Sec. 21.1. (a) Upon receiving notice of intent to abandon railroad rights-of-way from any railroad company, the department shall, upon receipt, notify:

(1) the county executives, county surveyors, and cities and towns of the counties affected;

(2) the Indiana economic development corporation;

(3) the office of tourism development (before July 1, 2020) or the Indiana destination development corporation (after June 30, 2020); and

(4) the department of natural resources;

of the notice.

(b) Within one (1) year of a final decision of the Interstate Commerce Commission permitting an abandonment of a railroad right-of-way, the railroad shall remove any crossing control device, railroad insignia, and rails on that part of the right-of-way that serves as a public highway and reconstruct that part of the highway so that it conforms to the standards of the contiguous roadway. The Indiana department of transportation or the county, city, or town department of highways having jurisdiction over the highway may restore the crossing if the unit:

(1) adopts construction specifications for the project; and

(2) enters into an agreement with the railroad concerning the project.

The cost of removing any crossing control device, railroad insignia, rails, or ties under this subsection must be paid by the railroad. The cost of reconstructing the highway surface on the right-of-way must be paid by the Indiana department of transportation or the county, city, or town department of highways having jurisdiction over the crossing.

(c) If a railroad fails to comply with subsection (b), the Indiana department of transportation or the county, city, or town department of highways having jurisdiction over the crossing may proceed with the removal and reconstruction work. The cost of the removal and reconstruction shall be documented by the agency performing the work and charged to the railroad. Work by the agency may not proceed until at least sixty (60) days after the railroad is notified in writing of the agency's intention to undertake the work.

(d) This section does not apply to an abandoned railroad right-of-way on which service is to be reinstated or continued.

(e) As used in this section, "crossing control device" means any traffic control device installed by the railroad and described in the National Railroad Association's manual, Train Operations, Control and Signals Committee, Railroad-Highway Grade-Crossing Protection, Bulletin No. 7, as an appropriate traffic control device.

(f) Costs not paid by a railroad under subsection (b) may be added to the railroad's property tax statement of current and delinquent taxes and special assessments under IC 6-1.1-22-8.1.

(g) Whenever the Indiana department of transportation notifies the department of natural resources that a railroad intends to abandon a railroad right-of-way under this section, the department of natural resources shall make a study of the feasibility of converting the right-of-way for recreational purposes. The study must be completed within ninety (90) days after receiving the notice from the Indiana department of transportation. If the department of natural resources finds that recreational use is feasible, the department of natural resources shall urge the appropriate state and local authorities to acquire the right-of-way for recreational purposes.

Formerly: Acts 1973, P.L.65, SEC.1. As amended by Acts 1980, P.L.74, SEC.39; Acts 1982, P.L.62, SEC.3; Acts 1982, P.L.75, SEC.1; P.L.63-1984, SEC.1; P.L.84-1986, SEC.1; P.L.384-1987(ss), SEC.30; P.L.8-1989, SEC.49; P.L.18-1990, SEC.35; P.L.4-2005, SEC.114; P.L.229-2005, SEC.6; P.L.3-2008, SEC.73; P.L.78-2019, SEC.7.