Major transportation corridors often bisect agricultural ownerships creating uneconomic land uses or disrupting viable agricultural enterprises. In an effort to mitigate adverse impacts to individual properties and the communities at large, a land consolidation policy was developed and distributed in December 2000 permitting States to purchase property remainders or agricultural properties offered for sale in the general corridor. This type of acquisition allows states to acquire property outside the R\W limits to be exchanged for property needed for construction. Property ownerships can thereby be adjusted to retain agricultural use and keep ownerships intact rather than being bisected by the highway. Acquired properties can be exchanged for required right-of-way, used to adjust land holdings, and reduce the need for expensive land service facilities such as cattle passes and equipment underpasses. This policy was developed for the Interstate 69 corridor. If a State is unable to acquire such property under normal circumstances, the need for the acquisition can be documented in the environmental process as required project mitigation.

Additional Guidance

Right-of-Way Acquisition in Rural Areas This memo and attached information on land consolidation are provided to assist you on mitigation of right of way acquisitions in agricultural areas.

To provide feedback, suggestions or comments for this page, contact Arnold Feldman (arnold.feldman@dot.gov)