Title 66, Railroads

The Department shall make and submit to the Governor, on or before December 31 of each year, a full report showing anticipated projects, projects under construction and projects in operation, the financial condition of the Department and such other information as the Governor sha…

All contracts for the construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement and maintenance of railroad rights-of-way or trackage shall be let by the Department to the lowest responsible bidder, or bidders, after notice by publication in the same manner as provided in the Public Comp…

There is hereby created in the State Treasurer's office a revolving fund for the Department, to be designated the Oklahoma Railroad Maintenance Revolving Fund. The fund shall be composed of all revenues generated by the provisions of Sections 2201 et seq. of Title 68 of the Oklah…

Sections 2 through 4 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the “Railroad Rehabilitation Act”. Added by Laws 2002, c. 297, § 2, emerg. eff. May 22, 2002.

As used in the Railroad Rehabilitation Act: 1. "Qualified railroad entity" means any certified freight railroad regulated by the United States Surface Transportation Board; and 2. "Rehabilitation" means the replacement of antiquated rail; replacement or reconstruction of deterior…

The exercise of the powers granted to the Department of Transportation by the Railroad Rehabilitation Act will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of this state, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity and shall be recognized as an essential government func…

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Tourism and Passenger Rail Act". Added by Laws 1996, c. 255, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996.

The purpose of the Oklahoma Tourism and Passenger Rail Act shall be to do all things necessary to restore passenger rail service to the state, to enhance the state's position as a tourist destination site and to improve the quality of life for residents of this state by offering …

As used in this act: 1. "Department" means the Department of Transportation; 2. "Railroad rights-of-way", "trackage" or "projects" shall include within their meaning, but shall not be limited to: any roadbed, drains, fences, ties, switches, rails, ballast, signs, signals, lights,…

A. The Department of Transportation is hereby authorized and empowered to: 1. Acquire, construct, reconstruct, repair, replace, operate and maintain railroad rights-of-way and trackage projects at such locations and on such passenger routes as it shall determine to be feasible an…

There is hereby created in the State Treasurer's office a revolving fund for the Department of Transportation, to be designated the "Oklahoma Tourism and Passenger Rail Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall be comp…

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Interstate Midwest Regional Passenger Rail Compact”. The Interstate Midwest Regional Passenger Rail Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state as a party with any other state or states legally joining therein…

PURPOSE The purpose of this compact is to facilitate and promote the improvement and development of regional passenger rail service in the Midwest. A Commission is hereby created to achieve this purpose and to carry out the duties specified in this compact. Added by Laws 1999, c.…

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION A. The duties of the Commission are to: 1. Secure the funding and authorization necessary to make passenger rail improvements a reality for the region; 2. Examine and facilitate ways that states can form partnerships to implement improved passe…

MEMBERSHIP AND COMPENSATION The manner of appointment of Commission members, terms of office, provisions for removal and suspension, and manner of appointment to fill vacancies shall be determined by each party state pursuant to its laws, but each member shall be a resident of th…

OFFICERS The Commission shall annually elect from among its members a chair, and a vice-chair who shall not be a resident of the state represented by the chair, and a secretary-treasurer. Added by Laws 1999, c. 70, § 5, emerg. eff. April 7, 1999.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS The chair of the Commission shall, if present, preside at meetings of the Commission, serve as a principal spokesperson for the Commission, and perform other duties assigned by the Commission. The vice-chair shall perform the duties of the chair if t…

MEETINGS AND COMMISSION ADMINISTRATION The Commission shall meet at the call of the chair, or at the call of a majority of its members, upon fourteen (14) days’ notice, but at least three (3) times in each calendar year. Added by Laws 1999, c. 70, § 7, emerg. eff. April 7, 1999.

FINANCE The Commission may accept, for any of its purposes and functions, donations, gifts, grants, and appropriations of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services from the federal government, from any party state or from any department, agency, or municipality thereof,…

ENACTMENT AND EFFECTIVE DATE This compact shall be open for membership for this state as a party with any other state or states legally joining therein. It shall become effective immediately after the passage of an act by any party states incorporating the provisions of this comp…

Every railroad corporation incorporated under this article, and any railroad corporation authorized to construct, operate or maintain a railroad within this state, has power and is authorized to enter upon any land for the purpose of examining and surveying its railroad, and to t…

Any railroad corporation may purchase and use real property for a price to be agreed upon with the owners thereof; or the damages to be paid by such corporation for any real property taken as aforesaid, when not agreed upon, shall be ascertained and determined as hereinafter prov…

A. If the owner of any real property or interest therein, over which any railroad corporation, incorporated under the laws of this state, may desire to locate its road, shall refuse to grant the right-of-way through and over his premises, the district judge of the county in which…

When possession is taken of property condemned, as provided herein, the owner shall be entitled to the immediate receipt of the compensation awarded, without prejudice to the right of either party to prosecute further proceedings for the judicial determination of the sufficiency …

A. The report of the commissioners may be reviewed by the district court, on written exceptions filed by either party, in the clerk’s office within thirty (30) days after the filing of such report; and the court shall make such order therein as right and justice may require, eith…

Either party aggrieved may appeal from the decision of the district court to the Supreme Court; but such review or appeal shall not delay the prosecution of the work on such railroad over the premises in question, if such corporation shall first have paid to the owner of said rea…

The provisions of this article with reference to eminent domain shall apply to all corporations having the right to eminent domain, and shall apply to the State of Oklahoma and its various educational, reformatory, penal and eleemosynary institutions, including departments of sta…

Freeholders so appointed shall be the commissioners to assess all the damages to the owners of real property in said county or subdivision; and said corporation may, at any time after their appointment, upon the refusal of any owner or guardian of any owner of lands in said count…

Whenever any railroad corporation shall take any real property as aforesaid, of any minor, any person who is incapacitated or partially incapacitated as such terms are defined by Section 1-111 of Title 30 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the guardian of the minor, or incompetent person,…

If upon the location of said railroad it shall be found to run through the real property of any nonresident owner who is unknown to the corporation, or who has not been by it informed thereof, and has neither granted nor refused to grant the right-of-way through and over his said…

Any railroad corporation is authorized to pass over, occupy and enjoy all the public lands, to the extent and in the manner prescribed by the Act of Congress approved March 3, 1875: Provided, that the damages accruing to any occupant or possessory claimant or other person who may…

Whenever any railroad corporation shall find it necessary, for the purpose of avoiding annoyance to public travel, or dangerous or difficult curves or grades, or unsafe or unsubstantial grounds or foundations, or for other reasonable causes, to change the grade or location of any…

If it shall be necessary, in the location of any part of any railroad, to occupy any road, street, alley or public way or ground of any kind, or any part thereof, it shall be competent for the municipal, or other corporation, or public officer, or public authorities owning or hav…

When an estate is being probated, or a minor or incompetent person has a legal guardian, the administrator or executor of the estate, or guardian of the minor or incompetent person, shall have the authority to execute all instruments of conveyance provided for in this chapter on …

A. 1. Any person who owns real property adjacent to real property owned by a railroad company shall have first priority to purchase such real property, at the price provided by subsection D of this section, from the railroad company upon the bankruptcy of the railroad company or …

The Railroad Division of the Department of Transportation is authorized to act as trustee for the purchasers of real property under the provisions of this act and, in such capacity, receive funds for such purpose from prospective purchasers, disburse such funds for such purpose, …

Every corporation formed under this article and every railroad corporation, authorized to construct, operate or maintain a railroad within this state, shall be a body corporate by the name designated in its articles, shall have perpetual succession, shall have the right to sue an…

Any railroad corporation abandoning any section of track or right-of-way in the state shall file a copy of all maps pertaining to said section of track or right-of-way with the Archives and Records Division of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries within six (6) months after a fin…

Public Service Corporations as defined by Section 34, Article IX, of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, may, by proper corporate action, and for lawful corporate purposes, borrow, from time to time, such sums of money at such rates of interest and upon such terms as may b…

In case of the refusal by such corporation or its agents to take or transport any passenger or property as provided in the preceding section; or in case of the neglect or refusal of such corporation or its agents to discharge or deliver passengers or property at the regularly app…

When such freight in car loads or less is tendered to said station agent and correct shipping instructions given, it shall be the duty of said company immediately to receive the same for shipment and issue bills of lading therefor, and when such shipments have been so received th…

Such railroad companies shall within twenty-four (24) hours after arrival of shipments give written notice by mail, or otherwise, to consignees of the arrival of the shipments together with the amount of freight charges thereon, and when goods or freight in car load lots arrive, …

Any railroad corporation may, under the provisions of this article, extend its road from any point named in its charter or articles of organization, or may build branch roads either from any point on its line of road or from any point on the line of any other road connecting or t…

Suit to collect any of the damages, penalties, forfeitures, demurrage or storage charges provided for herein, may be brought in any court of this state having jurisdiction of the subject matter and parties; and if the plaintiff therein recover judgment, such plaintiff shall also …

This article is not intended to repeal, modify, or affect any law concerning the shipment, transportation or delivery of any kind of freight without unnecessary delay, or within a reasonable time, or any other law concerning common carriers now in force unless in direct conflict …

In case any passenger on any railroad shall be injured while on the platform of a car while in motion, or in any baggage, wood or freight car, in violation of the printed regulations of the corporation posted up at the time in a conspicuous place inside of its passenger cars then…