Relating to the installation of transmission lines on highway rights-of-way

This bill relates to the installation of transmission lines on highway rights-of-way. Under current law, the general assembly encourages proactive coordination between the department of transportation (DOT), local governments, utility companies, and other affected parties to minimize costs and avoid relocating utilities during highway construction. Affected parties are invited to participate in development meetings. However, failure to participate during the design phase does not prevent a construction project from moving forward. The bill requires the DOT, upon written request, to engage in coordination activities with a utility or transmission line developer to review highway corridors identified in the request for potential locations to place transmission lines. The DOT must share all known plans with affected utility or transmission line developers on planned future projects in the highway corridor if the planned highway project impacts the placement or siting of transmission lines. Under current law, the DOT is required to adopt administrative rules embodying a utility accommodation policy imposing reasonable restrictions on utility line placements on primary road rights-of-way. The bill prohibits the DOT from denying longitudinal transmission line installations extending any distance on a primary road right-of-way unless the DOT determines such an installation would endanger public safety or interfere with the proper function of the highway. The DOT must make the reasons for denying the installation of a longitudinal transmission line available to the public within 90 days. The DOT was previously required to develop an accommodation plan for the longitudinal utility use of freeway right-of-way, in consultation with the utilities commission. The DOT must also provide for extended payment and lease agreements to provide continuous funding for the living roadway trust fund. The bill strikes the requirement that the agreements be “extended” and the funding be “continuous” and instead prohibits the DOT from providing for payment and lease agreements for a term that exceeds 20 years. Current law requires transmission lines to be constructed near and parallel to roads, highways, and railways. The bill adds to the designated locations for transmission lines to be constructed within the right-of-way beside roads, highways, and railways. The lines must not interfere with the use by the public of the highways or streams, nor unnecessarily interfere with the use of any lands by the occupant.