1744 - Power of eminent domain.
§ 1744. Power of eminent domain. (a) Utility structures.-- (1) The authority shall have power, subject to relevant provisions of section 1741(a)(26) (relating to general powers), to require persons or corporations owning or operating public utility structures and appliances in, upon, under, over, across or along the public roads, streets or other public ways in which the authority has the right to own, construct, operate or maintain transportation facilities to remove the public utility structures and appliances from their locations. If any person or corporation owning or operating public utility structures and appliances fails or refuses to remove or relocate them, the authority may remove or relocate them. The authority shall provide the new location which the structures or appliances as relocated shall occupy, and to that end the authority is hereby authorized to acquire by purchase or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any necessary land or right-of-way for such purpose if the new location shall not be in, on or above a highway, road or street. The exact new location shall be chosen by agreement of the authority and the utility. Upon the completion of the relocation, the authority shall reimburse the public utility for the cost of relocation which shall be the entire amount paid by the utility properly attributable to the relocation of the structure or appliance after deducting the cost of any increase in the service capacity of the new structure or appliance and any salvage value derived from the old structure or appliance. (2) If an issue shall arise between the authority and the public utility as to the amount of the cost of relocation or the new location, either party may institute a proceeding by complaint before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, which is hereby given exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine the issue. Appeal from the order of the commission in any proceeding may be taken in the same manner as is prescribed by law for appeals from other orders of the commission. (b) Eminent domain.-- (1) The authority shall have the right of eminent domain which may be exercised, either within or without the metropolitan area, to acquire private property and property devoted to any public use which is necessary for the purposes of the authority, except property of a public utility operating transportation facilities extending beyond the boundaries of the metropolitan area. (2) The authority shall have the right of eminent domain to acquire property of any railroad which property is not used for or in connection with the transportation of persons or property and to acquire rights and easements across, under or over the right-of-way of such railroad whenever the authority shall acquire the private right-of-way or other property of a public utility used or useful in its service to the public. (3) It shall, before requiring the removal of the existing structures and appliances, provide a new location for the structures and appliances and, upon the completion of relocation, reimburse the public utility for the cost thereof in the manner provided in subsection (a). (c) Title.--Title to any property acquired by an authority through eminent domain shall be an absolute ownership or fee simple title unless a lesser title shall be designated specifically in the eminent domain proceedings. (d) Public utilities.--Real and personal property of any kind whatever belonging to a public utility corporation providing transportation or transportation-related services may be acquired without the approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. In all cases involving the facilities of a railroad, any operations of which extend beyond the metropolitan area, the exercise of the power of the authority under this subsection shall be subject to the jurisdiction of that commission under Title 66 (relating to public utilities). (e) Certain property exempt.--No property owned or used by the United States, the Commonwealth, any political subdivision thereof or any body politic and corporate organized as an authority under any law of this Commonwealth or by any agency of any of them nor property used for burial purposes or places of public worship shall be taken under the right of eminent domain without the consent of the owner or user thereof. (f) Negotiation.--Before exercising the power of eminent domain, reasonable efforts shall be made by the authority to achieve the desired result through negotiation.