ยง  224.  Adoption  of plans, and terms upon which road shall be built.
  The commissioners by such public notice, and under such conditions,  and
  with  such  inducements as they may prescribe, shall invite a submission
  of plans for the construction and operation of such railroad, and  shall
  meet at a time and place in such notice named, not more than ninety days
  after their organization, and decide upon the plans for the construction
  thereof,  with  the  necessary  supports,  turnouts,  switches, sidings,
  connections, landing-places, stations, buildings, platforms,  stairways,
  elevators,  telegraph and signal devices, or other requisite appliances,
  upon the route or location determined upon by  them.  They  shall,  upon
  notice   to  the  local  authorities,  and  after  hearing  all  parties
  interested, fix and determine what compensation, if any, in a gross sum,
  or in a certain percentage of receipts, shall annually be  paid  to  the
  local   authorities  by  the  corporation  formed  for  the  purpose  of
  constructing, maintaining and operating such railroad for public use  in
  the  conveyance  of  persons and property, for the use and occupation by
  the corporation of the streets, avenues and highways in and  upon  which
  its railroad is to be constructed, and the time when such railroad, or a
  portion  thereof,  shall be constructed and ready for operation, and the
  maximum rates to be paid for transportation and conveyance thereon,  and
  the  hours  during  which special cars or trains shall be run at reduced
  rates of fare; and the amount of the capital stock of such  corporation,
  and  the  number  of  shares  into  which  it  shall be divided, and the
  percentage thereof to be paid in cash on subscribing for such shares.
The commissioners may select two or more routes,  upon  one  of  which
  such railroad may be constructed and operated; and the local authorities
  may  consent to the construction and operation of such railroad upon one
  or more of such routes, or parts thereof; and  the  commissioners  shall
  have  power to change and re-adopt routes and plans for the construction
  and operation of such railroad after they have  been  submitted  to  the
  local  authorities,  in  cases where such authorities may recommend such
  changes, or may not  be  willing  to  consent  to  the  construction  or
  operation of the railroad upon the routes and plans adopted, unless such
  changes are made therein.
Structure New York Laws
Article 6 - Rapid Transit Act of 1875
220 - Application for Railroad; Commissioners.
221 - Oath and Bond of Commissioners.
222 - First Meeting of Commissioners.
223 - Determination of Necessity of Railroad and Route.
224 - Adoption of Plans, and Terms Upon Which Road Shall Be Built.
225 - Appraisal of Damages and Deposit of Money as Security.
226 - Shall Prepare Certificate of Incorporation; Proviso as to Forfeiture.
228 - Commissioners to Deliver Certificate; Affidavit of Directors.
231 - Where Route Coincides With Another Route.
232 - Commissioners to Transfer Plans.
233 - Commissioners to File Report; Confirmation Thereof.
235 - Quorum; Term of Office; Removal; Vacancies in Board of Commissioners.
236 - Abandonment or Change of Route; New Commissioners; Their Powers and Proceedings.
237 - Abandonment of Portion of Route by Elevated Railroad.
238 - Increased Deposit, When and How Required.
239 - Trains to Come to Full Stop.
240 - Gates or Vestibule Doors.
241 - Penalty for Violation of Two Preceding Sections.
242 - Sections to Be Printed and Posted.
244 - Lighting Cars on Elevated Railroads in Cities of Over Twelve Hundred Thousand Inhabitants.