Rights-of-way (ROW) are the areas involved in common transport. They are essential for the proper functioning of a modern society and include:
·Federal, state, county, and township highways and roads;
·Public airports;
·Railroads;
·Electric utilities (including substations, switching stations, transmission lines, and distribution lines);
·Pipelines (including pumping stations);
·Public surface drainage ways;
·Public irrigation waterways;
·Banks of public barge ways and areas around locks and dams; and
·Bicycle, bridle and other public paths or trails (outside established recreational areas).
Reliability and public safety are of major concern across all rights-of-way with one specific issue of concern is the control of selected types of vegetation. Vegetation Management on rights-of-way is desirable and necessary for variety of reasons such as necessary to maintain a safe & clear sight distances, to clear signs and fixtures of vegetation for visibility and functionality, to provide adequate drainage in roadway ditches, to reduce fire hazard and provide snow or dust drift control. It is also necessary to protect the roadway surface from vegetation encroachment and to maintain drainage. Rights-of-way must also allow maintenance workers to perform their function without creating hazards to those that use and depend on the ROW. Managers of rights-of-way share common objectives, including user and worker safety, reduced fire hazard, and an assured ability to perform inspections.
