Nineteen states plus the District of Columbia are supporting Ohio’s request for the Supreme Court to take up the issue of whether states have the regulatory authority to regulate railroad traffic, particularly when it comes to blocked crossings.
Congressmen back calls from fertilizer and agricultural products shippers to improve freight rail service, plus news about a new federal grant program to eliminate railroad crossings and updates on CN and Canadian Pacific.
The 10th circuit court of appeals ruled that Oklahoma’s blocked crossing mandate violates the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act, ending a court battle that lasted over two years.
Rail-related provisions in the newly signed infrastructure bill span from federal grants to support infrastructure projects to studying the impacts of positive train control and train lengths.
Union Pacific is constructing a grain transload facility at its intermodal terminal near Chicago, while two U.S. senators introduce bipartisan legislation to form a grant program that aims to reduce highway-rail grade crossings.
All 50 states plus the District of Columbia must now develop and implement safety measures for high-risk highway-rail grade crossings.
The Nebraska Public Service Commission is preparing to file a complaint against BNSF, Union Pacific and Nebraska Central over blocked highway-rail grade crossings in Grand Island.
New provisions seek a comprehensive review of the U.S. grade crossing inventory.
The bills call actions such as setting federal penalties for blocked crossings and allowing funding for the construction of more rail-grade crossings.
To reduce or eliminate blocked highway-rail grade crossings, the federal government needs to define the roles of stakeholders and technology, hearing witnesses said.
The Federal Railroad Administration hopes to collect data on blocked rail crossings from the public and law enforcement.
