(a) After establishing a road maintenance service area under AS 29.35.450, or under a home rule charter, a municipality may apply to the department for a grant as money is available for road improvements, subject to regulations adopted by the department to carry out the provisions of AS 19.30.260 - 19.30.320. The department shall require a municipality to submit a five-year plan for the upgrading, reconstructing, rehabilitating, or paving of maintenance service area roads for approval before October 1 of each fiscal year.
(b) A municipality shall establish design standards for construction in a road maintenance service area. An application for a grant for improving an existing road under this section which is constructed after July 1, 1984, may not be granted by the department until the existing road meets the minimum design standards of the municipality.