§ 24-01-01 — Declaration of legislative intent

Adequate roads and streets provide for the free flow of traffic; result in low cost of motor
vehicle operation; protect the health and safety of the citizens of the state; increase property
value; and generally promote economic and social progress of the state. Therefore, the
legislative assembly hereby determines and declares that an adequate and integrated system of
roads and streets is essential to the general welfare of the state of North Dakota.
In designating the highway systems of this state, as hereinafter provided, the legislative
assembly places a high degree of trust in the hands of those officials whose duty it is, within the
limits of available funds, to plan, develop, operate, maintain, and protect the highway facilities of
this state, for present as well as for future use. To this end, it is the intent of the legislative
assembly to make the director of the department, and the department acting through the
director, custodian of the state highway system and to provide sufficiently broad authority to
enable the director of the department to function adequately and efficiently in all areas of
appropriate jurisdiction with specific details to be determined by reasonable rules and
regulations which may be promulgated by the director, subject to the limitations of the
constitution and the legislative mandate hereinafter imposed.
It is recognized that the efficient management, operation, and control of our county roads,
city streets, and other public thoroughfares are likewise a matter of vital public interest.
Therefore, it is the further intent of the legislative assembly to bestow upon the boards of county
commissioners similar authority with respect to the county road system and to local officials with
respect to the roads under their jurisdiction.
While it is necessary to fix responsibilities for the construction, maintenance, and operation
of the several systems of highways, it is intended that the state of North Dakota shall have an
integrated system of all roads and streets to provide safe and efficient highway transportation
throughout the state. To this end, it is the intent of the legislative assembly to give broad
authority and definite responsibility to the director of the department and to the boards of county
commissioners so that working together, free from political pressure and local interests, they
may provide for the state an integrated system of state and county highways built upon a basis
of sound engineering with full regard to the interest and well-being of the state as a whole.
Providing adequate public highway facilities, including rural and urban links, is hereby
declared to be a proper public use and purpose and the legislative assembly hereby determines
and declares that chapter 177 of the Session Laws of 1953 is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, for the promotion of the general welfare,
and as a contribution to the national defense.