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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 2, 2023 03:53 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Katie J. Muth and Sen. Lindsey M. Williams, Sen. Marty Flynn |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Enhance Rail Safety by Requiring At Least Two-Person Crew on Trains |
| In the near future we will be introducing legislation that would require all trains traveling in Pennsylvania to have a minimum of two crew members. This simple and commonsense provision would enhance the safety of our communities and railroad workers alike. The East Palestine train derailment near our border with Ohio is a tragic reminder of the risk Commonwealth residents face every day from trains transporting hazardous materials through our communities. The confusion and concern Western Pennsylvania residents faced before and after the train’s contents were burned only highlights the need to do everything we can to prevent derailments before they occur. From 2016 to 2022, Class I railroads eliminated nearly 30 percent of their workforces, which coincided with the introduction of “precision scheduled railroading”, a cost-cutting measure that prioritizes profits over people and public safety. This new system has not only eliminated jobs but has led to longer trains and shorter safety inspections. Seven states currently require at least two crew members on trains: California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and five of these states have enacted their law since 2016. The New York State Legislature passed similar legislation in 2022 with strong bipartisan support before it was vetoed by the governor. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) first proposed a rule in 2016 to mandate two-person crews though later rescinded it in 2019 under a new presidential administration. In December 2022, the FRA proposed a new rule that would implement a two-person crew minimum. Cosponsor this legislation to help prevent future catastrophic train derailments that threaten the health, safety, and livelihoods of Pennsylvania residents across the Commonwealth. |