As a means of improving safety and facilitating this goal, MRL encourages the general public, cities and towns to cooperate in order to implement consolidation projects. New crossing requests will be encouraged to use alternate access by way of parallel or other roads leading to existing crossings.

If an application is made and approved, the applicant must enter into an agreement with the Railroad. Basic terms of the agreement are as follows:

• Applicant will reimburse railroad for Engineering review fees and will be obligated to pay an annual permit fee.
• All construction work for new crossings and future maintenance from end of tie to end of tie must be performed by MRL forces and at the applicant's expense.
• Grading, drainage and continued maintenance work on roadway approaches, is the sole responsibility of the applicant.
• Any installation and maintenance of current or future warning devices required for the crossing (active or passive) is at applicant's sole expense.
• Any relocation costs of a utility due to construction of a new crossing is the responsibility of the applicant.
• Applicant will bear the cost of insurance coverage with minimum limits of $5,000,000 per occurrence and $10,000,000 aggregate.
• Depending on work and proximity to tracks Railroad Protective Insurance may be required.

The Road Crossing Application must be printed out completed and forwarded to Property Management along with a non-refundable $500 application fee made payable to Montana Rail Link.