What's happening
This bill requires Metro-North Railroad to implement regular safety briefings for passengers and emergency training for staff starting in 2021.
Why it matters
Regular safety briefings will make passengers more aware of emergency procedures, exits, and equipment, potentially improving their ability to respond in a crisis.
Conductors and designated staff must communicate critical safety information both live and via recorded audio/visual means, ensuring all riders are reached regardless of how they board or their language/reading abilities.
Staff—including conductors and train crew—will receive expanded and standardized emergency training, covering evacuation, communications, and assisting injured or vulnerable passengers, which could lead to more effective responses during incidents.
Mandating these briefings and trainings brings Metro-North practices in line with safety protocols common in other transportation sectors, potentially increasing public trust and reducing liability for the railroad.
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Who cares
Metro-North passengers
They would receive safety briefings before initial departure covering evacuation, exits, first aid and survival equipment, and fire extinguishers, with further briefings at selected stations and during emergencies.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The bill would require the authority to implement a Metro-North passenger safety briefing plan by January 1, 2021.
Metro-North conductors, trainmen and designated employees
They would receive training in emergency procedures, interoperable communications, handling stricken commuters and evacuation equipment, while conductors or their designees would deliver passenger briefings.
Headline styles
Require Train Safety Briefings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Train Safety Briefings
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3205
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring a safety briefing of Metro-North commuter railroad passengers to be conducted at certain times
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1279-e to read as follows:
§ 1279-e. Safety briefing of passengers plan; implementation on Metro-North commuter railroad. The authority is hereby authorized and directed to implement a safety briefing of passengers plan not later than January first, two thousand twenty-one, for the benefit of persons utilizing transportation and other related services of the Metro-North commuter railroad. Such program shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for the following:
1. Before initial departure of each train carrying passengers, and periodically thereafter, at the discretion of the authority at stations where the greatest number of passengers board the train, the conductor, or the conductor's designee, shall immediately communicate live and/or by recorded, visual and/or audio images:
(a) Evacuation procedures;
(b) Location and means for opening the passenger entry doors and emergency exits;
(c) Location of first aid and survival equipment;
(d) Location and operation of fire extinguishers.
In the event of a disaster or emergency, the conductor, or the conductor's designee shall communicate the safety briefing message as often as necessary to ensure passenger safety.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04891-01-9
S. 3205 2
2. The briefings required by subdivision one of this section may be delivered by means of an approved recording playback device that is audible to each passenger under normal noise levels.
3. The training of conductors, trainmen and other designated employees in emergency techniques and procedures, interoperable communications, handling and positioning of stricken commuters, and knowledge of procedures and equipment used during evacuation procedures.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring a safety briefing of Metro-North commuter railroad passengers to be conducted at certain times
Purpose
Directs the metropolitan transportation authority to provide safety briefings to passengers aboard Metro-North trains, and instruct person- nel in safety procedures
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends the public authorities law by adding a new section 1279-e, which directs the authority to implement a safety briefing to passengers no later than January 1, 2019 for persons utiliz- ing transportation and other related services of the Metro-North commu- ter railroad.
Such program shall include, but not be limited to: before initial depar- ture of each train, and periodically thereafter, at the discretion of the authority at stations where the greatest number of passengers board the train, the conductor, or the conductor's designee, shall immediately communicate live and/or by recorded, visual and/or audio images: evacu- ation procedures; location and means for opening the passenger entry doors and emergency exits; location of first aid and survival equipment and location and operation of fire extinguishers. Additionally, in the event of a disaster or emergency, the conductor, or the conductor's designee shall communicate the safety briefing message as often as necessary to ensure passenger safety.
The briefings may be delivered by an approved recording playback devise. The plan shall also provide for the training of conductors, trainmen and other designated employees in emergency techniques and procedures, interoperable communications, and knowledge of procedures and equipment used during evacuations.
Section two states the effective date.
Justification
On February 3, 2015, during the evening rush hour, the northbound Metro-North Railroad passenger train no. 659 impacted with a sports utility vehicle which had stopped on the tracks at the Commerce Street highway rail grade crossing. This tragic accident resulted in the deaths of five passengers seated in the lead passenger railcar and the driver of the sports utility vehicle. Although the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating this horrific accident, many passengers reported much confusion and difficulty in evacuating the damaged train.
In March of 2014, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a report to Congress evaluating the safety measures of the Metro-North system. In the report, the FRA strongly urged the senior leadership of Metro-North to prioritize safety, and implement a plan to improve safety standards and procedures. Unlike the Metropolitan Transit Authority's (MTA) notification announcements on the New York City subway system, Metro-North does not provide routine briefings to passengers regarding proper evacuation and safety procedures. This lack of instruction resulted in much confusion to the roughly 650 passengers on the train at the time of the Valhalla crash. Therefore, it would be in the interest of public safety to require Metro-North Railroad Safety Committee to utilize and disseminate similar information as is provided on the City's subway system.
In emergency situations, passengers cannot be reasonably expected to know the exact location of fire extinguishers, emergency exits and other pertinent information without repetition. By requiring this information be disseminated upon the initial departure of each train, as well as at stations where the greatest number of passengers board the train, over- time, New York's commuters will become better aware of proper emergency procedures, which will save the lives of future passengers should anoth- er tragedy occur.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.292
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.