Every corporation organized under this Title, former Title 13-A, Title 13-C or former Title 35, before commencing the construction of its road, shall present to the Department of Transportation a petition for approval of location, defining its courses, distances and boundaries accompanied with a map of the proposed route; with a profile of the line on the relative scales of profile paper in common use; and with a report and estimate prepared by a skillful engineer from actual survey. The department shall, on presentation of that petition, appoint a day for hearing and the petitioners shall give such notice as the department deems reasonable and proper, in order that all persons interested may have an opportunity to appear and object. If the department, after hearing the petition, approves the proposed location, the corporation may proceed with the construction, provided they first file with the clerk of the county commissioners of each county through which the road passes a plan of the location of the road, defining its courses, distances and boundaries, and a copy of the plan with the department. The location filed may not vary, except to avoid expense of construction, from the route first presented to the department. The location, together with any variation made in that location, must be filed within 2 years from the time when the articles of incorporation are filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The Department of Transportation, upon written application, may extend the time of filing the variations in its discretion. No railroad may be made across tide waters where vessels can navigate without first obtaining special permission of the Legislature. [RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. B, §40 (COR); RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. B, §58 (AFF).] To carry out its directive to ensure the development and maintenance of safe, efficient and reliable rail transportation, the Department of Transportation may locate and construct railroad lines. The department shall give notice of the location of each such railroad line by publishing a description of the location in a newspaper of general circulation in each county through which the line passes. Before commencing construction, the department shall set a day and time for hearing so that all interested persons have an opportunity to appear. If the department, after hearing, determines to proceed with the construction of the railroad line, the department shall file with the registry of deeds of each affected county a plan of the location of the line defining its course, distance and boundaries. This plan must be kept on file and available to the public at the department's office in Augusta. For the purpose of locating and constructing railroad lines, the department may acquire all necessary property interests through purchase, lease, or condemnation pursuant to section 154. [PL 2001, c. 74, §1 (NEW).]
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