Railroad Specialists Facilitate Right-of-Way Projects

When a highway construction or utility improvement project crosses land owned by a

railroad, attaining right-of-way permission can be difficult and time consuming if its not handled
properly. Railroad rights-of-way are a type of easement granted to the railroads for transportation
purposes and are considered private property. Which is why hiring a railroad Right of way services
for utilities should be the first step in expediting a project that crosses through properties owned by
different entities. At CW Solutions, we acquire the necessary legal agreements, surveys and
interests from private property owners, utilities and railroads. Our familiarity with all the local
and government right of way programs helps us to surrealistic expectations, time frame sand
track progress of a project from start to finish.

Obtaining a Railroad Right-of-Way

The steps for dealing with railroad or utility rights-of-way are similar to most other public
rights-of-way. When a railroad and a utility right-of-way intersect, a railroad specialist can act as
a liaison between the two entities. CW Solutions has developed a process to ensure that issues
are identified early on and reconciled quickly so that projects get approved and move forward.
The first step in the permitting process is to conduct a review of property records to determine
what public or private pathways are to be crossed and if they are usable. A railroad specialist will
then conduct a search for any existing records or utility agreements and match them to the needs
of the project. If there is a discrepancy, a railroad right-of-way specialist can determine what
needs to be done to ensure a project gets the necessary right-of-way (ROW) agreement.

Understanding Land Use Restrictions

When a utility project crosses or runs parallel to a railroad track it may be subject to a
gamut of issues and concerns which could limit the activities that are allowed on the property.
For example, zoning codes and land-use regulations governing the use of land in a railroad Right
of way property acquisitions for utilities may hold certain restrictions such as height limitations.
Railroads are concerned with public safety and the operation of their systems. They will consider
the risks related to these concerns before approving a license agreement and right-of-way.
Land use restrictions create other issues especially for railroad rights-of-way. Land grants were
issued to the railroads over 100 years ago to build railroad lines. Since then, designations such as
tidelands, farmland preservation, wildlife conservatory, green acres, riparian rights or military
property have created new issues. When old structures need to be removed and new ones built,
the new rules apply. Because these restrictions impact how a project proceeds, railroad
specialists need to be familiar with the various local, state, and federal agencies and their laws.

An Experienced Team of Railroad Right-of-Way Specialists

At CW Solutions, our experienced railroad permitting specialists understand the
complexities involved in crossing railroad rights-of-way. The team can handle all facets of the
permitting process as well as any special circumstances that a rise in the course of a project

whether its large or small. Our clients rely on us to research and coordinate their projects from
start to finish.