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Montana committee advances bill to clarify utility crossings of railroad right-of-way
Summary
The House Transportation Committee voted to advance House Bill 933 to address utility crossings and permits in railroad rights-of-way, amid disagreement between utilities seeking certainty and railroads warning of safety and property-rights risks; the vote was 9-5 to pass out of committee.
Representative Neil Durham opened the committee hearing on House Bill 933, describing the bill as an effort to provide procedures, timelines and definitions for utilities seeking to place infrastructure within railroad rights-of-way.
Why it matters: Proponents said the bill would provide certainty and predictable permitting for broadband, electric and water projects that cross rail corridors; opponents said the legislature should not substitute for private negotiation and warned of safety and potential legal conflicts with railroads.
Intermountain Infrastructure Group Chief Operating Officer Brady Adams told the committee his company has invested more than $100,000,000 in Montana recently and employs roughly…
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