A Democrat-backed bill in the U.S. House of Representatives addresses rail service concerns raised during recent hearings by the House transportation committee.
Congress should fund the Surface Transportation Board, agreed panelists at a U.S. House hearing on the board’s funding reauthorization. But they disagree on what STB’s role should be in regulating the freight railroads.
Democratic leaders with the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure want the General Accountability Office to examine the effects that precision scheduled railroading has had on freight and passenger rail operations, rail safety and the labor workforce.
The Senate bill introduced requiring automatic brakes would apply to new trucks starting two years after the final rule.
The latest infrastructure bill phases out DB-60 air brake control valves manufactured before January 2006 over concerns about their effectiveness in cold weather.
New provisions seek a comprehensive review of the U.S. grade crossing inventory.
