DENVER — Colorado has joined the lengthy list of states where lawmakers are seeking to address rail safety, but its legislators are taking a different approach.
Senate Bill 162 would charge a fee to state’s Class I railroads and passenger operators to fund the hiring of safety inspectors by a state rail safety agency. It also requires railroads to report an emergency involving a train and addresses communication between train crew members and emergency responders.
The legislation follows up on a bill signed into law last year that requires wayside detectors and creating a new state Office of Rail Safety [see “Colorado governor signs bill …,” Trains News Wire, May 10, 2024]. The current bill would require that agency to gather and assess information to address safety issues, including an assessment of the state’s ability to respond to a major hazardous-materials incident.
Unlike legislation in other states addressing such matters as train length and crew size, the Colorado bill’s approach is meant to avoid conflict with federal primacy in regulating railroads as a matter of interstate commerce. “This is enabling us to do what is allowed by federal law,” Sen. Lisa Cutter (D-Littleton), one of the bill’s sponsors, told the Vail Daily.
Emergency preparedness is a key element of the effort, said another sponsor, Rep. Elizabeth Velasco (D-Glenwood Springs): “It’s in our interests and the interests of public safety to make sure the state has that ability to respond when there is an emergency and the ability to regulate railways.”
The bill passed the state Senate on April 23 by a 23-12 vote. It is now making its way through the state House, with the House Finance committee advancing it by an 8-5 vote on Tuesday, April 29.
What exactly does the State of Colorado think the Feds are missing when it comes to RR Safety? How many safety incidents occurred last year because the Feds or the RR’s themselves missed something? Last Five years?
Another Solution for a Problem that doesn’t exist.
So the state wants to set up a state rail safety system with railroad money. Interesting – the Class 1s must pay to be badgered and bullied by state reps who may have little knowledge of railroad operations and grandiose ideas of possible “fixes”. Plus a deliberate plan to evade government commerce rules.
Hopefully will crash in their House.