N.Y. R.R. Law § 32
Any individual, joint-stock association or corporation, engaged in any lawful business in this state, may, except in any city of the state, lay down and maintain such railroad tracks on or across any street or highway, not exceeding three miles in length, as shall be necessary for the transaction of its business, and to connect any place of business owned by them with the track of any railroad corporation, and render such place of business more accessible to the public, upon obtaining the written consent of the owners of all the lands bounded on and of the local authorities having control of that portion of the street or highway, upon which it is proposed to construct or operate such railroad. If the consent of such property owners can not be obtained, the appellate division of the supreme court of the department in which such railroad is to be constructed, may upon application appoint three commissioners, who shall determine, after a hearing of all parties interested, whether such railroad ought to be constructed or operated, and the amount of damages, if any, to be paid to such property owners, and their determination confirmed by the court may be taken in lieu of the consent of the property owners. But no such railroad shall be so located, graded, built or operated as to interfere with or obstruct the traveled part of any highway, or its use as a highway, or the use of any street or highway intersecting the same.
N.Y. R.R. Law § 32