Letter to Acting Administrator Patrick T. Warren - Urging the Federal Railroad Administration to immediately review the current federal standards for the time between the activation of train warning signals and the distance of an incoming train

Letter

I write to urge the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to immediately review the current federal standards for the time between the activation of train warning signals and the distance of an incoming train. Recent accidents at railroad grade crossings in New York, including this week in Newburgh, resulted from collisions with vehicles despite the train warning signal and lights activating 20 to 25 seconds before the arrival of the train, as called for by federal standards. These accidents demonstrate the need for an immediate review and report of federal standards to determine if the standards should be expanded based on findings from incidents in the United States as well as compared to international standards.

As you know, on March 7th a CSX train was approaching a crossing equipped with active warning devices when the crew observed a Hi-Lift articulating boom vehicle fouling the main track in between the lowered gates. The crew placed the train in emergency prior to striking the equipment, but the three locomotives and the first 18 cars of 77 cars, some of them containing hazardous materials, derailed. Fortunately, no one appears to have suffered life-threatening injuries and there were no major spills of hazardous materials. In 2015, a Metro-North train traveling on the Harlem line struck an SUV on its tracks in Valhalla, NY, killing five passengers and the car driver and injuring many more--the deadliest accident in Metro-North's history. Between 2005 and 2014, there were 341 Railway Grade Crossing Incidents that resulted in 59 fatalities and 96 injuries in New York.

In addition to reviewing and reporting on train warning signals and lights, I urge the FRA to establish an outreach campaign targeted at local businesses located near rail crossings. Specifically, the FRA should coordinate with businesses on train schedules and the plans to move slow moving equipment across grade crossings. As heavy and industrial equipment often move at different speeds than automobiles, it is important local businesses are aware of train schedules.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. An immediate review and report of federal train warning standards in addition to an established outreach campaign at local businesses located near rail crossings will help make a meaningful improvement in railroad safety throughout New York. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

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