Provides for biennial inspection of traffic control devices at highway railroad crossings

1 Co-sponsor

• George Latimer

Title of bill

An act to amend the railroad law, in relation to requiring joint inspection of traffic signals

Purpose

This legislation adds a new section to the railroad law which would establish a requirement that joint inspections of traffic signal locations that are interconnected with highway-railroad grade crossing warning systems be completed every two years and would direct the Department of Transportation (DOT) to oversee the program.

Summary of provisions

Section one would add a new section 53-f to the railroad law to require every railroad corporation and every municipality having jurisdiction of a highway on which there is an "at grade" crossing to coordinate with DOT on a biennial inspection of any traffic control devices interconnected with a highway-rail at grade crossing warning system.

Section two would set forth the effective date.

Justification

As a result of a recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a statewide effort has been underway to improve the coordinated operation of traffic and railroad signal systems that are in close proximity to where vehicles may queue up over the railroad tracks. The Grade Crossing Safety program identified six (6) priority categories of work to focus scarce resources on improving safety in the most critical areas; interconnected signals was one of those identified.

Currently, the railroads independently inspect their portion of the interconnected system and DOT does the same for signals on the state system. However, the majority of these signals are located on the local system, and it is not known how often inspections of these interconnected signals occur.

This legislation would allow DOT to coordinate and track the joint inspections, including those on the local system, with the railroads, to ensure inspections are conducted regularly. The join inspection would be limited to the inspection of the railroad pre-emption module of vehicular traffic signals that are interconnected with the railroad warning systems.

Legislative history

New bill

Fiscal implications

Would cost an estimated $350,000 annually in program staffing costs.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after becoming a law; provided however, that effective immediately, the commissioner is authorized to promulgate any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.