NRS704.305. Railroad crossings: Apportionment of costs of construction, reconstruction and protective devices; maintenance of surface.

      1.  The entire cost of a new grade crossing or a new grade separation, including any automatic protection devices that may be required, where no existing grade crossing located at or in the immediate vicinity of the new grade crossing or grade separation structure is eliminated, shall be apportioned to and borne by the governmental unit or units affected if a governmental unit initiates the proceeding, or by the railroad or railroads if the proceeding is initiated by a railroad.

      2.  Where a new grade separation will directly result in the elimination of an existing grade crossing located at or in the immediate vicinity of the grade separation or an existing grade separation is reconstructed, 13 percent of the cost shall be apportioned to and borne by the railroad or railroads and the remainder of the cost shall be apportioned to and borne by the governmental unit or units affected. If a grade separation structure provides either more highway lanes or space for more highway lanes than are in place on the existing highway grade crossing being eliminated, the railroad share of cost shall be limited to 13 percent of the cost of constructing a grade separation structure having the same number of highway lanes that were in place on the highway prior to construction of the grade separation structure.

      3.  Where automatic protection devices are added or materially altered, changed or improved at an existing grade crossing, 87 percent of the cost of such added, altered, changed or improved automatic protection devices shall be apportioned to and borne by the governmental unit or units affected and 13 percent of the cost shall be apportioned to and borne by the railroad or railroads.

      4.  The cost of maintaining any new, added or materially altered, changed or improved grade crossing automatic protection devices and appurtenances shall be apportioned 50 percent to the governmental unit or units affected and 50 percent to the railroad or railroads.

      5.  The maintenance of a new or reconstructed grade separation structure shall be performed by the governmental unit or units affected, and the cost thereof shall be apportioned to and be borne by the governmental unit or units affected, except that the maintenance of waterproofing, ballast, ties, tracks and other railroad equipment shall be performed by the railroad or railroads, and the cost of such maintenance shall be apportioned to and borne by the railroad or railroads.

      6.  The railroad shall maintain at its expense the surface of grade crossings to a distance of 2 feet on the outer side of each outermost rail, and such maintenance shall include, but is not limited to, the railroad roadbed, rails and all appurtenant facilities.

      7.  On projects where federal funds are used, apportionment and division of costs shall be in accordance with federal law and the rules, regulations and orders of the federal agency administering such law to the extent that such law, rule or regulations and orders require a different apportionment of costs than is set forth in this section. The provisions of this section may not otherwise be invoked on projects to the extent that such federal law, rules, regulations and orders are applicable.

      8.  The provisions of this section impose no limitation upon the right of governmental units or railroads to negotiate agreements apportioning costs. To the extent that costs are apportioned by such agreement, the Commission shall order that costs be apportioned and borne in the manner provided by such agreement.

      (Added to NRS by 1971, 572)