(1) The board of county commissioners may designate, by resolution, any public roads in the county as a section of a pioneer trail. A pioneer trail consists of public roads that follow as closely as possible the original trails or routes of travel of national historic significance. To make such designation, the board must identify all of the roads that make up the pioneer trail. The board shall not designate a pioneer trail across public lands on a road administered by the federal government unless the road is designated as open to travel by the appropriate federal land management agency. Except as set forth in subsection (2) of this section, the designation of the pioneer trail is effective upon the date of the resolution.
If a county designates any portion of a state highway as a pioneer trail, the designation is not effective unless the general assembly, acting by joint resolution, also designates the portion of the state highway as part of the pioneer trail.
If any of the designated roads are part of the state highway system, the board ofcounty commissioners shall send a copy of the resolution to the department of transportation. If any of the designated roads are on public lands administered by the federal government, the board shall send a copy of the resolution to the appropriate federal land management agency.
A county may post, or allow to be posted, identifying and informative signs relatedto the pioneer trail along county roads.
The authority to designate a pioneer trail is intended to highlight Colorado's culturaland historical heritage and to promote historical tourism and education. Nothing in this section affects existing rights-of-way or ownership of public roads.
Source: L. 2016: Entire section added, (HB 16-1106), ch. 107, p. 308, §1, effective August 10.