[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Martinsburg
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-18-1997 by L.L. No. 2-1997]
The Town of Martinsburg hereby enacts this article for the purpose
of reducing the cost of maintaining and rehabilitating low-volume
rural Town roads while providing that such roads, when used in a manner
consistent with the road classification, will be safe for the users
thereof. While there are generally accepted standards for roads over
which a relatively low volume of traffic passes, in the event there
can be a savings in the cost of maintaining or rehabilitating a road
that has relatively few vehicles traveling over it, the money saved
could be spent on more intense maintenance of roads over which travel
is greater. The result could be greater overall safety for the general
public. Since the Town resources to be expended for highways is limited,
it is incumbent upon the Town to utilize such limited resources in
a manner which targets expenditures on the most heavily traveled roads.
It is for such purposes that this article is enacted.
In 1986, the New York State Legislature created the Local Road
Classification Task Force (Chapter 708 of the Laws of 1986). Such
task force was charged with developing alternative guidelines for
classifying town and county roads in rural areas according to principal
uses and traffic volume. The task force consisted of the Commissioner
of Transportation or his designee, the Dean of the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences of Cornell University or his designee, four rural
Town highway superintendents, three rural county highway superintendents
and three rural businesspeople. Such task force, after considerable
discussion and upon hearing many experts, prepared local road classification
guidelines and issued a report in December of 1988. In December of
1989 the task force issued "A Manual: Guidelines For Rural Town and
County Roads" to facilitate the use of the local classification by
local officials. In July of 1990, the Legislative Commission on Rural
Resources worked with the Senate, Assembly, State Department of Transportation
and the Governors office to establish a New York State Local Roads
Research and Coordination Council (see Article 16-b of the Executive
Law and Chapters 565 and 652 of the Laws of 1990). The council was
empowered to work with the Department of Transportation to:
A.
Promote the training of municipal officials and employees to encourage
the utilization of innovative and cost-cutting procedures, as well
as more efficient highway maintenance and consolidation methods;
B.
Encourage the coordination of local road maintenance and storage
facilities;
C.
Encourage towns and counties to contract with each other for the
maintenance of local roads and bridges; and
D.
Develop a minimum maintenance road classification addressing repair
and service standards for low-volume rural roads, as well as procedures
to be followed by local governments for designing minimum maintenance
roads within their communities. Accordingly, the Council revised the
1989 Local Roads Classification Task Force Report and published it
for use by rural towns and county governments December 30, 1992.
The Town Superintendent of Highways, in the event he (or she) finds it to be in the best interests of the Town, may classify one or more roads or portions thereof as one or the following types of roads: low-volume collector; residential access; farm access; resource/industrial access; agricultural land access; recreational land access or minimum maintenance road. However, no road shall be finally determined to be a minimum maintenance road until so designated by the Town Board by local law. The classification of any road or designated portion thereof shall be consistent with the definitions of such type of road as set forth in § 190-10 of this article. Upon the classification of any road or portion thereof by the Town Superintendent, such designation shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk and a copy shall be presented to each member of the Town Board by the Town Clerk within 10 days of such filing. Such designation shall be accompanied by a finding by the Town Superintendent which shall contain the information upon which the Highway Superintendent relied when designating such road or portion thereof. The Town Board may, at a Town Board meeting following the filing of such designation, adopt a resolution accepting such designation, except that the designation of a minimum maintenance road shall be by local law as provided in § 190-4 of this article.
A.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 190-3 of this article, no road or portion thereof shall be designated as a minimum maintenance road, except after following the procedure set forth in §§ 190-4 through 190-6, inclusive.
(1)
The Town Superintendent of Highways shall submit to the Town Board
a recommendation that a road or portion thereof should be designated
as a minimum maintenance road. No road or portion thereof shall be
recommended as a minimum maintenance road by the Town Superintendent
of Highways unless traffic volume is less than 50 vehicles per day
as determined by the Town Superintendent of Highways and such road
or portion thereof is an agricultural land access road, and that such
road or portion thereof does not provide farm centers of operation
and/or year-round residences existing with principal motor vehicle
access to goods and services necessary for the effective support of
such farms and/or year-round residences.
(2)
The Town, upon the approval of such recommendation, shall by local
law designate such road or portion thereof as a minimum maintenance
road.
(3)
At least 10 days before the public hearing on such local law, written
notice of such hearing shall be served by certified mail upon every
owner of real property, as determined by the latest completed assessment
roll, abutting such road or portion thereof to be designated a minimum
maintenance road.
(5)
No road or portion thereof, once designated a minimum maintenance
road, shall be determined to have been abandoned pursuant to the provisions
of Subdivision 1 of § 205 of the Highway Law until at least
six years have elapsed since the termination of the designation of
said road or portion thereof as a minimum maintenance road.
(6)
Prior to any public hearing relating to the adoption of a local law
designating a low-volume road or portion thereof as a minimum maintenance
road, the Town Board shall issue findings that such road or portion
thereof should be designated a minimum maintenance road. Such findings
shall include but not be limited to:
(a)
The volume and type of motor vehicle traffic on such road;
(b)
A determination that the property owners of land abutting the
road shall continue to have reasonable access to their property.
(c)
A determination that the users of the road or portion thereof
traveling at a reasonable and prudent speed, under the circumstances,
shall not be placed in a hazardous situation; and
(d)
A determination that such road, or portion thereof, does not constitute a farm access as defined pursuant to § 190-10 of this article.
(e)
A determination that such road, or portion thereof, does not
constitute access to an existing year-round residence.
B.
Such findings shall be on file in the office of the Town Clerk and
be available for public inspection for at least 60 days before the
public hearing on the local law.
A copy of the findings in § 190-4 shall be transmitted to the Board of Education of the central school, and the Town and County Planning Boards in the Town and county in which each road or road segment is located. Such School Board and Planning Boards shall review the findings and within 45 days and file with the Town Clerk a resolution recommending such road designation or, in the event such designation is not recommended, the School Board or Planning Board shall set forth in a resolution the reasons for not recommending such designation. The Town Board may, by resolution, accept, accept in part or reject the recommendations of either the School Board or Town Planning Board or County Planning Board prior to any vote upon the proposed local law. In the event the School Board, County Planning Board or Town Planning Board take no action upon the findings issued by the Town Board, the Town Board shall consider such inaction as a recommendation for the proposed minimum maintenance designation.
Appropriate signs shall be placed on a minimum maintenance road.
Such signs shall notify and advise motorists of the need to exercise
caution when traveling such road and shall conform to the manual of
uniform traffic control devices. Properly posted signs shall be prima
facie evidence that adequate notice of a minimum maintenance road
designation has been given to the public.
Minimum maintenance roads shall be maintained in a manner determined by the Town Highway Superintendent to be consistent with the volume and type of traffic traveling on such road. Normal road maintenance practices such as, but not limited to, paving, patching, blading, dragging or mowing may be done less frequently depending upon the existing condition and use of the road as shall be determined by the Town Superintendent of Highways. The guidelines for the method and manner of maintaining a minimum maintenance road are set forth in § 190-10 of this article.
Any person or persons owning or occupying real property abutting
a road or portion thereof which has been designated a minimum maintenance
road may petition the Town Board to discontinue the designation of
such road or portion thereof as a minimum maintenance road. Such petition
shall be filed with the Clerk of the Town. Such petition shall identify
the road or portion thereof to be discontinued as a minimum maintenance
road and set forth the reasons for such discontinuance with the Clerk
of the Town. The Town Board shall hold a public hearing upon such
petition within 30 days after its receipt; at least 10 days' public
notice shall be given prior to the conduct of such public hearing.
At least 10 days before the public hearing on such petition, written
notice of such public hearing shall be served by certified mail upon
every owner of real property, as determined by the latest assessment
roll abutting such road or portion thereof. In the event the Town
Board, after such public hearing determines that such road or portion
thereof shall continue as a minimum maintenance road, no petition
may be submitted pursuant to this section until the lapse of at least
two years from the date of the filing of the petition. In the event
it is determined that such road shall be discontinued as a minimum
maintenance road, the Town Board, by local law, shall discontinue
such road or portion thereof as a minimum maintenance road and such
discontinuance shall take place six months after the commencement
of the next succeeding fiscal year.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 190-8, the Town Board may adopt a local law discontinuing such minimum maintenance road designation in the event it determines such discontinuance to be in the public interest.
The following tables and accompanying data shall be used as
guides by the Town Superintendent of Highways to classify low-volume
roads in the Town of Martinsburg and shall be used to enable the Town
Superintendent to determine the guidelines he may follow to enable
him to determine the manner in which low-volume rural roads may be
designed, maintained and operated.
A.
Classification.
The following classifications have been developed to establish a close
relationship between the uses of low-volume roads and their design,
maintenance and operation and are hereby adopted by the Town of Martinsburg.
The classifications identify the significant use characteristics,
including traffic volumes, vehicle types and seasonal use characteristics,
that are present on New York State's low-volume roads. Guidelines
for the design, maintenance and traffic control have been developed
that are closely matched to those use characteristics. Such guidelines
shall be used by the Town Superintendent of Highways. Land use adjacent
to the road shall be the basis for classification because it is a
convenient and accurate way of identifying the kind of use that a
low-volume road serves.
(1)
A
low-volume road is a road with zero to 50 vehicles per day.
(2)
LOW-VOLUME COLLECTOR
RESIDENTIAL ACCESS
FARM ACCESS
RESOURCE/INDUSTRIAL ACCESS
AGRICULTURAL LAND ACCESS
RECREATION LAND ACCESS
MINIMUM MAINTENANCE ROAD
Low-volume
road classifications in the Town of Martinsburg:
Collects traffic from any of the other classifications and
channels it to higher level roads, such as arterials and interstates.
Provides access to residences. The traffic volume generated
depends on the number of residences. All-year access for fire trucks,
ambulances and school buses should be provided.
Provides access to a farm's center of operations, including
the residence. Traffic volume is generally low, but may include occasional
heavy trucks and farm equipment.
Provides access to industrial or mining operations. Traffic
volume can vary and can include heavy trucks and significant numbers
of employees' cars.
Provides access to farm land. Traffic volumes are low and
vary seasonally. These roads should accommodate farm equipment that
can be up to 20 feet wide.
Provides access to recreational land including seasonal dwellings
and parks. Volumes of traffic can vary with the type of recreation
facility and season of the year, and may include recreational vehicles.
A low-volume road or road segment which may be of a seasonal
nature having an average traffic volume of less than 50 vehicles per
day which principally or exclusively provides agricultural or recreational
land access. A road segment which has been so designated with standards
contained in this section of the Guidelines. In no way shall the term
"minimum maintenance" be construed to mean "no maintenance" or "abandonment".
Further, such term shall not apply to those roads or road segments
which provide farm access as previously defined, or access to an individual
existing year-round residence.
(3)
The
guidelines for rehabilitation design shall include two rehabilitation
design types. Rehabilitation Design Type B is an area service, two-lane
road on which vehicles may have to reduce their speeds to pass. Rehabilitation
Design Type C is an area service, one-lane road on which either of
two passing vehicles must slow, stop or briefly leave the roadway
to allow the other to pass.[1]
(4)
Vehicle
interaction characteristic shall be considered by the Town Superintendent
of Highways as the basis for assigning the design types to the respective
classifications. Vehicle size (as determined by the absence or presence
of significant truck traffic) and traffic volumes (of either greater
or equal to 50 vehicles per day, or less than 50 vehicles per day)
are the criteria used. The fifty-vehicle-per-day threshold is used
because, at fewer than 50 vehicles per day, vehicles interactions
become so infrequent that the effect on vehicle operation is negligible.
(5)
The
guidelines to be followed by the Town Superintendent of Highways for
maintenance shall include provisions for a minimum maintenance designation
that allows a reduced level of maintenance on roads which are used
for agricultural or recreational land access.
(6)
The
guidelines for traffic control parallel the maintenance guidelines.
They may include recommendations for signs on normally maintained
roads and a minimum maintenance road sign shall be posted at the entrance
points to minimum maintenance roads. The only other signs recommended
for minimum maintenance roads are those mandated by law (for all roads).
B.
Surface
maintenance.
(1)
Crack
sealing: manually pouring hot asphalt, with or without a fiber reinforcement
material, into road surface cracks that have first been cleaned of
all loose debris, vegetation, etc. The cracks may occur at construction
joints, utility cuts, or just be random due to the effects of time,
weather, loads, etc. Crack sealing has been found to be a very cost-effective
measure, because it prevents the entry of water into the base course
and subgrade. By blocking the entry of water, crack sealing indirectly
strengthens the load supporting capability of the road. This may be
omitted on minimum maintenance roads.
(2)
Patching
and potholes: placement and compaction of asphalt concrete into surface
defects, such as potholes, which have first been cut back to sound
material and cleaned of loose debris, water, etc. While a certain
amount of this work will have to be done on an emergency basis during
inclement weather to provide a safe road, expedient patches should
be replaced with permanent patches using proper methods and materials
when conditions are favorable. Extensive patching and potholes is
an indication that a pavement has reached the end of its functional
life, and the road should be scheduled for rehabilitation in accordance
with the guidelines set forth in this article. This may be omitted
on minimum maintenance roads.
(3)
Surface
seals; also known as "chip seals." This method involves spraying a
rapid-setting emulsified asphalt onto the road surface, followed immediately
by the placement of a single layer of clean, crushed stone particles.
A pneumatic, rubber-tired compactor is used to press the stones into
the asphalt before the emulsion set up. Chip sealing is used where
the surface cracking is more extensive, while manual crack sealing
is used where the cracking is less extensive. Chip sealing may also
be used to enhance skid resistance on a slippery road. Where water
entry is prevented by the surface seal, some strengthening of the
road will result. This may be omitted on minimum maintenance roads.
(4)
Thin
overlays. While "thin" is a relative term, it is used here to refer
to hot-mix or cold-mix overlay having a thickness of 1 1/2 inches
or less. This method adds more to the structural capability of the
pavement than does a chip seal. However, it performs much the same
function as a chip seal, although it can be expected to have a more
lasting effect. When a thin overlay is placed on a paved road, it
is customary to use a tack coat to promote a bond between the old
surface and the overlay. According to the Asphalt Institute, the tack
coat should be sprayed from a distributor, allowing adequate time
for it to become "tacky" before paving. Traffic should be kept off
the tacked area before paving. They recommend using as SS-1 or a CSS-1
asphalt emulsion diluted 50-50 with water, and applied at a rate of
0.05 to 0.15 gallons per square yard. Application of tack coat at
higher rates should be avoided as this can lead to slippage of the
overlay or "bleeding" and loss of skid resistance on the surface of
the overlay. This may be omitted on minimum maintenance roads.
(5)
Snow
removal. Snow and ice control are performed to foster safety and to
expedite travel during the winter months. Blading of snow is done
to remove it from the roadway to prevent the buildup of ice. Abrasives
(sand, usually mixed with salt) are used to enhance trafficability
during a storm or immediately afterward when a thin layer of ice or
snow remains on the road. Salt is used to lower the melting temperature
of the ice, and to diminish the bond of the ice on the road surface.
This may be omitted on minimum maintenance roads.
(6)
Shoulder
maintenance. Activities may differ depending on whether the shoulder
is paved or unpaved. The objective is to keep the surface smooth so
that moving vehicles can leave the main roadway safely, and also to
assure that water from the road will move across the shoulder and
into the ditch or gutter. It is particularly important to remove the
accumulated winter maintenance abrasives from the shoulder to prevent
the retention of water near the edge of the pavement. This will be
done as necessary on minimum maintenance roads.
(7)
Blading.
For aggregate roads and unpaved shoulders, blading removes potholes,
corrugations, and other surface defects rendering the surface smoother
and safer to travel on. Blading is usually preceded by scarification
to a depth slightly deeper than the deepest surface defects. Blading
should be used to establish a cross-slope of 4% to 6% (1/2 inch to
3/4 inch per foot) for good drainage and to reduce the development
of potholes in the aggregate surface. This will be done a minimum
of once per year on minimum maintenance roads.
(8)
Regraveling.
The addition of aggregate materials to reestablish the crown and grade
of the road. This activity is commonly done at the same time as blading,
but less frequently. The new aggregate is needed periodically to make
up for materials that have been lost due to traffic, water erosion,
dusting, and blading losses. This will be done as necessary on minimum
maintenance roads.
(9)
Dust
palliation. Application of water, calcium chloride, sodium chloride
(salt), lignin sulfonate, or other nontoxic chemicals to bind the
surface and prevent loss of dust. Dust loss leads to the gradual erosion
of the road surface, reducing its thickness and loan supporting capability.
Dust can make summertime travel hazardous when traffic volumes are
sufficient to require passing maneuvers. Sometimes the use of dust
palliatives will reduce the need for blading and regraveling to a
sufficient degree to be highly cost-effective. This may be omitted
on minimum maintenance roads.
C.
Roadside
maintenance.
(1)
Cleaning:
picking up litter and other roadside debris, principally for aesthetic
reasons, but also to protect the flow capacity of culverts and ditches.
This will be done as necessary on minimum maintenance roads.
(2)
Mowing:
cutting grass and weeds. This is particularly important near driveways
and intersections, to provide a clear line of sight for traffic. This
will be done a minimum of once per year on minimum maintenance roads.
(3)
Brush
control: cutting woody shrubs to prevent encroachment onto the right-of-way.
This is important to provide adequate sight distance, particularly
around the inside of curves, and at driveways and intersections. This
will be done as necessary to maintain sight distance on minimum maintenance
roads.
(4)
Guide
rail maintenance: replacement of damaged, ineffective guide rail.
This may also involve use of herbicides to retard the growth of weeds
and shrubs in front of and immediately behind the guide rail. This
will be done as necessary on minimum maintenance roads.
(5)
Drainage:
cleaning debris from the inlets and outlets around culverts, and cleaning
ditches to maintain flow capacity. When possible, ditches should be
cleaned in the late spring of the year, so that vegetation will be
quickly reestablished to protect against erosion. At other times,
reseeding may be necessary for erosion protection. This will be done
as necessary on minimum maintenance roads.
(6)
Slope
maintenance: remove landslide debris, cut and remove trees from fill
slopes, protect against erosion due to runoff from the road surface
or ditches, seed slopes to retard erosion. Failures of slopes will
be repaired on minimum maintenance roads.
D.
Bridge
maintenance: cleaning of drainage scuppers, lubrication of pins and
bearings, painting of beams and railings, cleaning and patching of
deck surface defects, removal of winter maintenance abrasive and salt
residues, protection of bridge abutments against scour and erosion,
inspection of abutments, clearance of the waterway to maintain flow
capacity. This work will be done as necessary to preserve bridges
on minimum maintenance roads.
E.
Sign maintenance:
clearance of shrubs and trees obstructing visibility, replacement
of damaged signs, verifications that signs are used and placed in
accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
This section lists guidelines for traffic control on rural low-volume
and minimum maintenance roads. It describes methods of traffic control
that are cost effective and promote safety.
A.
Signs
on low-volume roads.
(1)
The
Town Superintendent of Highways is authorized in § 1682
of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to decide conditions to which drivers
are to be alerted with traffic control devices. It is mandatory to
provide signs indicating weight restrictions, low clearances, dead-end
roadways, railroad crossings and road closures. These are specified
elsewhere in law. On low-volume roads subject to normal maintenance
activities, the decision regarding the need for other signs should
be based on the principle of positive guidance. In essence, this principle
suggests that hazard warnings be provided whenever a driver cannot
anticipate a hazard in time to react safely.
(2)
When
a Town Superintendent of Highways decides that a condition on a Town
road is potentially hazardous, appropriate signing, in conformance
with the NYSMUTCD, is to be provided. The New York State Department
of Transportation's "Traffic Sign Handbook for Low-Volume Roads"
may be helpful in determining the type and location of signs to be
used, once the need for a sign has been established.
(3)
Features
that are inconsistent with the general driving environment should
be identified and analyzed for the possible installation of signs.
Identification can be made by driving over the road and noting if
a reduction in speed is necessary or if a surprising or unanticipated
feature is encountered. Such things as isolated curves or narrow bridges,
especially those with limited sight distance, should be evaluated
for a "surprise" factor. Signs at every curve are generally not necessary
on low-volume roads as drivers are cognizant of conditions. Signs
should be restricted to those features that the Town Superintendent
of Highways determines are inconsistent with the general highway environment
and cannot be anticipated early enough for drivers to take appropriate
defensive action. Records of all determinations should be made and
properly filed for future reference.
B.
Signs
on designated minimum maintenance roads.
(1)
Design
of road signs. The New York State Department of Transportation has
designed signs for posting minimum maintenance roads. Such signs notify
and advise motorists that reduced levels of maintenance are in effect.
These signs are contained in the New York State Manual of Uniform
Traffic Control Devices.
(2)
Installation
of signs. Minimum maintenance road signs shall be installed at each
end of the minimum maintenance section and immediately beyond intersections
with other public roads. The maximum distance between signs should
not exceed two miles. Additional installation conditions are set forth
in the Manual. Posting of minimum maintenance road signs will not
relieve the Town of its responsibility to post other legally-required
signs such as railroad crossings, dead ends, bridge capacity, low
clearance and road closures.
The following roads are designated as minimum maintenance roads:
A.
Agricultural Land Access with fewer than 50 ADT.
|
Agricultural Land Access With Fewer Than 50 ADT
| |
|
Borkowski Road
| |
|
Centerville Road Segment #2
| |
|
Corrigan Hill Road, except for that portion commencing at the
intersection of Corrigan Hill Road and West Road and running westerly
along Corrigan Hill Road for a distance of 400 feet to a point just
prior to Atwater Creek
[Amended 4-16-2007 by L.L. No. 2-2007[1]] | |
|
East Road Segment #1
[Added 8-20-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1997] | |
|
Fykes Road
| |
|
Snyder Road
| |
|
Steinmaker Road
|
B.
Recreational land access with fewer than 50 ADT.
|
Recreational Land Access With Fewer Than 50 ADT
| |
|
Carey Road
| |
|
Doyle Road
| |
|
Flat Rock Road Segment #1
| |
|
French Road
| |
|
Graves Road Segment #1
| |
|
Houseville Gulf Road
| |
|
Leonards Lane Road
| |
|
Maple Ridge Road
| |
|
Moren Road Segment #1
| |
|
Mud Creek Road
| |
|
Poor Road
| |
|
Rector Road Segment #1
| |
|
Rowsam Road
| |
|
Solomon Road, from a point 1/10 of a mile from its intersection
with County Route 41 south to where it dead ends
[Added 3-21-2012 by L.L. No. 1-2012] | |
|
Tabolt Road
| |
|
Toole Road Segment #1
| |
|
Toole Road Segment #2
| |
|
Wildwood Lane Segment #2[2]
|
[Adopted 11-15-2000 by L.L. No. 4-2000]
The Town Board of the Town of Martinsburg hereby finds that
the use of snowmobile trails on seasonal roads in the Town of Martinsburg
has become an important part of the economy of the Town and provides
recreational opportunities to many Town residents as well as others
from outside the Town. To ensure adequate maintenance of such trails
and consistency of maintenance, the Town Board finds it necessary
to license the grooming of these trails. It is the purpose of this
article to provide a method for doing so.
No person shall be allowed to groom snowmobile trails on seasonal
and minimum-maintenance roads in the Town of Martinsburg without the
specific written permission of the Town Board.
Any person grooming trails on seasonal/minimum maintained roads
in the Town of Martinsburg without such permission shall be subject
to a fine not to exceed $250 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 15
days or both. Each day of activity shall be considered a separate
violation.
