2626 - LAND ACQUISITION - ABANDONED RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY
Issued April 13. 1973

LAND ACQUISITION - ABANDONED RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY

Abandoned railroad lines have excellent potential for use as hiking, bike, horseback, snowmobile trails as well as other recreational pursuits.  Fee title purchase of abandoned lines is often not possible however because of the various ways in which the railroad companies acquired these lands or arranged for the use of them for railroading purposes.  Past policy has required that the Department purchase land only where title evidence satisfactory to the Attorney General could be obtained.  The costs of obtaining such title evidence in most cases would make the acquisition unfeasible.

In acquiring abandoned railroad lines the Department shall accept a degree of calculated risk.  Under the authority of Act 17, Public Acts of 1921, as amended, "grants of land and other property" offered by the railroads by quitclaim deed shall be accepted, in consideration of payment of the liquidation value to the railroad companies for the desired line or section, if acceptable by administrative review.

Supported by Commission Action April 13, 1973.