Michigan § 462.14 - Sidetracks, spurs and branches; control by commission; abandonment or removal, procedure.

The commission shall have control and jurisdiction over all sidetracks, spurs and branches insofar as the same are used or operated by common carriers. No change or discontinuance in the service from, to or on such sidetracks, spurs and branches or abandonment or removal of said sidetracks, spurs or branches, except sidetracks or spurs solely required for the convenient operation of its engines and trains and private industrial sidetracks, shall be made except after 10 days' notice to the commission and to the public published as aforesaid, which shall plainly state the change or discontinuance proposed to be made in such service or the sidetrack, spur or branch proposed to be abandoned or removed and the time when such change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal will go into effect; and the proposed change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal shall be shown by printing and filing new tariffs or notice thereof or by showing such change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal by issuing and filing supplements or notice in the regular manner now provided and keeping same open to public inspection: Provided, That the commission may allow changes upon less time than the notice herein specified or modify the requirements in this section in respect to publishing and posting of tariffs either in particular instances or by a general order applicable to special or peculiar circumstances or conditions: Provided further, That it shall be lawful for the said commission and it is hereby authorized, acting upon its own initiative or upon complaint, to postpone the date when such change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal shall become effective to such time not to exceed in all 45 days as shall give the said commission opportunity to investigate the reasonableness of such proposed change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal, and it shall thereupon be lawful for such commission, and it is hereby authorized to proceed with all convenient speed with an investigation upon at least 5 days' notice to said common carrier, either upon its own initiative or upon complaint as to the reasonableness of said change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal, and shall follow the proceedings as near as may be and make its orders thereon either approving or refusing such change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal or prescribing the terms and conditions upon which such change, discontinuance or abandonment or removal shall be made, in the manner hereinafter provided in section 22 of this act, such investigation to take precedence of all matters of a different nature pending before the commission, except investigations as to change or discontinuance of rates, fares or charges or joint rates, fares or charges then pending before said commission.