BILL NUMBER:S3458

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to direct the department of transportation to conduct a study
of level grade rail crossings

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation directs the department of transportation to conduct a
statewide study of highway-railroad grade crossings to determine
whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions between
trains and motor vehicles.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill directs the department of transportation, in
consultation with the metropolitan transportation authority, the
department of motor vehicles, the division of state police, the
governor's traffic safety committee, local governments, and any other
department, division, board, bureau, commission, agency or public
authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof deemed
necessary by the commissioner of transportation, to conduct a
statewide study of highway-railroad grade crossings to determine
whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions between
trains and motor vehicles. Such study will include, but not be limited
              

to, the design and safety of highway-railroad grade crossings and the
feasibility of implementing design changes to increase safety and
reduce the likelihood of obstruction at such grade crossings; adequacy
of traffic and pedestrian warning signals; the availability of Federal
funding for highway-railroad grade crossing improvement projects; and
the feasibility of equipping passenger and commuter trains with
technology to increase safety. Furthermore, the study will include
data on highway-railroad grade crossing accidents and incidents that
have occurred within the state on an annual basis over the past five
years. The commissioner of transportation will submit a report of such
study, including detailed recommendations and findings, to the
governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the
assembly, the chair of the senate transportation committee, the chair
of the assembly transportation committee and the chair of the assembly
corporations, authorities and commissions committee, on or before
April 1, 2016.

Section 2 is the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

This legislation is introduced in the wake of the Metro-North Train
#659 collision on February 3, 2015, where a commuter train collided
with an SUV at a highway-railroad grade crossing in Valhalla, NY
during the evening rush hour. This legislation authorize the
department of transportation, in consultation with other departments,
agencies and organizations to conduct a statewide study to assess
whether adequate safety measures exist at highway-railroad grade
crossings to prevent accidents.The study will also include the
availability of Federal funding for improvement projects and the
feasibility of implementing changes to increase safety.


Although the numbers of fatalities and accidents at highway-railroad
grade crossings have fallen steadily on a national level, they have
increased in New York State. According to an article in the New York
Times, based on the latest available Federal Railroad Administration
data, there have been thirty highway-railroad grade crossing accidents
on Metro North in New York since 2003. As also noted in the article,
highway-railroad grade crossing accidents on the three major commuter
rail lines in New York rose to twenty eight in 2013. This legislation
will require a comprehensive evaluation of the safety of
highway-railroad grade crossing and the feasibility associated with
improving their safety.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3458A

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to direct the department of transportation to conduct a study
of level grade rail crossings

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This legislation directs the department of transportation to conduct a
statewide study of highway-railroad grade crossings to determine
whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions between
trains and motor vehicles.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of the bill directs the department of transportation, in
consultation with the metropolitan transportation authority, the
department of motor vehicles, the division of state police, the
governor's traffic safety committee, local governments, and any other
department, division, board, bureau, commission, agency or public
authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof deemed
necessary by the commissioner of transportation, to conduct a
statewide study of highway-railroad grade crossings to determine
whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions between
trains and motor vehicles. Such study will include, but not be limited
              

to, the design and safety of highway-railroad grade crossings and the
feasibility of implementing design changes to increase safety and
reduce the likelihood of obstruction at such grade crossings; adequacy
of traffic and pedestrian warning signals; the availability of Federal
funding for highway-railroad grade crossing improvement projects; and
the feasibility of equipping passenger and commuter trains with
technology to increase safety. Furthermore, the study will include
data on highway-railroad grade crossing accidents and incidents that
have occurred within the state on an annual basis over the past five
years. The commissioner of transportation will submit a report of such
study, including detailed recommendations and findings, to the
governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the
assembly, the chair of the senate transportation committee, the chair
of the assembly transportation committee and the chair of the assembly
corporations, authorities and commissions committee, on or before
April 1, 2016.

Section 2 is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

This legislation is introduced in the wake of the Metro-North Train
659 collision on February 3, 2015, where a commuter train collided
with an SUV at a highway-railroad grade crossing in Valhalla, NY
during the evening rush hour. This legislation authorize the
department of transportation, in consultation with other departments,
agencies and organizations to conduct a statewide study to assess
whether adequate safety measures exist at highway-railroad grade
crossings to prevent accidents.The study will also include the
availability of Federal funding for improvement projects and the
feasibility of implementing changes to increase safety.

Although the numbers of fatalities and accidents at highway-railroad
grade crossings have fallen steadily on a national level, they have
increased in New York State. According to an article in the New York
Times, based on the latest available Federal Railroad Administration
data, there have been thirty highway-railroad grade crossing accidents
on Metro North in New York since 2003. As also noted in the article,
highway-railroad grade crossing accidents on the three major commuter
rail lines in New York rose to twenty eight in 2013. This legislation
will require a comprehensive evaluation of the safety of
highway-railroad grade crossing and the feasibility associated with
improving their safety.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.