Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-17), Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), and Hudson Valley elected officials today at a press conference at a Metro-North railroad crossing site in Chappaqua urged Congress to pass a passenger rail bill that includes significant investments in rail crossing improvements.
This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act (PRRIA), which includes Maloney and Lowey's legislation H.R. 705, the Rail Crossings Safety Improvement Act, which invests in state and local governments' efforts to build bridges, tunnels or otherwise relocate roads in order to improve the safety of grade crossings for passengers, motorists and pedestrians. 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.
"The Valhalla Metro-North collision never should have occurred, but incidents at grade crossings are all too common," said Lowey. "The Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act is expected to be considered in the House this week, and I have proposed an amendment that would set aside $10 million for a national high-visibility enforcement and education campaign. As Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue to work with Congressman Maloney and my colleagues in Congress to employ every tool at our disposal to take on this challenge of improving grade crossing safety."
"By working across the aisle, we're making significant investments that will save lives with positive train control technology and safer rail crossings," saidMaloney. "Unfortunately preventable and deadly incidents at rail crossings continue occurring across New York, and this investment for our local and state governments will ensure the resources are available to improve safety at dangerous, high-hazard crossings."
"Every motorist and train passenger should expect that every possible measure is in place to provide for their safety," said Westchester Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz. "I am happy to work with our representatives in Congress to makes sure we are doing all we can to make sure we never see another tragedy at one of these crossings."
"Every day, members of our community leave their homes to embark on what should always be a safe commute to work along with an uneventful return home," said Town of New Castle Supervisor Robert J. Greenstein. "Unfortunately, on February 3, 2015, two members of our community did not return home. In the aftermath of the tragic Metro-North accident, the need to eliminate dangerous train crossings became clear. However, when the railroad grade crossing is located within half a mile of a high school with a large percentage of young and relatively inexperienced drivers, the need becomes urgent. We thank Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney for their leadership on this critical public safety initiative. We must prevent another tragedy."
Notably, 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 $10 million 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. These campaigns represent an important partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation and local law enforcement officials to address critical safety risks.
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.