(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, whenever a political subdivision submits to the director of transportation any documents, reports, plans, or other materials relating to a proposed highway improvement project on the state highway system or relating to a road construction or improvement in accordance with section 5535.15 of the Revised Code, the director shall review and approve such documents, reports, plans, or other materials within sixty days after the date of submission if all of the following apply:

(1) The entire cost of the project is to be funded privately or by a local subdivision;

(2) The documents, plans, reports, or other materials relating to the project comply with applicable design development criteria of the Ohio department of transportation and the federal highway administration;

(3) Except in regard to a project proposed under section 5535.15 of the Revised Code, the proposed project has been approved in concept by the appropriate local legislative authority.

(B) If the director of transportation determines that the materials submitted to him in connection with a proposed highway improvement project do not comply with criteria described in division (A)(2) of this section, he shall, within sixty days after the date the material was submitted for his review, give written notification of his determination to the person or political subdivision that submitted the materials, and specify in the notification the reasons for his determination.

(C) After receiving notification pursuant to division (B) of this section, the person or political subdivision shall, within thirty days, modify, revise, or submit such additional information as is necessary to rectify the deficiencies in the submissions cited by the director, and the director shall, within the next thirty days, review the revisions, modifications, and additional information submitted, and either approve the submissions or notify the person or political subdivision of the criteria described in division (A)(2) of this section that are not satisfied. The procedure established by this division shall be followed until the project is approved.

(D) The department may require a person or political subdivision to pay a fee for the department's review of materials submitted to it under this section. These fees shall be computed on a reasonable cost basis. Any money collected by the department pursuant to this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the highway operating fund.

Effective Date: 04-11-1991 .