Ten states get deadline for grade-crossing plans

Written by jrood

February 14, 2001 Ten states that lead the nation in the number of highway-rail grade-crossing deaths -- Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas --have until Aug. 27, 2011, to complete five-year action plans that address highway-rail grade crossing accidents, Occupational Health & Safety's Website reported.

The Federal Railroad
Administration published a final rule June 28 starting the clock for these
states, which were chosen because they are the 10 with the most reported
highway-rail grade crossing accidents/incidents during 2006, 2007 and 2008. FRA
set Aug. 27, 2010, as the rule’s effective date and gave the 10 states one year
from that date to prepare their plans.

"States can reasonably
develop such plans within one year from the date this regulation goes into
effect," the rule states. "A five-year period is appropriate because
many of the remedial actions that may be included in these plans (e.g.,
closures and grade separations) may take up to five years to implement. In
addition, any identified State that has already developed an action plan in
conjunction with a recommendation from DOT’s Office of Inspector General must
ensure compliance with this final rule and must resubmit the plan as
required."

Congress ordered FRA to
enact this rule. FRA held a public hearing in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 22,
2010, and also received comments that urged it to consider how many collisions
occur in each state relative to the number of vehicles and the number of
highway-rail grade crossings there, as well as consider actions each state has
taken to reduce grade crossing collisions. But FRA declined both suggestions
because Congress’ direction about the rule was clear: identify the 10 states that
have had the most highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the
past three years.

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