N.Y. R.R. Law § 233
The commissioners shall within one hundred and forty days after their appointment, make a report to a special term of the supreme court of the department in which such railroad may be located, of the amount of the pecuniary damages arising from the diminution of value of each parcel of property bounded on that portion of the street or streets, highway or highways, upon which it is proposed to construct such railroad or railroads, which will be caused by the construction, maintenance and operation thereof. The name and place of residence of the owner or owners of each parcel shall be stated if the same are known, or can be ascertained, and if not known the name of the person or persons appearing by the certificate of the clerk or register of the county to have the title thereto from the records in his office, and a specific description of each parcel of property with reasonable certainty. The testimony, if any, taken by the commissioners as to the amount of such damage, shall accompany their report. Within thirty days after filing and recording its certificate of incorporation, the corporation authorized to construct and operate such railroad or railroads shall move to confirm such report by giving notice of such motion to the property owners in the manner in which notice of the time and place of hearing before the commissioners is required by section two hundred and twenty-five of this article to be given, and if the corporation fails to so move, any property owner may make the motion; and thereafter the proceedings shall be conducted in the manner prescribed in the condemnation law.
Before constructing and operating its railroad in front of any real property bounded upon any street, avenue or public place wherein the corporation is authorized by the certificate and report of the commissioners to construct and operate its road, such corporation shall pay to the owner of the real property the damages sustained or which will be sustained by him in consequence thereof, as finally fixed and ascertained, and the costs allowed him, if any, and the court may direct that such damages be paid out of the moneys deposited pursuant to the provisions of section two hundred and twenty-five of this article, or in case negotiable securities shall have been deposited in lieu of money, that so much of such securities shall be sold as may be necessary to raise the amount required to be paid to such owner for damages and costs if any. If a bond shall have been executed in lieu of such deposit, the court may order the sureties in such bond to pay the damages so fixed and ascertained, and in default thereof may cause them to be proceeded against and punished as for a contempt of court.
N.Y. R.R. Law § 233