A town must keep class 2 highways “in good and sufficient repair during all seasons of the year.” VTrans has responsibility for marking class 2 highways with painted center lines. The town is responsible for notifying VTrans when center lines have been obliterated by resurfacing.

A town must keep class 3 highways “in good and sufficient repair during all seasons of the year.” In addition, “The minimum standards for class 3 highways are a highway negotiable under normal conditions all seasons of the year by a standard manufactured pleasure car. This would include but not be limited to sufficient surface and base, adequate drainage, and sufficient width capable to provide winter maintenance.”

A class 4 highway may be “maintained to the extent required by the necessity of the town, the public good and the convenience of the inhabitants of the town.” 19 V.S.A. § 310(b). Accordingly, the town is not required to regularly maintain a class 4 highway. However, VLCT interprets state law to require towns to maintain culverts and bridges on class 4 highways. In addition, towns may be obligated to repair an out of repair or unsafe class four highway if a petition to repair the road is filed by three citizens or taxpayers in the state in accordance with 19 V.S.A. § 971.

A town shall “not be responsible for any maintenance including culverts and bridges” on trails under 19 V.S.A. § 302(a)(5); a town “shall not be liable for construction, maintenance, repair or safety of trails.” 19 V.S.A. § 310(c).