State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Rat > Article-7 > 80

§  80.  Connecting  routes and extension of lines.  a. The commission,  from time to time, with the approval of the board of estimate and of the  mayor may grant a right or franchise or  enter  into  a  contract,  upon  application  to  such  commission  of  any  railroad corporation for the  purpose  of  constructing  and  operating  a  tunnel  railroad  from  an  adjoining  state under the North or Hudson or Harlem river to a terminus  within the  city;  or  under  the  North  or  Hudson  river  and  thence  transversely  across  and  under the surface of the borough of Manhattan  and thence under the East river by the shortest practicable route;  such  railroad to be connected with some trunk line railroad whose terminus is  in this or an adjoining state, thereby forming a continuous line for the  carriage of passengers and property.    b.  A  similar  grant may be made, or a similar contract entered into,  upon the application of  a  railroad  corporation,  owning  or  actually  operating a trunk line railroad whose terminus is within the city, or of  a   railroad  corporation  owning  or  actually  operating,  or  by  the  certificate of the commission required to own  or  actually  operate,  a  railroad  wholly or partly within such city and engaged or intended, and  in such certificate so  recited  and  required,  to  be,  in  interstate  commerce  in connection with a trunk line railroad and which shall have,  or be required by such certificate to have a terminus in such city,  for  the  purpose of constructing and operating a railroad from such terminus  by the shortest practicable route to and under or over the East river or  the North or Hudson river, or the Harlem river, to any point in this  or  an  adjoining  state,  or  to connect such terminus with the railroad or  terminus of any other such railroad or trunk line railroad in this state  or to straighten or improve the grade or alignment of any such  railroad  or more directly connect any points thereon.    c. If and when in the judgment of such commission the public interests  so demand, the commission, with like approval, may fix and determine the  route by which any such railroad corporation making such application may  so  establish  and  construct or so extend its lines into or within such  city, and may authorize any such railroad corporation to  construct  and  operate  any such railroad or connecting railroad under any streets, and  also in the case of any such railroad or connecting railroad  which  is,  or  by the terms of such certificate is required to be, operated or used  as a part of an interstate trunk line, to construct and operate the same  over and across any such streets, but not over  and  lengthwise  of  any  streets, with all necessary devices and appurtenances and with the right  to  emerge  to  the  surface  upon  private lands at the termini, and to  transport over the same passengers or freight or both and  to  run  over  the same either passenger trains or freight trains or mixed trains.    d.  The  commission,  with  like approval, shall fix and determine the  locations and plans of construction of the railroad upon such route, the  times  within  which  portions  thereof  shall   be   constructed,   the  compensation to be made therefor to the city by the railroad corporation  to  which  the  grant shall be made, or with which the contract shall be  entered into, and such other terms, conditions and  requirements  as  to  the  commission  may  appear  just and proper. Every such grant shall be  made and every such contract entered into, however, upon  the  condition  that  the  railroad corporation to which the grant shall be made or with  which the  contract  shall  be  entered  into,  from  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the operation of any such railroad, shall annually pay  to such city a sum or rental. The amount of such sum  or  rental  for  a  period of not more than twenty-five years, beginning with such operation  of  any  such  railroad,  shall  be prescribed by the commission in such  grant or contract. Every such grant or contract shall  provide  for  the  readjustment  of  the  amount of such sum or rental at the expiration ofthe period for which it shall be so prescribed and for readjustment from  time to time in the future of the  amount  of  such  annual  payment  at  intervals  each  of  not more than twenty-five years. The grant may also  provide  that  the  city  shall have the right after the expiration of a  period fixed in the grant which shall not be more than twenty-five years  from the date on which operation of any portion of such  railroad  shall  commence  to purchase and take the right or franchise so granted and any  tunnel and railroad, thereby authorized, or any portion of  such  tunnel  and  railroad,  provided  the  city shall determine that such tunnel and  railroad or such portion of such tunnel and  railroad  is  necessary  or  desirable  for  use as part of some municipal system of rapid transit to  be owned by the city, upon giving a specified notice and upon payment of  the value of  such  tunnel  and  railroad,  or  portion  of  tunnel  and  railroad, but not including the franchise thereby granted, nor to exceed  the  actual  cost  in  money  of  construction  thereof  and of property  connected therewith. The grant  may  provide  in  default  of  agreement  thereon  for  ascertainment  and  determination by arbitration or by the  court of the amount to be paid by the  city  therefor.  Any  certificate  granted  by  the board of rapid transit railroad commissioners or by the  public service commission before the twenty-sixth day of  May,  nineteen  hundred  nine  authorizing  the construction and operation of any tunnel  and railroad under  the  provisions  of  this  section,  and  any  right  theretofore  given  to the city in or by any such certificate so granted  to purchase and take any tunnel and railroad, or  any  portion  of  such  tunnel  and  railroad shall be deemed to have been authorized, and every  such certificate is hereby ratified and confirmed as to such right given  thereby.    e. A certificate shall be prepared by the commission attested  by  its  seal and the signature of its presiding officer, setting forth in detail  the  action  taken  and  grant  made  or  contract  entered  into by the  commission with respect to such railroad and the terms,  conditions  and  requirements  aforesaid, including provisions as to such annual payments  and the future  readjustments  thereof.  A  like  certificate  shall  be  prepared  in  like  manner  upon  every modification of the terms of the  grant or contract as provided in this  chapter.  Each  such  certificate  shall  prescribe  the  terms and conditions of the readjustments of such  annual payments and may provide for the  determination  of  such  amount  upon  such  readjustments  by  arbitration or by the supreme court. Such  certificate shall be delivered to such  railroad  corporation  upon  the  receipt  by  such  commission  of  a  written  acceptance  of the terms,  conditions and requirements of the grant or contract, duly  executed  by  such railroad corporation, so as to entitle it to be recorded.    f.  Such  certificate shall be filed in the office of the secretary of  state, and a duly certified copy thereof shall be filed in the office of  the clerk of each  county  in  which  such  railroad  is  situated,  and  thereupon,  and upon fulfillment by such railroad corporation, so far as  it relates to such railroad, of such of the requirements and  conditions  as  are necessary to be fulfilled in such cases, under section seventeen  of article three of the  constitution,  and  upon  fulfillment  by  such  railroad  corporation  of  such other terms, conditions and requirements  enumerated in such certificate, as the  commission  may  require  to  be  fulfilled  as  a  condition  precedent  to  commencing  such  work, such  railroad corporation shall in such cases  possess  in  addition  to  its  already  existing  franchises  all  the powers conferred by this chapter  upon corporations  with  respect  to  its  railroads  authorized  to  be  constructed  as  aforesaid. When any routes, rights or franchises, shall  be so fixed and determined, and a certificate as  aforesaid  shall  have  been  duly  filed, such railroad corporation may construct the same withall the rights and with like effect as though the same had been  a  part  of  the  original  route of its railroad then in actual operation, or as  may be provided in such certificate, but in every case  subject  to  all  the  provisions  and  conditions  of such certificate. Every certificate  prepared by the commission or any of its predecessors as aforesaid  when  delivered  to and accepted by such railroad corporation, shall be deemed  to  constitute  a  contract  between  such  city   and   such   railroad  corporation,  according  to the terms of such certificate. Such contract  shall be enforceable by the commission acting in  the  name  of  and  in  behalf  of  such  city  or  by  such  corporation according to the terms  thereof, but subject to the provisions of this  chapter.  The  terms  of  such  contract,  from  time  to  time,  with  like approval and with the  consent of such corporation, may be modified by the commission.    g. But the construction and operation of such railroad  is  authorized  only  upon  the  condition that the consent of the owners of one-half in  value of the property bounded on, and the consent also of the  board  of  estimate  and  the  mayor be first obtained, provided that such board of  estimate and mayor, upon the presentation to them of any such  grant  or  contract,  without  requiring the execution of any other agreements than  those herein provided for, shall either approve or disapprove the  same.  Every  such  approval  shall  be  and  be  deemed  to  be,  free  of all  limitations except those contained in this chapter or the  constitution.  In  case  the  consent  of such property owners can not be obtained, the  appellate division of the supreme court in the department in which  such  railroad  is  proposed  to be constructed, upon application, in the same  manner and on the same notice specified in section  twenty-one  of  this  chapter,  may  appoint  three commissioners, who shall determine after a  hearing of all parties interested, whether such  railroad  ought  to  be  constructed  or  operated,  and  their  determination,  confirmed by the  court, may be taken in lieu of the consent of such property owners.    h. No grant or contract shall be made hereunder affecting in  any  way  the  liabilities  and obligations of the grantee or contracting railroad  corporation with reference to taxation for state or local purposes.  The  state  shall  not  be  liable  for  injuries  to  persons or property in  connection  with  any  railroad  or  other  construction  which  may  be  authorized  under the provisions of this chapter, nor shall the state be  liable for any damages in any event for  any  act  or  omission  of  the  commission.

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Rat > Article-7 > 80

§  80.  Connecting  routes and extension of lines.  a. The commission,  from time to time, with the approval of the board of estimate and of the  mayor may grant a right or franchise or  enter  into  a  contract,  upon  application  to  such  commission  of  any  railroad corporation for the  purpose  of  constructing  and  operating  a  tunnel  railroad  from  an  adjoining  state under the North or Hudson or Harlem river to a terminus  within the  city;  or  under  the  North  or  Hudson  river  and  thence  transversely  across  and  under the surface of the borough of Manhattan  and thence under the East river by the shortest practicable route;  such  railroad to be connected with some trunk line railroad whose terminus is  in this or an adjoining state, thereby forming a continuous line for the  carriage of passengers and property.    b.  A  similar  grant may be made, or a similar contract entered into,  upon the application of  a  railroad  corporation,  owning  or  actually  operating a trunk line railroad whose terminus is within the city, or of  a   railroad  corporation  owning  or  actually  operating,  or  by  the  certificate of the commission required to own  or  actually  operate,  a  railroad  wholly or partly within such city and engaged or intended, and  in such certificate so  recited  and  required,  to  be,  in  interstate  commerce  in connection with a trunk line railroad and which shall have,  or be required by such certificate to have a terminus in such city,  for  the  purpose of constructing and operating a railroad from such terminus  by the shortest practicable route to and under or over the East river or  the North or Hudson river, or the Harlem river, to any point in this  or  an  adjoining  state,  or  to connect such terminus with the railroad or  terminus of any other such railroad or trunk line railroad in this state  or to straighten or improve the grade or alignment of any such  railroad  or more directly connect any points thereon.    c. If and when in the judgment of such commission the public interests  so demand, the commission, with like approval, may fix and determine the  route by which any such railroad corporation making such application may  so  establish  and  construct or so extend its lines into or within such  city, and may authorize any such railroad corporation to  construct  and  operate  any such railroad or connecting railroad under any streets, and  also in the case of any such railroad or connecting railroad  which  is,  or  by the terms of such certificate is required to be, operated or used  as a part of an interstate trunk line, to construct and operate the same  over and across any such streets, but not over  and  lengthwise  of  any  streets, with all necessary devices and appurtenances and with the right  to  emerge  to  the  surface  upon  private lands at the termini, and to  transport over the same passengers or freight or both and  to  run  over  the same either passenger trains or freight trains or mixed trains.    d.  The  commission,  with  like approval, shall fix and determine the  locations and plans of construction of the railroad upon such route, the  times  within  which  portions  thereof  shall   be   constructed,   the  compensation to be made therefor to the city by the railroad corporation  to  which  the  grant shall be made, or with which the contract shall be  entered into, and such other terms, conditions and  requirements  as  to  the  commission  may  appear  just and proper. Every such grant shall be  made and every such contract entered into, however, upon  the  condition  that  the  railroad corporation to which the grant shall be made or with  which the  contract  shall  be  entered  into,  from  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the operation of any such railroad, shall annually pay  to such city a sum or rental. The amount of such sum  or  rental  for  a  period of not more than twenty-five years, beginning with such operation  of  any  such  railroad,  shall  be prescribed by the commission in such  grant or contract. Every such grant or contract shall  provide  for  the  readjustment  of  the  amount of such sum or rental at the expiration ofthe period for which it shall be so prescribed and for readjustment from  time to time in the future of the  amount  of  such  annual  payment  at  intervals  each  of  not more than twenty-five years. The grant may also  provide  that  the  city  shall have the right after the expiration of a  period fixed in the grant which shall not be more than twenty-five years  from the date on which operation of any portion of such  railroad  shall  commence  to purchase and take the right or franchise so granted and any  tunnel and railroad, thereby authorized, or any portion of  such  tunnel  and  railroad,  provided  the  city shall determine that such tunnel and  railroad or such portion of such tunnel and  railroad  is  necessary  or  desirable  for  use as part of some municipal system of rapid transit to  be owned by the city, upon giving a specified notice and upon payment of  the value of  such  tunnel  and  railroad,  or  portion  of  tunnel  and  railroad, but not including the franchise thereby granted, nor to exceed  the  actual  cost  in  money  of  construction  thereof  and of property  connected therewith. The grant  may  provide  in  default  of  agreement  thereon  for  ascertainment  and  determination by arbitration or by the  court of the amount to be paid by the  city  therefor.  Any  certificate  granted  by  the board of rapid transit railroad commissioners or by the  public service commission before the twenty-sixth day of  May,  nineteen  hundred  nine  authorizing  the construction and operation of any tunnel  and railroad under  the  provisions  of  this  section,  and  any  right  theretofore  given  to the city in or by any such certificate so granted  to purchase and take any tunnel and railroad, or  any  portion  of  such  tunnel  and  railroad shall be deemed to have been authorized, and every  such certificate is hereby ratified and confirmed as to such right given  thereby.    e. A certificate shall be prepared by the commission attested  by  its  seal and the signature of its presiding officer, setting forth in detail  the  action  taken  and  grant  made  or  contract  entered  into by the  commission with respect to such railroad and the terms,  conditions  and  requirements  aforesaid, including provisions as to such annual payments  and the future  readjustments  thereof.  A  like  certificate  shall  be  prepared  in  like  manner  upon  every modification of the terms of the  grant or contract as provided in this  chapter.  Each  such  certificate  shall  prescribe  the  terms and conditions of the readjustments of such  annual payments and may provide for the  determination  of  such  amount  upon  such  readjustments  by  arbitration or by the supreme court. Such  certificate shall be delivered to such  railroad  corporation  upon  the  receipt  by  such  commission  of  a  written  acceptance  of the terms,  conditions and requirements of the grant or contract, duly  executed  by  such railroad corporation, so as to entitle it to be recorded.    f.  Such  certificate shall be filed in the office of the secretary of  state, and a duly certified copy thereof shall be filed in the office of  the clerk of each  county  in  which  such  railroad  is  situated,  and  thereupon,  and upon fulfillment by such railroad corporation, so far as  it relates to such railroad, of such of the requirements and  conditions  as  are necessary to be fulfilled in such cases, under section seventeen  of article three of the  constitution,  and  upon  fulfillment  by  such  railroad  corporation  of  such other terms, conditions and requirements  enumerated in such certificate, as the  commission  may  require  to  be  fulfilled  as  a  condition  precedent  to  commencing  such  work, such  railroad corporation shall in such cases  possess  in  addition  to  its  already  existing  franchises  all  the powers conferred by this chapter  upon corporations  with  respect  to  its  railroads  authorized  to  be  constructed  as  aforesaid. When any routes, rights or franchises, shall  be so fixed and determined, and a certificate as  aforesaid  shall  have  been  duly  filed, such railroad corporation may construct the same withall the rights and with like effect as though the same had been  a  part  of  the  original  route of its railroad then in actual operation, or as  may be provided in such certificate, but in every case  subject  to  all  the  provisions  and  conditions  of such certificate. Every certificate  prepared by the commission or any of its predecessors as aforesaid  when  delivered  to and accepted by such railroad corporation, shall be deemed  to  constitute  a  contract  between  such  city   and   such   railroad  corporation,  according  to the terms of such certificate. Such contract  shall be enforceable by the commission acting in  the  name  of  and  in  behalf  of  such  city  or  by  such  corporation according to the terms  thereof, but subject to the provisions of this  chapter.  The  terms  of  such  contract,  from  time  to  time,  with  like approval and with the  consent of such corporation, may be modified by the commission.    g. But the construction and operation of such railroad  is  authorized  only  upon  the  condition that the consent of the owners of one-half in  value of the property bounded on, and the consent also of the  board  of  estimate  and  the  mayor be first obtained, provided that such board of  estimate and mayor, upon the presentation to them of any such  grant  or  contract,  without  requiring the execution of any other agreements than  those herein provided for, shall either approve or disapprove the  same.  Every  such  approval  shall  be  and  be  deemed  to  be,  free  of all  limitations except those contained in this chapter or the  constitution.  In  case  the  consent  of such property owners can not be obtained, the  appellate division of the supreme court in the department in which  such  railroad  is  proposed  to be constructed, upon application, in the same  manner and on the same notice specified in section  twenty-one  of  this  chapter,  may  appoint  three commissioners, who shall determine after a  hearing of all parties interested, whether such  railroad  ought  to  be  constructed  or  operated,  and  their  determination,  confirmed by the  court, may be taken in lieu of the consent of such property owners.    h. No grant or contract shall be made hereunder affecting in  any  way  the  liabilities  and obligations of the grantee or contracting railroad  corporation with reference to taxation for state or local purposes.  The  state  shall  not  be  liable  for  injuries  to  persons or property in  connection  with  any  railroad  or  other  construction  which  may  be  authorized  under the provisions of this chapter, nor shall the state be  liable for any damages in any event for  any  act  or  omission  of  the  commission.

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Rat > Article-7 > 80

§  80.  Connecting  routes and extension of lines.  a. The commission,  from time to time, with the approval of the board of estimate and of the  mayor may grant a right or franchise or  enter  into  a  contract,  upon  application  to  such  commission  of  any  railroad corporation for the  purpose  of  constructing  and  operating  a  tunnel  railroad  from  an  adjoining  state under the North or Hudson or Harlem river to a terminus  within the  city;  or  under  the  North  or  Hudson  river  and  thence  transversely  across  and  under the surface of the borough of Manhattan  and thence under the East river by the shortest practicable route;  such  railroad to be connected with some trunk line railroad whose terminus is  in this or an adjoining state, thereby forming a continuous line for the  carriage of passengers and property.    b.  A  similar  grant may be made, or a similar contract entered into,  upon the application of  a  railroad  corporation,  owning  or  actually  operating a trunk line railroad whose terminus is within the city, or of  a   railroad  corporation  owning  or  actually  operating,  or  by  the  certificate of the commission required to own  or  actually  operate,  a  railroad  wholly or partly within such city and engaged or intended, and  in such certificate so  recited  and  required,  to  be,  in  interstate  commerce  in connection with a trunk line railroad and which shall have,  or be required by such certificate to have a terminus in such city,  for  the  purpose of constructing and operating a railroad from such terminus  by the shortest practicable route to and under or over the East river or  the North or Hudson river, or the Harlem river, to any point in this  or  an  adjoining  state,  or  to connect such terminus with the railroad or  terminus of any other such railroad or trunk line railroad in this state  or to straighten or improve the grade or alignment of any such  railroad  or more directly connect any points thereon.    c. If and when in the judgment of such commission the public interests  so demand, the commission, with like approval, may fix and determine the  route by which any such railroad corporation making such application may  so  establish  and  construct or so extend its lines into or within such  city, and may authorize any such railroad corporation to  construct  and  operate  any such railroad or connecting railroad under any streets, and  also in the case of any such railroad or connecting railroad  which  is,  or  by the terms of such certificate is required to be, operated or used  as a part of an interstate trunk line, to construct and operate the same  over and across any such streets, but not over  and  lengthwise  of  any  streets, with all necessary devices and appurtenances and with the right  to  emerge  to  the  surface  upon  private lands at the termini, and to  transport over the same passengers or freight or both and  to  run  over  the same either passenger trains or freight trains or mixed trains.    d.  The  commission,  with  like approval, shall fix and determine the  locations and plans of construction of the railroad upon such route, the  times  within  which  portions  thereof  shall   be   constructed,   the  compensation to be made therefor to the city by the railroad corporation  to  which  the  grant shall be made, or with which the contract shall be  entered into, and such other terms, conditions and  requirements  as  to  the  commission  may  appear  just and proper. Every such grant shall be  made and every such contract entered into, however, upon  the  condition  that  the  railroad corporation to which the grant shall be made or with  which the  contract  shall  be  entered  into,  from  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the operation of any such railroad, shall annually pay  to such city a sum or rental. The amount of such sum  or  rental  for  a  period of not more than twenty-five years, beginning with such operation  of  any  such  railroad,  shall  be prescribed by the commission in such  grant or contract. Every such grant or contract shall  provide  for  the  readjustment  of  the  amount of such sum or rental at the expiration ofthe period for which it shall be so prescribed and for readjustment from  time to time in the future of the  amount  of  such  annual  payment  at  intervals  each  of  not more than twenty-five years. The grant may also  provide  that  the  city  shall have the right after the expiration of a  period fixed in the grant which shall not be more than twenty-five years  from the date on which operation of any portion of such  railroad  shall  commence  to purchase and take the right or franchise so granted and any  tunnel and railroad, thereby authorized, or any portion of  such  tunnel  and  railroad,  provided  the  city shall determine that such tunnel and  railroad or such portion of such tunnel and  railroad  is  necessary  or  desirable  for  use as part of some municipal system of rapid transit to  be owned by the city, upon giving a specified notice and upon payment of  the value of  such  tunnel  and  railroad,  or  portion  of  tunnel  and  railroad, but not including the franchise thereby granted, nor to exceed  the  actual  cost  in  money  of  construction  thereof  and of property  connected therewith. The grant  may  provide  in  default  of  agreement  thereon  for  ascertainment  and  determination by arbitration or by the  court of the amount to be paid by the  city  therefor.  Any  certificate  granted  by  the board of rapid transit railroad commissioners or by the  public service commission before the twenty-sixth day of  May,  nineteen  hundred  nine  authorizing  the construction and operation of any tunnel  and railroad under  the  provisions  of  this  section,  and  any  right  theretofore  given  to the city in or by any such certificate so granted  to purchase and take any tunnel and railroad, or  any  portion  of  such  tunnel  and  railroad shall be deemed to have been authorized, and every  such certificate is hereby ratified and confirmed as to such right given  thereby.    e. A certificate shall be prepared by the commission attested  by  its  seal and the signature of its presiding officer, setting forth in detail  the  action  taken  and  grant  made  or  contract  entered  into by the  commission with respect to such railroad and the terms,  conditions  and  requirements  aforesaid, including provisions as to such annual payments  and the future  readjustments  thereof.  A  like  certificate  shall  be  prepared  in  like  manner  upon  every modification of the terms of the  grant or contract as provided in this  chapter.  Each  such  certificate  shall  prescribe  the  terms and conditions of the readjustments of such  annual payments and may provide for the  determination  of  such  amount  upon  such  readjustments  by  arbitration or by the supreme court. Such  certificate shall be delivered to such  railroad  corporation  upon  the  receipt  by  such  commission  of  a  written  acceptance  of the terms,  conditions and requirements of the grant or contract, duly  executed  by  such railroad corporation, so as to entitle it to be recorded.    f.  Such  certificate shall be filed in the office of the secretary of  state, and a duly certified copy thereof shall be filed in the office of  the clerk of each  county  in  which  such  railroad  is  situated,  and  thereupon,  and upon fulfillment by such railroad corporation, so far as  it relates to such railroad, of such of the requirements and  conditions  as  are necessary to be fulfilled in such cases, under section seventeen  of article three of the  constitution,  and  upon  fulfillment  by  such  railroad  corporation  of  such other terms, conditions and requirements  enumerated in such certificate, as the  commission  may  require  to  be  fulfilled  as  a  condition  precedent  to  commencing  such  work, such  railroad corporation shall in such cases  possess  in  addition  to  its  already  existing  franchises  all  the powers conferred by this chapter  upon corporations  with  respect  to  its  railroads  authorized  to  be  constructed  as  aforesaid. When any routes, rights or franchises, shall  be so fixed and determined, and a certificate as  aforesaid  shall  have  been  duly  filed, such railroad corporation may construct the same withall the rights and with like effect as though the same had been  a  part  of  the  original  route of its railroad then in actual operation, or as  may be provided in such certificate, but in every case  subject  to  all  the  provisions  and  conditions  of such certificate. Every certificate  prepared by the commission or any of its predecessors as aforesaid  when  delivered  to and accepted by such railroad corporation, shall be deemed  to  constitute  a  contract  between  such  city   and   such   railroad  corporation,  according  to the terms of such certificate. Such contract  shall be enforceable by the commission acting in  the  name  of  and  in  behalf  of  such  city  or  by  such  corporation according to the terms  thereof, but subject to the provisions of this  chapter.  The  terms  of  such  contract,  from  time  to  time,  with  like approval and with the  consent of such corporation, may be modified by the commission.    g. But the construction and operation of such railroad  is  authorized  only  upon  the  condition that the consent of the owners of one-half in  value of the property bounded on, and the consent also of the  board  of  estimate  and  the  mayor be first obtained, provided that such board of  estimate and mayor, upon the presentation to them of any such  grant  or  contract,  without  requiring the execution of any other agreements than  those herein provided for, shall either approve or disapprove the  same.  Every  such  approval  shall  be  and  be  deemed  to  be,  free  of all  limitations except those contained in this chapter or the  constitution.  In  case  the  consent  of such property owners can not be obtained, the  appellate division of the supreme court in the department in which  such  railroad  is  proposed  to be constructed, upon application, in the same  manner and on the same notice specified in section  twenty-one  of  this  chapter,  may  appoint  three commissioners, who shall determine after a  hearing of all parties interested, whether such  railroad  ought  to  be  constructed  or  operated,  and  their  determination,  confirmed by the  court, may be taken in lieu of the consent of such property owners.    h. No grant or contract shall be made hereunder affecting in  any  way  the  liabilities  and obligations of the grantee or contracting railroad  corporation with reference to taxation for state or local purposes.  The  state  shall  not  be  liable  for  injuries  to  persons or property in  connection  with  any  railroad  or  other  construction  which  may  be  authorized  under the provisions of this chapter, nor shall the state be  liable for any damages in any event for  any  act  or  omission  of  the  commission.