Opinion

In re the Hearing on Motion of the Commission

  • 220 A.D. 80
  • 221 N.Y.S. 129
  • 1927 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 9239
Court
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
Filed
Mar 18, 1927
Status
Published
Author
Kelly
On the bench
Kelly, Lazansky
Cited by
9 cases

The opinion

Kelly, P. J.

(concurring). I think the arguments of the railroad company that compliance with these orders for the elimination of existing grade crossings will result in the bankruptcy of the corporation, are for the Legislature and not for the courts to pass upon. They present serious considerations but the Supreme Court of the United States has so decided in the Erie case, cited by Mr. Justice Lazansky. It was the original scheme of this grade crossing legislation in 1890, following the general plan of the grade crossing legislation in Massachusetts then in force, that in providing for changes in existing grade crossings so as to carry the highways over or under the tracks by bridges or tunnels, that when such alteration was made with the attendant expense to the State, the particular locality and the railroad company, other grade crossings in the neighborhood should be eliminated altogether, and the highway traffic diverted to the new crossing. Such incon *107 venience as might be occasioned by closing these other crossings was compensated by the additional safety guaranteed to the user of the highway by the bridge or tunnel. In this way the prohibitive expenditure to the State, the locality and the railroads of changing all grade crossings to bridges or tunnels was to be avoided. But these are legislative questions to be determined by the Legislature and not by the courts.

In each proceeding: Final order of the Transit Commission unanimously affirmed, without costs.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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