# Subtitle 6 – Care of Tracks, Switches, and Track Areas

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 6-1 Care of tracks and track facilities.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-1 (2026)

(a) All street railway companies occupying with their tracks or other facilities any of the streets, avenues, or other highways in the City of Baltimore, shall at all times keep rhose tracks and facilities in good condition and repair.

(b) if any company fails or neglects to make repairs promptly and properly, the Department of Transportation is authorized to have the same done in a good and sufficient manner, at the expense of the company.

*History: Ord. 48-459*

*History: Ord. 76-143*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-2 Use of abrasive materials.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-2 (2026)

For the purpose of facilitating the movement of vehicles along the public highways, the several owners or operators of public passenger vehicles are authorized to spread upon the public highways of the City such abrasive or other materials, at such locations, at such times, and in such manner as may be generally or specifically approved by the Department of Transportation from time to time.

*History: Ord. 1887-118*

*History: Ord. 48-465*

*History: Ord. 76-143*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-3 Care of track areas.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-3 (2026)

Said railway companies:

(1) shall keep the streets covered by said tracks, and extending 2 feet on the outer limits of either side of said tracks, in thorough repair, at their own expense; and

(2) shall free the same from snow or other obstructions; and

(3) in doing which, they shall not cause to be obstructed the other portions of the street on either side of said railway tracks.

*History: Ord. 1859-044*

*History: Ord. 48-483*

## § 6-4 Scope of obligations.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-4 (2026)

In all cases where rights or privileges may be hereafter granted to any street railway to use or occupy the streets of Baltimore, the railroad company or companies so using the street shall be obliged in every case and shall assume the obligation, whether the same be provided for in the ordinance granting such rights or franchise or not, to keep the portion of the street over which their rails are laid in repair between the tracks so laid and 2 feet on either side, and they shall pay the cost of paving and repaving that portion of said street or streets in every case where the street or streets may be paved or repaved by public authority.

*History: Ord. 1897-009*

*History: Ord. 48-483*

## § 6-5 Ch. 401, Acts of 1906 - cost of street work.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-5 (2026)

There is hereby imposed upon all street railway companies occupying with their tracks parts of the beds of streets, avenues, or other highways in the City of Baltimore, upon which work shall have been done or shall hereafter be done, under the Act of 1906, Chapter 401, of the General Assembly of Maryland, and any amendment or amendments thereof, the obligation to pay for said work so far as the same shall have been done or shall be done between the rails of their said tracks and for a space of 2 feet on either side thereof.

*History: Ord. 12-153*

## § 6-6 Ch. 401, Acts of 1906 - work by DoT.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-6 (2026)

(a) This section applies to work begun after its enactment.

(b) In order to do the work authorized by Chapter 401, Laws of Maryland 1906, upon streets, avenues, or other highways occupied in part by the tracks of any street railway company, without unnecessary inconvenience or damage to the railway company, and in order to give the railway company a reasonable opportunity to do any part or parts of the work authorized by that Act, so far as the same relates to the space between its tracks, and for 2 feet on each side thereof, which the railway company may be authorized by any law or ordinance to do, the Department of Transportation is directed, before beginning any work under that Act upon any street, avenue, or other highway occupied in part by the tracks of any railway company, to give reasonable notice to the railway company of the Department’s intention to do the work and of the time when it proposes to begin.

(c) After the expiration of the time mentioned in the notice, the Department of Transportation:

  (1) shall proceed to do the work;

  (2) shall keep an accurate account of the cost of all of the work, the obligation to pay for which is imposed by this section upon the street railway company; and

  (3) upon the completion of the work, shall make demand upon the railway company for the payment of that cost.

(d) In the event of the railway company’s  failure or refusal to pay the cost, payment shall be enforced as provided in <cite data-path="|20|§6-7">§ 6-7 of this subtitle</cite>.

*History: Ord. 12-153*

*History: Ord. 76-143*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-7 Ch. 401, Acts of 1906 - enforcement.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-7 (2026)

The obligation imposed by §§ 6-5 and 6-6 hereof may be enforced by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore by a suit at law or any other remedy which, by any law or ordinance, may be appropriate and available for said purpose.

*History: Ord. 12-158*

## § 6-8 Ch. 401, Acts of 1906 - penalties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 20, § 6-8 (2026)

(a) If, in the judgment of the Department of Transportation, any street occupied by a street railway company is in bad condition or out of repair between the rails and 2 feet outside of the outer rails, the Department shall notify the railway company to repair the street within the limits specified.

(b) If the Director’s order is disregarded and the repairs called for are not made within 10 days of the date of the notice, the Director shall:

  (1) make the repairs;

  (2) charge the cost thereof to the railway company, with 10% added for supervision and use of tools; and

  (3) take the necessary stops to collect said bill.

(c) Any railway company neglecting, failing, or refusing to make the repairs required by the Department of Transportation shall pay a fine of $20 for each square or part thereof on the route or line of tracks of the company that it neglected, failed, or refused to repair as directed, this fine to be enforced as are other fines for the violation of City ordinances.

*History: Ord. 1898-101*

*History: Ord. 76-143*

*History: Ord. 15-435*