Agreement Requires Coordinated Frequent Inspections of Traffic Control Devices at Grade Crossings By State and Local Officials
Legislation Also Increases Penalties For Railroad Companies, Repeat Offender Drivers Who Fail to Comply With Laws
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein today announced an agreement on legislation to improve rail safety measures across New York State. The agreement includes a series of initiatives that will reduce the risk of train-motor vehicle collisions at grade crossings across the State. The new initiatives will require coordinated, frequent inspections of traffic control devices at highway-rail crossings and impose penalties on railroad companies and repeat offender drivers who continue to disobey the law and ignore important safety requirements. These laws will ensure New York State law conforms to federal safety requirements, and will align state law with federal requirements for railroad bridge inspections.
“New York’s railways are critical to this state’s transportation network and we must ensure they meet the highest possible safety standards,” Governor Cuomo said. “By requiring frequent inspections at grade crossings and increasing penalties for those who continue to violate the law and ignore important safety requirements, this agreement will help to reduce the amount of preventable tragedies that have occurred at these crossings over the years. I thank my partners in the Legislature for reaching this agreement and their commitment to ensuring a safer rail system for all.”
