CHAPTER 443

An Act to provide for keemng intact certain unused track of railroad
companies; to provide for the acquisition thereof by the governing
bodies of counties, cities and towns, or chambers of commerce or simi-
lar organizations; and to provide for the assessment of any such un-
used track.

[S 227]

Approved March 31, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. If a railroad company shall cease to operate all or any portion of
its line of railroad (other than yard tracks, passing sidings, or tracks un-
needed because of the diversion of traffic over parallel or other substitute
tracks), it shall notify the governing body of any city, town or county di-
rectly served by the portion of line so discontinued at least 30 days prior
to the removal of the track from the roadbed. Upon giving such notice
the railroad company may by agreement with such local governing body,
or with a chamber of commerce or other nonprofit organization, leave such
track in place or sell the same to such local governing body, chamber of
commerce or other nonprofit organization, to be held in place pending re-
establishment of rail service thereon and during the period of time when
such track shall so remain in place and unused, the State Corporation Com-
mission shall treat the roadbed on which the same is located as unimproved
property and assess it accordingly.