Category Archives: railways

Campaign TREND. 4 Republican candidates TXHD 14. 4 Different Opinions on Property Rights.

Davis:  Eminent Domain should not used by private entities

Laningham:   No eminent domain for the bullet train, which is not a public benefit

Raney:  taking someone’s property should be a respectful negotiation that satisfies the landowner

Texeira: follow the law and properly compensate landowners, otherwise landwoners should get a good lawyer

 

Bryan Eagle | Rep. John Raney faces three GOP challengers for District 14 House seat; One Democrat running

Transportation Eminent Domain Costs Trigger State Audit. 3 Catalysts. 4 Audit Recommendations.

California High Speed Rail, Phase 1, will  face an audit after these 3 things happened:

  • Projected costs for phase 1 of California’s high speed rail have risen by $3 Billion
  • A bipartisan group of legislators requested a formal audit
  • Concerns that the project will need state subsidies

Due to the projected cost increase, the audit will make the following recommendations:

  • how to accelerate the project’s timeline
  • reduce costs and identify other sources of revenue
  • best practices for approving…

Activist TREND. Railed. Residents Against Invasion of Land by Eminent Domain. RAILED.

Residents Against Invasion of Land by Eminent Domain formed to combat a $2.8 Billion freight rail plan. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Surface Transportation Board rejected the rail plan, according to RAILED due to the projects lack of funding
  • What surprised RAILED the most: that a swath of residents didn’t care about the freight rail, didn’t think the rail would affect them, and had no idea of long term impact on safety

Chicago Tribune | Funding, opposition derail $2B freight rail plan

Lege Trend. No Eminent Domain for Private Gain in a Lake Effect Snow State. Airports, Trains, Hospitals, oh my!

Illinois House Bill 4150  accomplishes two goals:

  • limits the use of eminent domain to only public uses
  • explicitly removes railroads from public use

 

If a private entity is involved in the project the following 6 steps must occur:

  •  the condemning authority must prove by a preponderance of 
    the evidence     that:

    • (i) the acquisition of the property is necessary for a public purpose;
    • (ii) the acquired property will be owned by the condemning authority or another governmental entity; …

Campaign TREND. TX County Judge Touts Property Rights vs. High Speed Rail.

The elected position: Ellis County, Texas County Judge

The candidate:  Current Ellis County Judge Carol Bush

The comment on property rights and high speed rail:  In listing achievements she notes under her leadership the county has “advocated for property owners against high-speed rail”

Waxahachie Daily Light | Ellis County Judge Carol Bush announces re-election campaign

Limiting Eminent Domain Use Up North, What Made the Cut & What Didn't? More Republicans Limiting Local Government?

Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin vetoed eminent domain restrictions that:

  • limited railroad use of eminent domain

Governor Walk let stand eminent domain restrictions that:

  • prohit the use of eminent domain for recreational trails and walkways

LaCrosse Tribune | Gov. Scott Walker vetoes quarry regulation restriction, says policy deserves full debate

Rail Agency Denies Permit. Farmers want Eminent Domain Laws Changed in 2 ways.

Rural interests in Illinois are celebrating the Federal Transportation Safety Board’s denial of the Great Lakes Basin Rail.

Rural interests opposed the new stateline rail and say that eminent domain laws in Illinois should be changed in these 2 manners:

  • It should be more rare for eminent domain to be used against farm land
  • If eminent domain should be used against famr land it should be a higher standard.

State eminent domain laws that treat rural land differently…how many states would say…

Lege Trend. What happens when counties have input into infrastructure projects that use eminent domain?

In Missouri, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld an appellate ruling that effectively stopped a transmission line plan.

How could the court do this?  In Missouri to build a transmission line, the state agency must have input from the counties. Why? Because state law says counties must determine whether a proposed project meets engineering & safety guidelines.

6 of the 8 counties said no to the transmission project. The project backers had asked the MO Supreme Court to not require the county…

3 Reasons for No Eminent Domain for Private Gain from a Paper Dating to 1896.

The Wilson Times (Wilson, N.C.) likens eminent domain by a private corporation to trying to buy heirloom tomatoes at a grocer by tossing some coins on the floor. 

The Wilson Times sets out these 3 reasons opposing eminenbt domain by private companies:

  • When land men tell land owners that courts will rule in the corporation’s favor, that is an unauthorized practice of law by offering a legal opinion;
  • Companies reap profits forver from eminent domain while landowners have a lifetime of…