7 ms·

Can't the US govt buy back any land they want for infrastructure? I mean forcibly buy back.

• jeffreyrogers 2y ago
  Yes, it's called eminent domain. But if the government attempts to do so you can file a lawsuit and argue that they don't have a right to purchase your property from you. These lawsuits are expensive and take a lot of time/effort, which makes building a railway impractical by this method. To "solve" this politically would require a constitutional amendment, which is obviously not going to happen for this issue.
  • stetrain 2y ago
    You can also try negotiating peacefully first: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/virginia-and-charlotte-n-c-officially-to-acquire-norfolk-southern-routes/ https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/virginia-a...
    • mattmaroon 2y ago
      Governments usually do try negotiating peacefully first. It’s better for everyone involved than the alternative.
  • chairmansteve 2y ago
    But, as a previous poster said, these problems always seem solveable when building a freeway.
    • macintux 2y ago
      I think it's a question of public support, political will, and stamina. People think of freeways as vital, so it's ok if I-69 through southern Indiana takes over 30 years from initial studies to completion. If a train route took 30 years to build, it would be lambasted as a boondoggle and abandoned.