314.21  Living roadway trust fund.
  1.  a.  The living roadway trust fund is created in the office of the treasurer of state. The moneys in this fund shall be used exclusively for the development and implementation of integrated roadside vegetation plans. Except as provided in subsections 2 and 3, the moneys shall only be expended for areas on or adjacent to road, street, and highway right-of-ways. The state department of transportation in consultation with the department of natural resources shall establish standards relating to the type of projects available for assistance. For the fiscal period beginning July 1, 1988, and ending March 31, 1990, the moneys in the fund shall be expended as follows:  fifty-six percent on state department of transportation projects; thirty percent on county projects; and fourteen percent on city projects.
  b.  A city or county which has a project which qualifies for the use of these funds shall submit a request for the funds to the state department of transportation. A city or county may, at its option, apply moneys allocated for use on city or county projects under this subsection toward qualifying projects on the primary road system. The state department of transportation in consultation with the department of natural resources shall determine which projects qualify for the funds and which projects shall be funded if the requests for the funds exceed the availability of the funds. In ranking applications for funds, the department shall consider the proportion of political subdivision matching funds to be provided, if any, and the proportion of private contributions to be provided, if any. In considering the proportion of political subdivision matching funds provided, the department shall consider only those moneys which are in addition to those which the political subdivision has historically provided toward such projects. Funds allocated to the cities, the counties, and the department which are not programmed by the end of each fiscal year shall be available for redistribution to any eligible applicant regardless of the original allocation of funds. Such funds shall be awarded for eligible projects based upon their merit in meeting the program objectives established by the department under section 314.22. The department shall submit a report of all projects funded in the previous fiscal year to the governor and to the general assembly on January 15 of each year.
  c.  Beginning April 1, 1990, the moneys in the living roadway trust fund shall be allocated between the state, counties, and cities in the same proportion that the road use tax funds are allocated under section 312.2, subsection 1, paragraphs “a”, “b”, “c”, and “d”. However, after April 1, 1990, a city or county shall not be eligible to receive moneys from the living roadway trust fund unless the city or county has an integrated roadside vegetation management plan in place consistent with the objectives in section 314.22.
  2.  a.  The department may authorize projects which provide grants or loans to local governments and organizations which are developing community entryway enhancement and other planting demonstration projects. Planning, public education, installation, and initial maintenance planning and development may be determined by the department to be eligible activities for funding under this paragraph. Projects approved under this paragraph require a local match or contribution toward the overall project cost.
  b.  The department may authorize projects which provide grants or loans to local governments for the purchase of specialized equipment and special staff training for the establishment of alternative forms of roadside vegetation. Projects approved under this paragraph require a local match or contribution toward the overall project cost.
  c.  The department, in order to create greater visual effect, shall investigate alternatives for concentrating plantings at strategic locations to gain a greater visual impact and appeal as well as stronger scenic value. Equal attention shall be given to providing safe and effective habitats for wildlife which can coexist with highways.
  d.  The department may authorize projects which provide grants or loans to local jurisdictions for increased protection through the use of easements, fee title acquisition, covenants, zoning ordinances, or other provisions for protection of vegetation and desirable environment adjacent to the right-of-way. Off-right-of-way projects shall emphasize vegetation protection or enhancement, scenic and wildlife values, erosion control and enhancement of vegetation management projects within the right-of-ways.
  3.  a.  Moneys allocated to the state under subsection 1 shall be expended as follows:
  (1)  Fifty thousand dollars annually to the department for the services of the integrated roadside vegetation management coordinator and support.
  (2)  One hundred thousand dollars annually for education programs, research and demonstration projects, and vegetation inventories and strategies, under section 314.22, subsections 5, 6, and 8.
  (3)  All remaining moneys for the gateways program under section 314.22, subsection 7.
  b.  Moneys allocated to the counties under subsection 1 shall be expended as follows:
  (1)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1995, and ending June 30, 1996, and each subsequent fiscal year, seventy-five thousand dollars to the university of northern Iowa to maintain the position of the state roadside specialist and to continue its integrated roadside vegetation management program providing research, education, training, and technical assistance.
  (2)  All remaining money for grants or loans under subsection 2, paragraph “a”.
  c.  Moneys allocated to the cities shall be expended for grants or loans under subsection 2, paragraph “a”.
88 Acts, ch 1019, §5; 89 Acts, ch 246, §5; 89 Acts, ch 317, §28; 91 Acts, ch 268, §516; 93 Acts, ch 169, §16; 95 Acts, ch 220, §26; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §238; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §89
Referred to in §312.2, §314.20, §314.22, §455A.19
Subsection 1, paragraph b amended