RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia legislator is re-introducing regulations that would require two-person crews, cap train lengths, and limit the amount of time trains could block grade crossings in the commonwealth’s House of Delegates.
HB385 is sponsored by Delegate Shelly A. Simonds (D-Newport News). It will formally be introduced on Wednesday, Jan. 10. It would set a maximum train length of 8,500 feet; would set penalties starting at $100 for blocking grade crossings for more than 5 minutes, increasing to $500 plus $100 for each additional minute beyond five minutes that a crossing is blocked; and would have escalating penalties of up to $10,000 for violations of the two-person-crew provision.
Other provisions allow for fines of $250,000 for “a grossly negligent violation or pattern of violations that caused an imminent threat of death or injury;” and prohibit railroads from placing cars within 1,500 feet of a grade crossing.
WRIC-TV reports a similar bill was rejected by the House of Delegates last year, when it had a Republican majority; this year, both houses of Virginia’s legislature have narrow Democratic majorities and Simonds told the station she expects a “more favorable outcome.” Even if it passes the legislature, it would still have to be signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican.
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