97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1222

 

Introduced 2/8/2011, by Sen. John M. Sullivan

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
605 ILCS 5/9-113  from Ch. 121, par. 9-113

    Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that any public water district organized under the Public Water District Act is authorized to construct, maintain, alter, and extend its water main along, upon, under, and across any highway, street, alley, or public ground in the State. Effective immediately.


LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1222LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Highway Code is amended by changing
5Section 9-113 as follows:
 
6    (605 ILCS 5/9-113)  (from Ch. 121, par. 9-113)
7    Sec. 9-113. (a) Except as provided in subsection (l-2), no
8No ditches, drains, track, rails, poles, wires, pipe line or
9other equipment of any public utility company, municipal
10corporation or other public or private corporation,
11association or person shall be located, placed or constructed
12upon, under or along any highway, or upon any township or
13district road, without first obtaining the written consent of
14the appropriate highway authority as hereinafter provided for
15in this Section.
16    (b) The State and county highway authorities are authorized
17to promulgate reasonable and necessary rules, regulations, and
18specifications for highways for the administration of this
19Section. In addition to rules promulgated under this subsection
20(b), the State highway authority shall and a county highway
21authority may adopt coordination strategies and practices
22designed and intended to establish and implement effective
23communication respecting planned highway projects that the

 

 

SB1222- 2 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1State or county highway authority believes may require removal,
2relocation, or modification in accordance with subsection (f)
3of this Section. The strategies and practices adopted shall
4include but need not be limited to the delivery of 5 year
5programs, annual programs, and the establishment of
6coordination councils in the locales and with the utility
7participation that will best facilitate and accomplish the
8requirements of the State and county highway authority acting
9under subsection (f) of this Section. The utility participation
10shall include assisting the appropriate highway authority in
11establishing a schedule for the removal, relocation, or
12modification of the owner's facilities in accordance with
13subsection (f) of this Section. In addition, each utility shall
14designate in writing to the Secretary of Transportation or his
15or her designee an agent for notice and the delivery of
16programs. The coordination councils must be established on or
17before January 1, 2002. The 90 day deadline for removal,
18relocation, or modification of the ditches, drains, track,
19rails, poles, wires, pipe line, or other equipment in
20subsection (f) of this Section shall be enforceable upon the
21establishment of a coordination council in the district or
22locale where the property in question is located. The
23coordination councils organized by a county highway authority
24shall include the county engineer, the County Board Chairman or
25his or her designee, and with such utility participation as
26will best facilitate and accomplish the requirements of a

 

 

SB1222- 3 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1highway authority acting under subsection (f) of this Section.
2Should a county highway authority decide not to establish
3coordination councils, the 90 day deadline for removal,
4relocation, or modification of the ditches, drains, track,
5rails, poles, wires, pipe line, or other equipment in
6subsection (f) of this Section shall be waived for those
7highways.
8    (c) In the case of non-toll federal-aid fully
9access-controlled State highways, the State highway authority
10shall not grant consent to the location, placement or
11construction of ditches, drains, track, rails, poles, wires,
12pipe line or other equipment upon, under or along any such
13non-toll federal-aid fully access-controlled State highway,
14which:
15        (1) would require cutting the pavement structure
16    portion of such highway for installation or, except in the
17    event of an emergency, would require the use of any part of
18    such highway right-of-way for purposes of maintenance or
19    repair. Where, however, the State highway authority
20    determines prior to installation that there is no other
21    access available for maintenance or repair purposes, use by
22    the entity of such highway right-of-way shall be permitted
23    for such purposes in strict accordance with the rules,
24    regulations and specifications of the State highway
25    authority, provided however, that except in the case of
26    access to bridge structures, in no such case shall an

 

 

SB1222- 4 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1    entity be permitted access from the through-travel lanes,
2    shoulders or ramps of the non-toll federal-aid fully
3    access-controlled State highway to maintain or repair its
4    accommodation; or
5        (2) would in the judgment of the State highway
6    authority, endanger or impair any such ditches, drains,
7    track, rails, poles, wires, pipe lines or other equipment
8    already in place; or
9        (3) would, if installed longitudinally within the
10    access control lines of such highway, be above ground after
11    installation except that the State highway authority may
12    consent to any above ground installation upon, under or
13    along any bridge, interchange or grade separation within
14    the right-of-way which installation is otherwise in
15    compliance with this Section and any rules, regulations or
16    specifications issued hereunder; or
17        (4) would be inconsistent with Federal law or with
18    rules, regulations or directives of appropriate Federal
19    agencies.
20    (d) In the case of accommodations upon, under or along
21non-toll federal-aid fully access-controlled State highways
22the State highway authority may charge an entity reasonable
23compensation for the right of that entity to longitudinally
24locate, place or construct ditches, drains, track, rails,
25poles, wires, pipe line or other equipment upon, under or along
26such highway. Such compensation may include in-kind

 

 

SB1222- 5 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1compensation.
2    Where the entity applying for use of a non-toll federal-aid
3fully access-controlled State highway right-of-way is a public
4utility company, municipal corporation or other public or
5private corporation, association or person, such compensation
6shall be based upon but shall not exceed a reasonable estimate
7by the State highway authority of the fair market value of an
8easement or leasehold for such use of the highway right-of-way.
9Where the State highway authority determines that the
10applied-for use of such highway right-of-way is for private
11land uses by an individual and not for commercial purposes, the
12State highway authority may charge a lesser fee than would be
13charged a public utility company, municipal corporation or
14other public or private corporation or association as
15compensation for the use of the non-toll federal-aid fully
16access-controlled State highway right-of-way. In no case shall
17the written consent of the State highway authority give or be
18construed to give any entity any easement, leasehold or other
19property interest of any kind in, upon, under, above or along
20the non-toll federal-aid fully access-controlled State highway
21right-of-way.
22    Where the compensation from any entity is in whole or in
23part a fee, such fee may be reasonably set, at the election of
24the State highway authority, in the form of a single lump sum
25payment or a schedule of payments. All such fees charged as
26compensation may be reviewed and adjusted upward by the State

 

 

SB1222- 6 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1highway authority once every 5 years provided that any such
2adjustment shall be based on changes in the fair market value
3of an easement or leasehold for such use of the non-toll
4federal-aid fully access-controlled State highway
5right-of-way. All such fees received as compensation by the
6State highway authority shall be deposited in the Road Fund.
7    (e) Any entity applying for consent shall submit such
8information in such form and detail to the appropriate highway
9authority as to allow the authority to evaluate the entity's
10application. In the case of accommodations upon, under or along
11non-toll federal-aid fully access-controlled State highways
12the entity applying for such consent shall reimburse the State
13highway authority for all of the authority's reasonable
14expenses in evaluating that entity's application, including
15but not limited to engineering and legal fees.
16    (f) Any ditches, drains, track, rails, poles, wires, pipe
17line, or other equipment located, placed, or constructed upon,
18under, or along a highway with the consent of the State or
19county highway authority under this Section shall, upon written
20notice by the State or county highway authority be removed,
21relocated, or modified by the owner, the owner's agents,
22contractors, or employees at no expense to the State or county
23highway authority when and as deemed necessary by the State or
24county highway authority for highway or highway safety
25purposes. The notice shall be properly given after the
26completion of engineering plans, the receipt of the necessary

 

 

SB1222- 7 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1permits issued by the appropriate State and county highway
2authority to begin work, and the establishment of sufficient
3rights-of-way for a given utility authorized by the State or
4county highway authority to remain on the highway right-of-way
5such that the unit of local government or other owner of any
6facilities receiving notice in accordance with this subsection
7(f) can proceed with relocating, replacing, or reconstructing
8the ditches, drains, track, rails, poles, wires, pipe line, or
9other equipment. If a permit application to relocate on a
10public right-of-way is not filed within 15 days of the receipt
11of final engineering plans, the notice precondition of a permit
12to begin work is waived. However, under no circumstances shall
13this notice provision be construed to require the State or any
14government department or agency to purchase additional
15rights-of-way to accommodate utilities. If, within 90 days
16after receipt of such written notice, the ditches, drains,
17track, rails, poles, wires, pipe line, or other equipment have
18not been removed, relocated, or modified to the reasonable
19satisfaction of the State or county highway authority, or if
20arrangements are not made satisfactory to the State or county
21highway authority for such removal, relocation, or
22modification, the State or county highway authority may remove,
23relocate, or modify such ditches, drains, track, rails, poles,
24wires, pipe line, or other equipment and bill the owner thereof
25for the total cost of such removal, relocation, or
26modification. The scope of the project shall be taken into

 

 

SB1222- 8 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1consideration by the State or county highway authority in
2determining satisfactory arrangements. The State or county
3highway authority shall determine the terms of payment of those
4costs provided that all costs billed by the State or county
5highway authority shall not be made payable over more than a 5
6year period from the date of billing. The State and county
7highway authority shall have the power to extend the time of
8payment in cases of demonstrated financial hardship by a unit
9of local government or other public owner of any facilities
10removed, relocated, or modified from the highway right-of-way
11in accordance with this subsection (f). This paragraph shall
12not be construed to prohibit the State or county highway
13authority from paying any part of the cost of removal,
14relocation, or modification where such payment is otherwise
15provided for by State or federal statute or regulation. At any
16time within 90 days after written notice was given, the owner
17of the drains, track, rails, poles, wires, pipe line, or other
18equipment may request the district engineer or, if appropriate,
19the county engineer for a waiver of the 90 day deadline. The
20appropriate district or county engineer shall make a decision
21concerning waiver within 10 days of receipt of the request and
22may waive the 90 day deadline if he or she makes a written
23finding as to the reasons for waiving the deadline. Reasons for
24waiving the deadline shall be limited to acts of God, war, the
25scope of the project, the State failing to follow the proper
26notice procedure, and any other cause beyond reasonable control

 

 

SB1222- 9 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1of the owner of the facilities. Waiver must not be unreasonably
2withheld. If 90 days after written notice was given, the
3ditches, drains, track, rails, poles, wires, pipe line, or
4other equipment have not been removed, relocated, or modified
5to the satisfaction of the State or county highway authority,
6no waiver of deadline has been requested or issued by the
7appropriate district or county engineer, and no satisfactory
8arrangement has been made with the appropriate State or county
9highway authority, the State or county highway authority or the
10general contractor of the building project may file a complaint
11in the circuit court for an emergency order to direct and
12compel the owner to remove, relocate, or modify the drains,
13track, rails, poles, wires, pipe line, or other equipment to
14the satisfaction of the appropriate highway authority. The
15complaint for an order shall be brought in the circuit in which
16the subject matter of the complaint is situated or, if the
17subject matter of the complaint is situated in more than one
18circuit, in any one of those circuits.
19    (g) It shall be the sole responsibility of the entity,
20without expense to the State highway authority, to maintain and
21repair its ditches, drains, track, rails, poles, wires, pipe
22line or other equipment after it is located, placed or
23constructed upon, under or along any State highway and in no
24case shall the State highway authority thereafter be liable or
25responsible to the entity for any damages or liability of any
26kind whatsoever incurred by the entity or to the entity's

 

 

SB1222- 10 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1ditches, drains, track, rails, poles, wires, pipe line or other
2equipment.
3    (h) Except as provided in subsection (h-1), upon receipt of
4an application therefor, consent to so use a highway may be
5granted subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent
6with this Code as the highway authority deems for the best
7interest of the public. The terms and conditions required by
8the appropriate highway authority may include but need not be
9limited to participation by the party granted consent in the
10strategies and practices adopted under subsection (b) of this
11Section. The petitioner shall pay to the owners of property
12abutting upon the affected highways established as though by
13common law plat all damages the owners may sustain by reason of
14such use of the highway, such damages to be ascertained and
15paid in the manner provided by law for the exercise of the
16right of eminent domain.
17    (h-1) With regard to any public utility, as defined in
18Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act, engaged in public
19water or public sanitary sewer service that comes under the
20jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission, upon receipt
21of an application therefor, consent to so use a highway may be
22granted subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent
23with this Code as the highway authority deems for the best
24interest of the public. The terms and conditions required by
25the appropriate highway authority may include but need not be
26limited to participation by the party granted consent in the

 

 

SB1222- 11 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1strategies and practices adopted under subsection (b) of this
2Section. If the highway authority does not have fee ownership
3of the property, the petitioner shall pay to the owners of
4property located in the highway right-of-way all damages the
5owners may sustain by reason of such use of the highway, such
6damages to be ascertained and paid in the manner provided by
7law for the exercise of the right of eminent domain. The
8consent shall not otherwise relieve the entity granted that
9consent from obtaining by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise
10the necessary approval of any owner of the fee over or under
11which the highway or road is located, except to the extent that
12no such owner has paid real estate taxes on the property for
13the 2 years prior to the grant of the consent. Owners of
14property that abuts the right-of-way but who acquired the
15property through a conveyance that either expressly excludes
16the property subject to the right-of-way or that describes the
17property conveyed as ending at the right-of-way or being
18bounded by the right-of-way or road shall not be considered
19owners of property located in the right-of-way and shall not be
20entitled to damages by reason of the use of the highway or road
21for utility purposes, except that this provision shall not
22relieve the public utility from the obligation to pay for any
23physical damage it causes to improvements lawfully located in
24the right-of-way. Owners of abutting property whose
25descriptions include the right-of-way but are made subject to
26the right-of-way shall be entitled to compensation for use of

 

 

SB1222- 12 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1the right-of-way. If the property subject to the right-of-way
2is not owned by the owners of the abutting property (either
3because it is expressly excluded from the property conveyed to
4an abutting property owner or the property as conveyed ends at
5or is bounded by the right-of-way or road), then the petitioner
6shall pay any damages, as so calculated, to the person or
7persons who have paid real estate taxes for the property as
8reflected in the county tax records. If no person has paid real
9estate taxes, then the public interest permits the installation
10of the facilities without payment of any damages. This
11provision of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly
12is intended to clarify, by codification, existing law and is
13not intended to change the law.
14    (i) Such consent shall be granted by the Department in the
15case of a State highway; by the county board or its designated
16county superintendent of highways in the case of a county
17highway; by either the highway commissioner or the county
18superintendent of highways in the case of a township or
19district road, provided that if consent is granted by the
20highway commissioner, the petition shall be filed with the
21commissioner at least 30 days prior to the proposed date of the
22beginning of construction, and that if written consent is not
23given by the commissioner within 30 days after receipt of the
24petition, the applicant may make written application to the
25county superintendent of highways for consent to the
26construction. This Section does not vitiate, extend or

 

 

SB1222- 13 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1otherwise affect any consent granted in accordance with law
2prior to the effective date of this Code to so use any highway.
3    (j) Nothing in this Section shall limit the right of a
4highway authority to permit the location, placement or
5construction or any ditches, drains, track, rails, poles,
6wires, pipe line or other equipment upon, under or along any
7highway or road as a part of its highway or road facilities or
8which the highway authority determines is necessary to service
9facilities required for operating the highway or road,
10including rest areas and weigh stations.
11    (k) Paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section shall not apply
12to any accommodation located, placed or constructed with the
13consent of the State highway authority upon, under or along any
14non-toll federal-aid fully access-controlled State highway
15prior to July 1, 1984, provided that accommodation was
16otherwise in compliance with the rules, regulations and
17specifications of the State highway authority.
18    (l) Except as provided in subsections subsection (l-1) and
19(l-2), the consent to be granted pursuant to this Section by
20the appropriate highway authority shall be effective only to
21the extent of the property interest of the State or government
22unit served by that highway authority. Such consent shall not
23be binding on any owner of the fee over or under which the
24highway or road is located and shall not otherwise relieve the
25entity granted that consent from obtaining by purchase,
26condemnation or otherwise the necessary approval of any owner

 

 

SB1222- 14 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1of the fee over or under which the highway or road is located.
2This paragraph shall not be construed as a limitation on the
3use for highway or road purposes of the land or other property
4interests acquired by the public for highway or road purposes,
5including the space under or above such right-of-way.
6    (l-1) Except as provided in subsection (l-2), with With
7regard to any public utility, as defined in Section 3-105 of
8the Public Utilities Act, engaged in public water or public
9sanitary sewer service that comes under the jurisdiction of the
10Illinois Commerce Commission, the consent to be granted
11pursuant to this Section by the appropriate highway authority
12shall be effective only to the extent of the property interest
13of the State or government unit served by that highway
14authority. Such consent shall not be binding on any owner of
15the fee over or under which the highway or road is located but
16shall be binding on any abutting property owner whose property
17boundary ends at the right-of-way of the highway or road. For
18purposes of the preceding sentence, property that includes a
19portion of a highway or road but is subject to the highway or
20road shall not be considered to end at the highway or road. The
21consent shall not otherwise relieve the entity granted that
22consent from obtaining by purchase, condemnation or otherwise
23the necessary approval of any owner of the fee over or under
24which the highway or road is located, except to the extent that
25no such owner has paid real estate taxes on the property for
26the 2 years prior to the grant of the consent. This provision

 

 

SB1222- 15 -LRB097 06787 HEP 46878 b

1is not intended to absolve a utility from obtaining consent
2from a lawful owner of the roadway or highway property (i.e. a
3person whose deed of conveyance lawfully includes the property,
4whether or not made subject to the highway or road) but who
5does not pay taxes by reason of Division 6 of Article 10 of the
6Property Tax Code. This paragraph shall not be construed as a
7limitation on the use for highway or road purposes of the land
8or other property interests acquired by the public for highway
9or road purposes, including the space under or above such
10right-of-way.
11    (l-2) Any public water district organized under the Public
12Water District Act is authorized to construct, maintain, alter,
13and extend its water main along, upon, under, and across any
14highway, street, alley, or public ground in the State, as
15provided in Section 9 of the Public Water District Act.
16    (m) The provisions of this Section apply to all permits
17issued by the Department of Transportation and the appropriate
18State or county highway authority.
19(Source: P.A. 92-470, eff. 1-1-02; 93-357, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.