Directs the department of transportation to conduct a study of level grade rail crossings

4 Co-sponsors

• Thomas Croci
• George Latimer
• Jack M. Martins
• Terrence P. Murphy

Title of bill

An act to direct the department of transportation to conduct a study of level grade rail crossings

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation directs the department of transportation to conduct a statewide study of highway-railroad grade crossings to determine whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions between trains and motor vehicles.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of the bill directs the department of transportation, in consultation with the metropolitan transportation authority, the department of motor vehicles, the division of state police, the governor's traffic safety committee, local governments, and any other department, division, board, bureau, commission, agency or public authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof deemed necessary by the commissioner of transportation, to conduct a statewide study of highway-railroad grade crossings to determine whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions between trains and motor vehicles. Such study will include, but not be limited to, the design and safety of highway-railroad grade crossings and the feasibility of implementing design changes to increase safety and reduce the likelihood of obstruction at such grade crossings; adequacy of traffic and pedestrian warning signals; the availability of Federal funding for highway-railroad grade crossing improvement projects; and the feasibility of equipping passenger and commuter trains with technology to increase safety. Furthermore, the study will include data on highway-railroad grade crossing accidents and incidents that have occurred within the state on an annual basis over the past five years. The commissioner of transportation will submit a report of such study, including detailed recommendations and findings, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate transportation committee, the chair of the assembly transportation committee and the chair of the assembly corporations, authorities and commissions committee, on or before April 1, 2017.

Section 2 is the effective date.

Justification

This legislation is introduced in the wake of the Metro-North Train #659 collision on February 3, 2015, where a commuter train collided with an SUV at a highway-railroad grade crossing in Valhalla, NY during the evening rush hour. This legislation authorize the department of transportation, in consultation with other departments, agencies and organizations to conduct a statewide study to assess whether adequate safety measures exist at highway-railroad grade crossings to prevent accidents. The study will also include the availability of Federal funding for improvement projects and the feasibility of implementing changes to increase safety.

Although the numbers of fatalities and accidents at highway-railroad grade crossings have fallen steadily on a national level, they have increased in New York State. According to an article in the New York Times, based on the latest available Federal Railroad Administration data, there have been thirty highway-railroad grade crossing accidents on Metro North in New York since 2003. As also noted in the article, highway-railroad grade crossing accidents on the three major commuter rail lines in New York rose to twenty eight in 2013. This legislation will require a comprehensive evaluation of the safety of highway-railroad grade crossing and the feasibility associated with improving their safety.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.