N.Y. Highway Law Section 131-H
Separate highway districts in certain counties

The board may establish separate highway districts in counties containing more than three hundred thousand acres of unimproved unoccupied forest lands, for the purpose of constructing highways through such lands; such highway districts to be established upon the application of the owners of more than one-half to the non-resident lands therein. Any such highway district shall consist of contiguous tracts or parcels of land, and may include parts of one or more towns; and they may be changed, altered or abolished at any time by the board. Such board may appoint one or more commissioners to lay out and construct such highways in any such district, and prescribe the powers and duties, and direct the manner in which highway taxes shall be assessed, levied and collected upon the lands within the district, and the manner of expenditure thereof. If obligations should be issued on behalf of the district, the board may, for the purpose of repaying such loan, set aside and appropriate the highway taxes upon such lands, for a period not exceeding ten years from the time of making such loan. The board may, upon the application of the owners representing a majority in value, as shall be ascertained from the last annual assessment-roll of the real estate lying along the line of any highway, laid out through unimproved lands, in cases not provided for in the last preceding section, authorize the appropriation of the non-resident highway tax on the lands lying along such line, for the improvement of such highways. The board may direct the expenditure of any non-resident highway or bridge tax, set apart by an act of the legislature, in counties wherein such non-resident lands are situated, when the official life of commissioners appointed to receive and expend such taxes has expired.

Source: Section 131-H — Separate highway districts in certain counties, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/HAY/131-H (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed May 24, 2025).

110
Definitions 111
Payment and apportionment of cost among counties and towns 113
Annual statement of cost 114
Sources and use of county road fund moneys 115
Preparation of map showing proposed county road system 115–A
Abandonment of unused portions of town highways on county road system 115–B
Removal of road or part of road from county road system 115–C
Notice to municipalities where county roads are abandoned or revert to such municipalities 116
Statement and approval of proposed work 117
Construction and reconstruction of county roads 117–A
Highways in villages in Niagara county 117–B
Controlled-access highways in counties 117–C
Hawking, peddling, vending, sale of goods, wares or merchandise 117–D
Pedestrian overpass to be designated as the “Jennifer Bolender Memorial Overpass” 117–E
Pedestrian overpass to be designated as the “Police Officer Robert McLellan Memorial Overpass” 118
Acquisition by counties of lands for right-of-way and other purposes 118–A
Abandoning of parts of county highways 118–B
Entry upon lands by county superintendent 119
Purchase of lands 120
Petition to acquire lands 121
Commissioners of appraisal to be appointed 122
Duties of commissioners of appraisal 123
County treasurer to pay awards 125
Land may be sold or leased 126
Awarding of contracts 127
Payments from the county road fund 129
Maintenance and apportionment of cost 130
Bridges on county road system 131
County roads of additional width and increased cost at expense of village 131–A
Application 131–B
County highways and bridges 131–C
Location and construction of bridges 131–D
Construction by county of destroyed bridges 131–E
Bridges over county lines 131–F
Streets outside cities 131–G
Regulation of toll rates 131–H
Separate highway districts in certain counties 131–I
Boundary lines 131–J
Development of highways and other improvements in certain counties 131–K
County aid for construction and improvement of certain public highways and bridges in municipalities 133
Machinery, tools, equipment, implements, materials and supplies 133–A
Rental or hiring of county highway machinery, tools or equipment 134
Purchases by county purchasing agent 135
Snow removal, and cutting of weeds 135–A
Control of snow and ice conditions on county roads 136
Permits for work within the county road right of way 137
Maintenance of certain highways by a county 138
Bridge between Saratoga county and Warren county to be designated as the "Irving H 139
County liable for injuries caused by defective highways and bridges 139–A
Presentation of claims for torts
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Accessed:
May 24, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 131-H’s source at nysenate​.gov

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