If you are a landowner in Dorchester or Caroline County, Maryland, and your property is next to the proposed rail trail, then you may be entitled to compensation.
The trail would consist of three segments of rail line, spanning a total of 14.73 miles. The first segment is 8.23 miles long, from milepost 32.47 at Cedar Street in Cambridge, to milepost 24.24 at US 50 – Ocean Gateway near Linkwood. The second segment is 6.1 miles long, from milepost 31.2 at Broad Street in Hurlock, to milepost 25.1 near Railroad Avenue in Preston. The third segment is 0.4 miles long, from milepost 31.28 in Hurlock, to milepost 31.68 at Delaware Avenue in Hurlock.
Dorchester & Caroline County Rail Trail
If you are a landowner in Dorchester or Caroline County, Maryland, and your property is next to the proposed rail trail, then you may be entitled to compensation. The trail would consist of three segments of rail line, spanning a total of 14.73 miles. The first segment is 8.23 miles long, from milepost 32.47 at Cedar Street in Cambridge, to milepost 24.24 at US 50 – Ocean Gateway near Linkwood. The second segment is 6.1 miles long, from milepost 31.2 at Broad Street in Hurlock, to milepost 25.1 near Railroad Avenue in Preston. The third segment is 0.4 miles long, from milepost 31.28 in Hurlock, to milepost 31.68 at Delaware Avenue in Hurlock.
It is established law that the federal government must pay you for the portion of your land that is currently the railroad or once was the railroad and is now being converted into a trail. Since the railway was an easement granted to the railroad, you may still hold title to the land.
Abandonment of the railway has not been approved, but a Notice of Interim Trail Use (NITU) has been submitted, which means that the rail trail is currently in the planning phase. Once abandonment is approved, the trail is effectively approved, and you may be entitled to compensation. We want to ensure that you, as a landowner, are justly compensated under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Our firm has extensive experience handling lawsuits asserting the property rights of landowners against the federal government in the United States Court of Federal Claims. These lawsuits are referred to as “Rails-to-Trails” cases.
At Flint Cooper, our dedicated team of attorneys take pride in making your claims process simple and stress free. There are no upfront fees and no out-of-pocket expenses. The time to file a claim is limited. If you would like to discuss your claim and understand your rights in more detail, please contact us toll-free at +1.866.816.7383, complete the Free Case Consultation form on this page, email us at railstotrails@flintcooper.com, or schedule a time with our team to meet with you at your home or property.
