Section 1. Rights-of-Way Use; Contracts. Paragraph (a) allows the Metropolitan Council or a metropolitan county to contract with a railroad to share the Council’s or county’s right-of-way used for commuter rail, light rail transit, or freight rail purposes or for the construction, operation, or maintenance of track, facilities, or services for freight rail purposes.
Paragraph (b) provides that a contract authorized under this section may allocate financial responsibility, indemnification, and procurement of insurance for all parties to the contract for all types of claims. Municipal liability limits apply to all claims or damages arising from railroad freight operations in the shared right-of-way.
Paragraph (c) provides that a contract authorized under this section does not affect railroad employee rights under federal law.
This section only applies in the seven-county metropolitan area and is effective the day following final enactment.
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