Landowners briefed on potential rail to trail project

Landowners on the southwest side of Indianapolis could soon be entitled to financial compensation from the federal government.

Railroad company CSX Transportation abandoned 1.8 miles of railroad track in the area. Under state law, the land along Kentucky Avenue is supposed to revert back to its previous owners.

But some have speculated that a rail to trail project, where defunct railroads are converted into trails, could be built on the now abandoned land. The stretch runs from the Eli Lilly’s west side campus south to a Rolls Royce training center.

Attorneys from the law firm Lewis Rice held informational meetings this week for property owners near the old railroad. The attorneys said that the government is able to seize the land and turn it into a trail under eminent domain. If the government does take the land, the current owners are entitled to financial compensation.

Lindsay Brinton, one of the attorneys at Lewis Rice, said land owners are often surprised and confused when these cases come up.

"They sometimes are a little bit unsure of what's happening, and so we like to hold these town hall meetings or open houses to be available to land owners, to let them know what’s happening and what their rights are," Brinton said.

Brinton said it’s currently unclear what will happen to the land. If it does get turned into a trail, land owners will be able to file a claim for financial compensation with the federal government.

If it doesn’t, the land will simply be returned to land owners. Brinton said the plan for the land will become more clear over the next 30 days.