
classifications: low-volume collector; residential access; farm access;
resource/industrial access; agricultural land access; or recreational
land access. Within 10 days after any such designation is made by
the Town Highway Superintendent, he shall file a copy thereof in the
office of the Town Clerk, who shall present a copy thereof to each
member of the Town Board within 10 days after such filing. Any such
designation shall be accompanied by a written statement signed by
the Highway Superintendent which shall set forth the information upon
which such designated was based and establishing that such classification
is consistent with the requirements of this chapter. The Town Board
may, after the filing of any such designation, adopt a resolution
accepting the same and such designation shall become effective on
the date on which such resolution is adopted.
Within five days after the findings required by the preceding
section of this chapter are filed in the office of the Town Clerk,
the Town Clerk shall forward copies of such findings by certified
mail to the Board of Education of every school district in which such
road or road segment is located and to the Town and County Planning
Boards. Within 45 days following their receipt of such findings, each
such Board shall file with the Town Clerk a written statement either
recommending such road designation or not recommending it. In the
event that the designation is not recommended, the Board shall set
forth its reasons therefor. The Town Board may, by resolution, accept,
accept in part, or reject the recommendations of any such Board and
shall do so prior to the enactment of a local law pursuant to the
preceding section. In the event that a Board of Education or a Planning
Board shall fail to take action upon the findings, the Town Board
shall consider such inaction as a recommendation that the road or
portion thereof be designated as a minimum maintenance road.
The Town Highway Superintendent shall place signs in conformance
with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the New York
State Department of Transportation's Traffic Sign Handbook for
Low Volume Roads on all minimum maintenance roads. Properly posted
signs shall constitute prima facie evidence of adequate notice to
the public of the designation of a road as a minimum maintenance road.
The Town Highway Superintendent shall maintain minimum maintenance
roads in such manner as he determines from time to time to be consistent
with the volume and type of traffic traveling thereon. Normal road
maintenance practices such as, but not limited to, paving, patching,
blading, dragging and mowing may be undertaken less frequently than
for normal maintenance roads, depending upon the existing condition
and use of the limited maintenance road involved, as shall be determined
by the Highway Superintendent.