33.1-217 - Establishment of recreational waysides. - Virginia Statutes

§ 33.1-217. Establishment of recreational waysides.

(a) To promote the safety, convenience and enjoyment of travel on, andprotection of the public investment in, highways of this Commonwealth, andfor the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of scenic beauty withinand adjoining such highways, it is hereby declared to be in the publicinterest to acquire and establish recreational waysides and areas of scenicbeauty adjoining the highways of this Commonwealth.

(b) The Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner may, whenever in his opinionit is to the best interest of the Commonwealth, accept from the UnitedStates, or any authorized agency thereof, a grant or grants of anyrecreational waysides established and constructed by the United States, orany such agency thereof, or a grant or grants of funds for landscaping andscenic enhancement of highways, and the Commissioner may, on behalf of theCommonwealth, enter into a contract or contracts with the United States orany such agency to maintain and operate any such recreational waysides whichmay be so granted to the Commonwealth and may do all things necessary toreceive and expend federal funds for landscaping and scenic enhancement.

(c) The Commissioner may, whenever it is to the best interest of theoperation of the interstate, the primary or the secondary system of statehighways, establish, construct, maintain, and operate adjoining the statehighway appropriate recreational waysides and areas of scenic beauty.

(d) The Commissioner is authorized to acquire by purchase, gift or the powerof eminent domain such land or interest in land as may be necessary to carryout the provisions of this section, provided that in exercising the power ofeminent domain for areas of scenic beauty such areas must adjoin and liewithin one hundred feet of the right-of-way of the highway, and the procedureshall be mutatis mutandis the same as provided for the acquisition of land bythe Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner in Article 7 (§ 33.1-89 et seq.)of this chapter.

(Code 1950, § 33-133; 1966, c. 470; 1970, c. 322.)