CHAPTER 307A
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Referred to in §461.11

  
     
307A.1  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Commission” means the state transportation commission of the state department of transportation.
  2.  “Department” means the state department of transportation.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §307A.1]

  
     
307A.1A  Transportation commission.
  1.  There is created a state transportation commission which shall consist of seven members, not more than four of whom shall be from the same political party. The governor shall appoint the members of the state transportation commission for a term of four years beginning at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 in the year of appointment and expiring at 12:00 midnight on June 30 in the year of expiration, subject to confirmation by the senate.
  2.  The commission shall meet in July of each year for the purpose of electing one of its members as chairperson.
2015 Acts, ch 123, §16; 2018 Acts, ch 1065, §2 – 4
Referred to in §69.19, 307.1
Confirmation, see §2.32

  
     
307A.2  Commission duties.
  Said commission shall:
  1.  Develop, coordinate, and annually update a comprehensive transportation policy and plan for the state.
  2.  Promote the coordinated and efficient use of all available modes of transportation for the benefit of the state and its citizens including but not limited to the designation and development of multimodal public transfer facilities if carriers or other private businesses fail to develop such facilities.
  3.  Prepare, adopt, and cause to be published a long-range program for the primary road system, in conjunction with the state transportation plan adopted by the commission. Such program shall be prepared for a period of at least five years and shall be revised, brought up-to-date, and republished at least once every year in order to have a continuing five-year program. The program shall include, insofar as such estimates can be made, an estimate of the money expected to become available during the period covered by the program and a statement of the construction, maintenance, and other work planned to be performed during such period. The commission shall conduct periodic reinspections of the primary roads in order to revise, from time to time, its estimates of future needs to conform to the physical and service conditions of the primary roads. Before the last day of December of each year, the commission shall adopt and cause to be published from its long-range program, a plan of improvements to be accomplished during the next calendar year. However, in years when the federal government is reauthorizing federal highway funding, the commission shall not be required to adopt and publish the annual plan of improvements to be accomplished until at least ninety days from the enactment of the new federal funding formula. This annual program shall list definite projects in order of urgency and shall include a reasonable year’s work with the funds estimated to be available. The annual program shall be final and followed by the commission in the next year except that deviations may be made in case of disaster or other unforeseen emergencies or difficulties. The relative urgency of the proposed improvements shall be determined by a consideration of the physical condition, safety, and service characteristics of the various primary roads.
  4.  Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing the criteria to be used by the commission for allocating funds as a result of any long-range planning process. The commission shall adopt such rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 17A as it may deem necessary to transact its business and for the administration and exercise of its powers and duties.
  5.  Identify, within the primary road system, a network of commercial and industrial highways in accordance with section 313.2A. The improvement of this network shall be considered in the development of the long-range program and plan of improvements under this section.
  6.  Approve all rules prior to their adoption by the director pursuant to section 307.12, subsection 1, paragraph “j”.
  7.  Establish and utilize such ad hoc advisory committees as determined necessary by the commission. The commission shall establish appointment provisions, membership terms, operating guidelines, and any other operational requirements for committees established pursuant to this subsection. Members of committees established pursuant to this subsection shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses.
[C97, §1532; S13, §1532; SS15, §1527-s1, -s2; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4626, 4631, 4632, 4633; C46, 50, 54, 58, §307.5, 308.1, 308.3, 308.4; C62, 66, 71, 73, §307.5; C75, 77, 79, 81, §307A.2]
84 Acts, ch 1043, §1; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1926; 88 Acts, ch 1019, §1; 89 Acts, ch 134, §4; 90 Acts, ch 1253, §120; 92 Acts, ch 1100, §2; 96 Acts, ch 1064, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1126, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1075, §7; 2002 Acts, ch 1063, §7, 8, 16; 2005 Acts, ch 20, §3; 2015 Acts, ch 123, §17 – 20; 2016 Acts, ch 1073, §95; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §74
NEW subsection 7

     
307A.3  Conflict of interest.
  A person shall not serve as a member of the commission if the person has an interest in a contract or job of work or material or the profits thereof or service to be performed for the department. Any member of the commission who accepts employment with or acquires any stock, bonds, or other interest in any company or corporation doing business with the department shall be disqualified from remaining a member of the commission.
2015 Acts, ch 123, §21

     
307A.4  Vacancies on commission.
  Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as regular appointments are made for the unexpired portion of the regular term. In the event the governor fails to make an appointment to fill a vacancy or fails to submit the appointment to the senate for confirmation as required by section 2.32, the senate may make the appointment prior to adjournment of the general assembly.
2015 Acts, ch 123, §22

     
307A.5  Compensation — commission members.
  Each member of the commission shall be compensated as provided in section 7E.6.
2015 Acts, ch 123, §23

     
307A.6  Commission meetings.
  The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson or when any four members of the commission file a written request with the chairperson for a meeting. Written notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be given to each member of the commission. A majority of the commission members shall constitute a quorum.
2015 Acts, ch 123, §24

     
307A.7  Expenses.
  Members of the commission shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. All expenses and salaries shall be paid from appropriations for such purposes and the commission shall be subject to the budget requirements of chapter 8.
2015 Acts, ch 123, §25

     
307A.8  Removal from office.
  Any member of the commission may be removed for any of the causes and in the manner provided in chapter 66 and such removal shall not be in lieu of any other punishment that may be prescribed by the laws of this state.
2015 Acts, ch 123, §26