Local Reps Push for Passage of Federal Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act
Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s (D-Harrison) and Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney’s (D-Cold Spring) proposed legislation H.R. 705, the Rail Crossings Safety Improvement Act, is in front of the House of Representatives this week as part of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act (PRRIA).
At a press conference Monday, the two legislators were joined by local government officials at a railway crossing in Chappaqua to advocate for passage of the bill. In addition, Lowey announced she proposed an amendment to PRRIA that would set aside $10 million to build upon existing efforts like Operation Lifesaver for a national high-visibility enforcement and education campaign about the dangers of railway crossings.
Referring to the train crash incident just two weeks ago, Lowey said: “The Valhalla Metro-North collision never should have occurred, but incidents at grade crossings are all too common.”
According to a media statement released during the press conference, PRRIA reauthorizes a program that expired in 2009, the Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Capital Grant Program (RLR). As part of an annual $300 million reauthorization with the Intercity Passenger Rail Service Program, the RLR program allows state and local communities to invest in local rail line relocation and improvement projects at grade crossings. In the President’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget request, the Department of Transportation listed railroad intersections as one of the “three most pressing rail safety issues.” In the past, the RLR program allowed states and local governments to make lateral and vertical relocation of rail lines in order to improve the safety of grade crossings for train passengers, motorists and pedestrians.
Lowey’s amendment to PRRIA would set aside funding for a national high-visibility enforcement and education campaign. The amendment is modeled after the successful “Click it or Ticket” campaign for seatbelts and the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign for impaired driving.
Ninety-five percent of deaths involving trains happen at highway-rail crossings. While deaths and accidents have declined steadily nationwide, accidents continue to happen in New York, the home of 5,304 grade crossings. From 2012-2014, there were 81 accidents, 15 deaths and 23 injuries at grade crossings, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
