N.Y. R.R. Law § 192
No street surface railroad corporation shall hereafter lay down in the streets of any incorporated city or village of this state what are known as "center-bearing" rails; but in all cases, whether in laying new track or in replacing old rails, shall lay down "grooved" or some other kind of rail not "center-bearing" approved by the local authorities. Such grooved or other rail shall be of such shape and so laid as to permit the paving-stones to come in close contact with the projection which serves to guide the flange to the car wheel. Where in any city, the duty of repairing and repaving streets, as distinguished from the authorization of such paving, repairing and repaving, is by law vested in any local authority other than the common council of such city, such other local authority shall be the local authority referred to in this section.
N.Y. R.R. Law § 192