[Adopted 6-5-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013]
The Town Board has determined that certain high-intensity traffic associated with large construction projects can damage and significantly reduce the life of Town highways, which must then be repaired at the expense of the Town's taxpayers. The Town Board has further determined that such damage can be reliably measured using recognized engineering standards. In addition, the Town Board has determined that the strength and capacity of Town highways may in some cases be inadequate to meet the demands of traffic for large construction projects and that upgrades to Town highways may be necessary to accommodate such traffic. The Town Board finds that it is in the best interest of the citizens and taxpayers of the Town to have the developers of such large construction projects bear responsibility for making any necessary upgrades to Town highways and repairing any damage caused to Town highways at the expense of such developers. The purpose of this article is to establish a mechanism by which the developers of large construction projects that will generate traffic likely to require upgrades or cause damage to Town highways shall ensure that such upgrades are made and such damage is repaired at the developer's own expense.
This article is enacted pursuant to New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1660, New York Municipal Home Rule Law § 10, New York Statute of Local Governments § 10, and New York Highway Law §§ 320 and 326.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth herein:
BASELINE TRAFFIC
Recurring ambient traffic presented on an annualized basis. It includes typical daily activities on Town highways (hereinafter defined), such as passenger vehicles, school buses, delivery vehicles, garbage trucks, and normal commuter and business traffic. Baseline traffic is the cause of normal wear and tear for which a Town highway is constructed. Baseline traffic does not include unusual heavy traffic occurring on a temporary basis for such things as construction activity (hereinafter defined).
CONCENTRATED TRAFFIC
Traffic intended to travel upon or traveling upon Town highways to or from the site of construction activity which is not baseline traffic and which will exceed the predetermined normal wear and tear thresholds of one or more Town highways or segments of Town highways.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
Any activity occurring or to occur in or outside of the Town that results in land disturbance or the improvement of a parcel. Evidence of construction activity includes, without limitation, those activities which are also being undertaken subject to:
A. 
Federal permits and approvals, including, without limitation, approvals subject to the National Environmental Policy Act and activities subject to the following nationwide permits, as amended and issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Permit 8 (oil and gas structures), Permit 12 (utility line activities), Permit 13 (bank stabilization), Permit 16 (return water from upland contained disposal areas), Permit 17 (hydropower projects), Permit 21 (surface coal mining operations), Permit 29 (residential developments), Permit 33 (temporary construction, access, and dewatering), Permit 38 (cleanup of hazardous and toxic waste), Permit 39 (commercial and institutional developments), and Permit 44 (mining activities); or
B. 
State permits and approvals, including, without limitation: highway work permits, waste transporter permits, SPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity, overweight/oversize vehicle permit, authority to transport property (except household goods), divisible load overweight permit, special hauling trip and annual oversize/overweight loads permit, LCV/tandem trailer permit, and special hauling permit; or
C. 
Local permits and approvals, if applicable, including, without limitation: aquifer protection permit, sludge disposal permit, mining permit, gravel mining permit, permit for well in aquifer area, overweight/oversize vehicle permit, zoning change, special use permit, and site plan approval.
D. 
Construction activity shall not include land-clearing activity or the improvement of a parcel related solely to "farm woodland" or "land used in agricultural production," as those terms are defined pursuant to New York Agriculture and Markets Law § 301.
PERSON
Any person, persons, corporation, partnership, limited-liability company, or other entity.
PROGRAM MANUAL
Road Use and Preservation Program Manual, Version 2.0, dated February 2012, prepared by Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, P.C., the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this article as Appendix 1.[1]
TECHNICAL MANUAL
Road and Preservation Technical Manual, Version 2.0, dated February 2012, prepared by Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, P.C., the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this article as Appendix 2.[2]
TOWN HIGHWAY
Those roads and highways and related appurtenances of the Town which are owned or maintained by the Town or otherwise exist as Town highways by dedication or use, including, without limitation, roadways, shoulders, guide rails, bridges, tunnels, culverts, sluices, ditches, swales, sidewalks, or any utilities or improvements therein, thereon, or thereunder. A map of all highways of the Town is and shall be maintained by the Town Highway Superintendent.
TOWN HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT
The Superintendent of Highways or his or her designee.
[1]
Editor's Note: The appendixes are on file in the Town offices.
[2]
Editor's Note: The appendixes are on file in the Town offices.
This article shall apply to any person who, individually or in concert with another person, intends to undertake construction activity that will result in concentrated traffic on Town highways.
A. 
Any person identified under § 123-18 of this article shall, prior to undertaking such construction activity or allowing, directing, or inducing concentrated traffic to travel upon Town highways, submit a haul route application form and project traffic worksheet to the Town Highway Superintendent in accordance with the forms and procedures set forth in the Program Manual.
B. 
The Town Highway Superintendent shall review such application and worksheet in accordance with the Program Manual and the Technical Manual. Within no more than 30 days after receipt of a complete haul route application and project traffic worksheet, the Town Highway Superintendent shall notify the applicant whether the use of Town highways will result in concentrated traffic.
(1) 
If the proposed use of Town highways will not result in concentrated traffic, the remaining provisions of this article shall not be applicable to the applicant.
(2) 
If the proposed use of Town highways will result in concentrated traffic, the applicant must either:
(a) 
Modify the intended haul route and certify to the Town that no traffic generated by the applicant's construction activity will travel over or upon a Town highway so that such traffic will not constitute concentrated traffic; or
(b) 
Comply with the provisions of § 123-20 of this article.
If the Town Highway Superintendent determines that traffic generated by an applicant's construction activity will result in concentrated traffic, the applicant shall be required to comply with the following provisions:
A. 
The applicant shall be required to set forth a haul route declaration as set forth in the Program Manual.
B. 
The Town's engineering consultant shall examine each segment of the proposed haul route in order to:
(1) 
Evaluate the Town highways on the proposed haul route for design, geometric, or health and safety deficiencies, as those deficiencies are defined more fully by the Program Manual; and
(2) 
Estimate the costs and procedures necessary to upgrade such Town highways on the proposed haul route if the Town's engineering consultant determines that the Town highways on the proposed haul route must be upgraded to accommodate the applicant's concentrated traffic; and
(3) 
If available, propose an alternate haul route if required due to design deficiencies or if desired by the applicant to minimize estimated upgrade or repair costs to the haul route.
C. 
The Town's engineering consultant shall design or approve, in conjunction with the Town Highway Superintendent or the Town Engineer, all structural, geometric, and roadbed upgrades to Town highways necessary to accommodate the applicant's concentrated traffic, which upgrades shall be made at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection H. An applicant that has completed upgrades to Town highways in accordance with this subsection will not be responsible for repairing Town highways on the applicant's haul route, provided that the applicant's actual traffic does not exceed the scope, volume, weight, or trips reported on the applicant's haul route declaration.
D. 
The Town's engineering consultant shall conduct all pre-use testing and threshold evaluation of each segment of a haul route that is a Town highway in accordance with the methods set forth in the Program Manual and the Technical Manual.
E. 
If no upgrades have been required and/or made to the Town highways on the proposed haul route, and the Town's engineering consultant determines that the applicant's concentrated traffic is expected to cause damage to Town highways, the Town's engineering consultant shall provide the Town Highway Superintendent and the applicant with an estimate of the cost to repair such damage. Prior to the use of any haul route segment on Town highways, the applicant shall agree to make all such repairs at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection H (including the posting of appropriate security). If any haul route segment is on unpaved Town highways, the Town Highway Superintendent may require, upon the recommendation of the Town's engineering consultant, that such Town highways be subject to weekly monitoring and that any damage be repaired within five days at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection H.
F. 
The Town's engineering consultant shall conduct all post-use testing and damage assessment of each segment of a haul route that is a Town highway in accordance with the methods set forth in the Program Manual and the Technical Manual. The Town's engineering consultant shall provide an estimate of the cost of repairing any actual damage to Town highways caused by the applicant's concentrated traffic. Upon receiving the estimate, the applicant shall make all such repairs at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection H. Upon the satisfactory completion of the repairs and the approval of such repairs by the Town Highway Superintendent, any unused security shall be returned to the applicant.
G. 
Any security for performance and/or payment required under this article shall be in an amount set by the Town Board upon the recommendation of the Town's engineering consultant. Any such security shall be provided pursuant to a written security agreement with the Town, approved by the Town Board and also approved by the Town Attorney as to form, sufficiency, and manner of execution. At the Town Board's discretion, the security may be in the form of:
(1) 
A performance or payment bond, as applicable;
(2) 
The deposit of funds with the Town;
(3) 
An irrevocable letter of credit from a bank authorized to do business in New York State; or
(4) 
Other financial guarantee acceptable to the Town Board.
H. 
An applicant shall be permitted to undertake upgrade or repair work only if the Town Highway Superintendent determines that the applicant, or a contractor hired by the applicant, has the capability and experience to make the necessary repairs or upgrades. All work shall be performed pursuant to an agreement, in writing, between the applicant and the Town, which shall require, among other things, the applicant or its contractor to complete the work in a timely fashion, post security in accordance with the requirements of Subsection G, indemnify the Town against all liability stemming from the applicant's work, and provide the Town with satisfactory evidence of insurance as determined by the Town, including liability insurance naming the Town as additional insured. All repairs or upgrades to Town highways shall be made in accordance with the specifications established by the Town Highway Superintendent and must be approved by the Town Highway Superintendent. In addition, the applicant shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the prevailing wage requirements of New York Labor Law. The applicant or its contractor shall obtain all governmental permits and approvals and obtain any private land rights that are necessary to make any required repairs or upgrades to Town highways. If the applicant does not wish to make such repairs or upgrades to Town highways, or is determined by the Town Highway Superintendent not to have the necessary capability to make such repairs or upgrades, then the applicant shall agree, in writing, to pay the Town for the cost of such repairs or upgrades to Town highways and post security in accordance with the requirements of Subsection G.
I. 
The applicant shall pay the Town for all of the Town's reasonable costs and expenses in implementing the requirements of this section, including, without limitation, the fees of the Town's engineering consultant in conducting all activities required hereunder and under the Program Manual and Technical Manual. The Town may, in some cases, provide the applicant with an estimate of such costs and expenses, and the Town Board may require the applicant to place funds in escrow to cover such costs and expenses before the Town incurs any such costs and expenses.
J. 
The applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold the Town harmless from all losses resulting from injury or death of persons or damage to property arising from the applicant's upgrades and repairs to Town highways.
K. 
If an applicant disagrees with any decision by the Town Board, the Town Highway Superintendent, or the Town's engineering consultant in the administration of this article, including, without limitation, the extent or method of a proposed highway upgrade or repair, any cost imposed upon the applicant, or an estimate of the amount of security to be held by the Town, and the applicant and the Town are unable to resolve their dispute through negotiation, the applicant may make a written request to the Town Board appealing such decision and requesting a public hearing at which the applicant shall have the right to appear and be heard. The Town Board shall hold such public hearing not fewer than five days nor more than 30 days after such request. The Town Board may reverse, modify, or affirm, wholly or partly, the decision appealed from and shall make such decision as in its opinion ought to have been made in the matter and, to that end, shall have all the powers of the board, official, or consultant from whose decision the appeal is taken. The Town Board shall issue a determination on the applicant's request within 15 days of the public hearing. In view of the Town's obligation to provide its residents with safe and properly maintained highways, the Town Board's determination shall be final.
L. 
In order to comply with the requirements of this section, an applicant shall have the option of entering into a road use agreement with the Town. A sample form of road use agreement meeting all the requirements set forth herein is attached to and made a part of this article as Appendix 3.[1] The applicant may ask to modify such form or propose a different form of road use agreement, but any such agreement must be in a form approved by the Town Board and also approved by the Town Attorney as to form, sufficiency, and manner of execution.
[1]
Editor's Note: The appendixes are on file in the Town offices.
From time to time, updates to the Program Manual and the Technical Manual may be published. The Town Board may from time to time update or replace any manual set forth as an appendix to this article by adopting a local law referencing and attaching such new or updated manual, and thereafter, the new or updated manual shall be binding on all persons subject to this article.
The Town Board may establish a schedule of fees relating to applications, approvals, inspections, and enforcement under this article.
The Town Board may, by resolution, except an applicant from the requirements of this article, provided that the Town Board makes a finding that the Town highways to be used by the applicant will be adequately protected and any damage to Town highways will be adequately repaired by virtue of the requirements or conditions imposed upon the applicant in connection with any federal, state, or local permit or approval, including, without limitation, mitigation measures imposed under the National Environmental Policy Act or the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
A. 
In addition to the following penalties and punishment, the Town Attorney may, at the request of the Town Board, maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or restrain any violation of this article.
B. 
The Town Highway Superintendent and Town police officers are hereby authorized to issue and serve appearance tickets with respect to any violation of this article. The Town Attorney shall prosecute all such violations.
C. 
Any person or persons convicted of violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of a violation. A conviction of a first violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment not to exceed three months, or both. A conviction of a second violation occurring within a period of five years is punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $800 or imprisonment not to exceed six months, or both. A conviction of a third violation occurring within a period of five years is punishable by a fine of not less than $800 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed nine months, or both. Each week that a violation continues uncorrected or is resumed shall constitute a separate additional violation.
D. 
In addition to the penalties prescribed herein, if any use of Town highways is made or threatened in violation of the New York Highway Law, the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, or other local law or ordinance of the Town, the Town Highway Superintendent may, in the name of and on behalf of the Town, seek all remedies allowed pursuant to such laws or ordinances.
The time periods prescribed herein in which the Town Board, the Town Highway Superintendent, other Town official, or the Town's engineering consultant shall act are not of the essence and shall not be construed as imposing a limitation on the time to act.
In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this article and the provisions of the Program Manual and the Technical Manual, the provisions of this article shall control. All ordinances, local laws, and parts thereof inconsistent with this article are hereby repealed.