reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 160 § 96 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 96 - Consent for One Railroad to Cross Another or to Cross Navigable Water

Section 96. A railroad shall not be constructed across another railroad at the same level without the written consent of the department, nor across navigable or tide waters without the written consent of the department of highways, and in such manner as said departments, respectively, shall prescribe, nor across any portion of the deep channel of Boston harbor below the bridges existing on March thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, without special legislative authority. Any littoral proprietor whose access to the sea is obstructed or interrupted by the location and construction, after said date, of any railroad across tide water, otherwise than by a bridge with a suitable draw, may recover of the corporation whose railroad is so located all damages, caused by such location and construction, under chapter seventy-nine, but this provision as to damages shall not apply to any railroad constructed under chapter two hundred and fifty-two of the acts of eighteen hundred and eighty. Associates for the purpose of constructing a railroad under section thirteen, or a corporation which proceeds to construct its railroad or branch or extension thereof, shall not take proceedings which involve a new crossing of one railroad by another at the same level, unless such crossing is first approved in writing by the department; and every preliminary approval of a plan for such crossing shall be subject to revision by the department.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 97 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 97 - Highway Crossings; Obstructions; Grade Separations

Section 97. A railroad laid out across a public way shall be so constructed as not to obstruct the same; and, unless the county commissioners and the department authorize a crossing at the same level as provided in section one hundred and two, it shall be constructed so as to pass either over or under the way, as prescribed in the following section, and conformably to any decree which may be made by the county commissioners under section one hundred.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 98 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 98 - Over-Passes and Under-Passes; Height

Section 98. If the railroad is constructed to pass over the way, a sufficient space shall be left under the railroad conveniently to accommodate the travel on the way. If the railroad is constructed to pass under the way, the railroad corporation shall build such bridges, with their abutments and suitable approaches thereto, as will accommodate the travel upon the way; but no bridge for any purpose shall be constructed over a railroad at a height less than twenty-two feet six inches above the track of such railroad, except with the written consent of the department.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 99 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 99 - Material Used to Surface Bridges and Approaches

Section 99. Cities and towns may make agreements with railroad corporations in regard to the kind of material, form of construction and payment of the cost of the wearing surface of bridges and approaches over or under a public way, wherever the railroad company is required by law to maintain such surface.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 100 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 100 - Alteration of Grade of Highway; Decree of County Commissioners; Security

Section 100. A railroad corporation may raise or lower a public way to permit its railroad to pass over or under the same; but before proceeding to cross or to alter or excavate for the purpose of crossing the way, it shall obtain from the county commissioners a decree prescribing what alterations may be made in the way, and what structures erected at the crossing, and the manner and time of making or erecting the same; and before entering upon, excavating or altering the way, it shall give to the city or town where the crossing is situated security, satisfactory to the commissioners, that it will faithfully comply with the requirements of the decree to their acceptance, and will indemnify the city or town against all damages and charges by reason of a failure so to do.  If, upon the petition of the board of aldermen or selectmen, it appears that such corporation has excavated or altered a public way without obtaining the decree and giving the security required by this section, or has neglected for fifteen days to give security as required by section one hundred and six, the supreme judicial court may enjoin it from entering upon, altering, excavating or crossing the way until such decree has been obtained or such security given.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 101 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 101 - Alteration of Course of Highway; Decree of County Commissioners; Security; Eminent Domain

Section 101. A railroad corporation may alter the course of a public way to facilitate the crossing thereof by its railroad or to permit its railroad to pass at the side thereof without crossing, if, after notice to the city or town where the way is situated, and a hearing, the county commissioners decide that such alteration will not essentially injure the way, and make a decree prescribing the time and manner of such alteration. If it is necessary to take land for such alteration, the county commissioners shall take the same by eminent domain under chapter seventy-nine on behalf of the county, city or town having jurisdiction over the alteration of such way, and before entering upon, excavating or altering such way the corporation shall give to such county, city or town security satisfactory to the commissioners that it will indemnify such county, city or town for all damages and charges which it is obliged to pay by reason of such taking.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 102 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 102 - Level Grade Crossing of Highway

Section 102. If a railroad is laid out across a public way, the county commissioners, or the department of highways in the case of a state highway, upon the application of the railroad corporation, or of the board of aldermen of the city or selectmen of the town where the crossing is situated, after notice to all persons interested and a hearing, may adjudge that public necessity requires the crossing at the same level, and may, if the department also consents in writing to such crossing at the same level, make a decree specially to authorize and require the corporation so to construct its railroad, in such manner as shall be prescribed in the decree, and the commissioners, or the department of public works in the case of a state highway, may modify such decree or may revoke it at any time before the construction of the railroad at such crossing.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 103 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 103 - Level Grade Crossing; Rails Protected to Enable Easy Passage

Section 103. A railroad corporation whose railroad is crossed by a public way at the same level shall, at its own expense, so guard or protect its rails by plank, timber or otherwise as to secure a safe and easy passage across its railroad; and if, in the opinion of the county commissioners, any subsequent alteration of the highway or other way or additional safeguards are required at the crossing, they may make a decree ordering the corporation to establish the same as provided in section one hundred.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 104 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 104 - Proceedings to Lay Out Public Way Across Railroad

Section 104. A public way may be laid out across a railroad previously constructed, if the county commissioners, or the department of highways in the case of a state highway, adjudge that public necessity and convenience so require; and in such case, after notice to the railroad corporation and a hearing of all parties interested, said commissioners or division, or a city or town by authority of the county commissioners granted upon petition of its board of aldermen or selectmen, may thus lay out a way across a railroad, in such manner as not to injure or obstruct the railroad, and otherwise in conformity with sections ninety-seven and ninety-eight. A public way shall not be permitted to cross at a level with the railroad unless it is determined by the department of highways, in the case of a state highway, or the county commissioners, in the case of any other public way, after notice to all persons interested and a hearing, that public necessity so requires, and the department of telecommunications and energy consents thereto in writing. If it is necessary in the laying out, construction or alteration of a state highway across a railroad to alter or relocate the railroad, the department of highways may take by eminent domain under chapter seventy-nine, on behalf of the railroad corporation, land or rights in land necessary for such alteration or relocation with the written approval of the department of telecommunications and energy. Charges and expenses for such alteration or relocation shall be paid by the department of highways. A copy of the proceedings of the department of highways in laying out a state highway under this section, including a copy of the plan of so much of said way as lies within the location of the railroad, shall be filed in the office of the county commissioners of the county where such way is located.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 104a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 104a - Building, Equipment or Machinery Moving; Duty of Railroad; Reimbursement of Costs

Section 104A. Whenever a person wishes to move a building, equipment or machinery over the right of way of a railroad corporation at the location of the crossing of said right of way and a public way and such movement will require the cutting, disconnecting or removal of any of the wires owned, operated or maintained by said railroad corporation in connection with its business, said railroad corporation shall forthwith cut, disconnect or remove the same, if such person has sent a written statement, signed by him, of the time when and the place, described by reference to such crossing, where he wishes such wires to be removed, and mailed, postage prepaid, to said corporation at least ten days before the time mentioned in said statement. Such person shall reimburse the railroad corporation for all costs incurred in connection with such movement, including the cost of protecting the trains, equipment and other property of the railroad corporation at the location, and the costs of cutting, disconnecting or removing the wires and replacing the same.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 105 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 105 - Alteration of Course of Canal

Section 105. A railroad corporation may, with the consent of a canal corporation, alter the course of a canal or of a feeder to a canal, which interferes with the convenient location of its railroad. If it is necessary to take land for such alteration, the railroad corporation may take the same under chapter seventy-nine and shall immediately convey the property so taken to the canal corporation.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 106 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 106 - Remedy of Obstruction or for Failure to Repair

Section 106. If, upon application to the county commissioners by the board of aldermen or selectmen, and after notice to the corporation which owns or operates a railroad, and a hearing, it appears that the railroad so crosses a public way other than a state highway as to obstruct it, contrary to section ninety-seven, or to a decree made under section one hundred, or that the corporation refuses or neglects to keep a bridge or other structure required or necessary at such crossing in proper repair, the county commissioners may make a decree prescribing what repairs shall be made by the corporation at the crossing, and the time within which they shall be made. A commission of three disinterested persons, appointed as provided in section sixty-two of chapter one hundred and fifty-nine, shall determine which party shall carry such decision into effect and which party shall pay the charges and expenses of making such repairs and the future charges for keeping such bridge or crossing and the approaches thereto in repair, as well as the costs of the application to the county commissioners, or the department, and of the hearing before said commission; and it may apportion all such charges, expenses and costs between the railroad corporation, the railway company having tracks on said way, and the counties, cities or towns where said crossing is situated and other cities and towns which may be specially benefited; provided, that the parties in interest may waive the appointment of the commission and determine the foregoing by written agreement to be filed in the proceeding. If a railway company is authorized to lay and use tracks upon any bridge in a highway built, repaired or altered as above provided for, or the approaches to which are altered or improved as above provided for, the said commission shall determine what part of the charges and expenses of making such changes or improvements, or of keeping such bridge or crossing and approaches in good condition, shall be paid by said railway company. They may further order the corporation to give security, as provided in section one hundred, for the faithful performance of the requirements of the decree and for the indemnity of the city or town upon a failure in such performance.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 107 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 107 - Construction and Repair of Bridges, Approaches and Abutments

Section 107. Every railroad corporation shall, except as provided in sections sixty-five to eighty-two, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and fifty-nine, at its own expense, construct, maintain and keep in repair all bridges, with their approaches and abutments, which it is authorized or required to construct over or under a canal or public way; and a city or town may recover of the railroad corporation whose railroad crosses a public way therein all damages, charges and expenses incurred by such city or town by reason of the neglect or refusal of the corporation to erect or keep in repair all structures required or necessary at such crossing; but if, after the laying out and building of a railroad, the county commissioners authorize a public way to be laid out across the railroad, all expenses of and incident to constructing and maintaining the way at such crossing shall be borne by the county, city, town or other owner of the same, unless otherwise determined by an award of a commission, under proceedings in accordance with sections fifty-nine to sixty-four, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and fifty-nine.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 108 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 108 - Jurisdiction of County Commissioners

Section 108. County commissioners shall have original jurisdiction of questions relative to obstructions to public ways caused by the construction or operation of railroads.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 109 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 109 - Separation of Private Land; Order of Commissioners Relative to Crossing

Section 109. If a railroad lawfully laid out through land without the consent of the owner thereof separates a portion of such land from another or from a public way, and the owner, having a right to cross the railroad, cannot agree with the corporation as to the place or manner in which he shall cross, or if a crossing is inconvenient, either party, in a case which does not involve the abolition of a crossing at grade, may apply to the county commissioners, who, after taking a recognizance from the applicant to the county, with sureties to their satisfaction, for the payment of costs and expenses according to their order, and after notice to the other party and a hearing, may make an order relative to such crossing and to the costs of the application; but they shall not order the corporation to construct or maintain a crossing without its consent, unless it is liable by law or by agreement to construct a crossing for the owner of the land, or is the applicant.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 110 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 110 - Denial of Access to Private Land; Order for Crossing by Department

Section 110. If by the laying out of a railroad, or the widening thereof, a person is cut off from access to land owned by him, and has neither received compensation nor made an agreement with the corporation relative thereto, the department, after notice to the parties and a hearing, may order a crossing to be made and maintained at the expense of the railroad corporation, specifying definitely the character thereof and when it may be used. If the railroad corporation neglects for ninety days after the date of such order to comply therewith, it shall forfeit five dollars for every day thereafter during which such neglect continues, which shall be recovered by the person aggrieved. The amount recovered shall be equally divided between the plaintiff and the county where the crossing was ordered to be maintained.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 111 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 111 - Decisions of Commissioners; Appeal

Section 111. A party aggrieved by a decision or order of the county commissioners in any matter or proceeding arising under section one hundred and nine, or section fifty-nine of chapter one hundred and fifty-nine, or by their unreasonable refusal or neglect to announce a decision in any such matter or proceeding for sixty days after the first day fixed for a hearing thereon, may appeal to the department by filing a notice of appeal with the county commissioners within ten days after the decision or order appealed from, or in case of a refusal or neglect to announce a decision, within ten days after the expiration of sixty days from the first day fixed for a hearing thereon. The proceedings before the county commissioners in which the appeal is taken shall thereupon be stayed.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 112 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 112 - Proceedings Perfecting Appeal

Section 112. The appellant, to perfect the appeal, shall, within twenty days after filing the notice thereof, file with the clerk of the department a petition stating the reasons for the appeal, and shall, within ten days after filing the petition, cause a certified copy thereof to be served upon the county commissioners. An appeal may be waived at any time before a hearing thereon by written agreement of the parties, filed with the county commissioners and the department. If the appellant fails to perfect the appeal, or if the appeal is waived, the matter may proceed before the county commissioners as if no appeal had been taken.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 113 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 113 - Appeal; Hearing; Department's Powers

Section 113. The department shall hear the appeal in the county where it is taken, unless the parties in writing otherwise agree. Upon such appeal, the department shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as county commissioners in like matters and proceedings, and shall be governed by the provisions of law relative to hearings and determinations by, and decisions and orders of, the county commissioners in such matters and proceedings.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 114 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 114 - Rights of Way Across Tracks by Prescription

Section 114. No right of way across any railroad track or location which is in use for railroad purposes shall be acquired by prescription. This section shall not apply to rights of way which existed on June fifth, eighteen hundred and ninety-two.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 115 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 115 - Construction; Additional Capital Stock; Certificate of Necessity and Convenience; Fee

Section 115. A railroad corporation, after having finished the construction of its railroad and put it in operation, may build a branch or extension thereof in accordance with this chapter, if an amount of additional capital stock, applicable solely to the construction of such branch or extension, has been subscribed, and a certificate of the department that public necessity and convenience require the construction of the branch or extension has been obtained, and a certificate of the clerk of the department has been filed according to section seventy-six; and it may build such branch or extension without additional capital stock, if its indebtedness is not thereby increased; but this section shall not invalidate a lease or contract between railroad corporations made pursuant to law. Upon the filing of such certificate, fifty dollars shall be paid to the state secretary. If the construction of such branch or extension is not begun, and ten per cent of the additional capital stock is not expended thereon within two years after the date of the certificate required by section seventy-six and the branch or extension completed and put in operation within four years after said date, the power of the railroad corporation to construct the same shall cease.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 116 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 116 - Switch Connections With Private Interests

Section 116. A railroad corporation, upon the application of any shipper tendering freight for transportation, shall construct, maintain and operate upon reasonable terms switch connections with a lateral line of railroad or private side track owned, operated or controlled by such shipper and shall, upon the application of any shipper, provide upon its own property a side track and switch connection with its line of railroad, whenever such side track and switch connection are reasonably practicable, can be put in with safety, and the business therefor is sufficient to justify the same.