49 U.S.C. § 28503 — Surface Transportation Board mediation of rights-of-way use requests

If, after a reasonable period of negotiation, a public transportation authority^* cannot reach agreement with a rail carrier^* to acquire an interest in a railroad right-of-way for the construction and operation of a segregated fixed guideway facility^* to provide commuter rail passenger transportation^*, the public transportation authority or the rail carrier may apply to the Board^* for nonbinding mediation. The Board shall conduct the nonbinding mediation in accordance with the mediation process of section 1109.4 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this section.