Street construction by railways.

(1) All railway companies shall construct and repair all street improvements between the rails of their tracks, and one foot outside, at their own expense, unless by ordinance the railway is required to improve other portions of the street, and in that case the railway shall construct and repair the improvement of that part of the street specified by the ordinance, and the improvement or repair must be of the material and character ordered by the city, and must be done at the time the remainder of the improvement is constructed or repaired.

(2) When an improvement is made, the company shall lay rail as required by the council, and shall then keep up to grade that part of the improvement they are required to construct or maintain.

(3) If a railway fails or refuses to comply with the order of the council to construct or repair an improvement, the work may be done by the city and the expense shall then be assessed upon the property of the railway company, for collection in the same manner as a property tax. A tax assessed under this section shall also be a debt due from the railway, and may be collected in an action at law in the same manner as other debts.

[R60, §1068; C73, §478; C97, §834, 840; C13, §791-i; SS15, §840-r; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6052 – 6055; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §391.79 – 391.82; C75, 77, 79, 81, §364.11]2017 Acts, ch 54, §76