House proposes extention to install rail safety system
WASHINGTON - Key House lawmakers proposed giving rail lines at least three more years to install a critical rail safety system that could have prevented May's Amtrak derailment, bowing Wednesday to the reality that almost no railroads will meet the requirement to have the system in place by year's end.
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WASHINGTON - Key House lawmakers proposed giving rail lines at least three more years to install a critical rail safety system that could have prevented May's Amtrak derailment, bowing Wednesday to the reality that almost no railroads will meet the requirement to have the system in place by year's end.
The bill, sponsored by the top Republicans and Democrats on the House transportation committee, would give major freight and commuter rail lines until 2018 to have the system, Positive Train Control, operational, with the possibility for two one-year extensions. The proposal sets a more firm deadline than one approved by the Senate earlier this year.
Under a 2008 law, railroads were supposed to have the upgraded system in place by Dec. 31. But only five rail lines are on pace to meet that goal, leading to warnings that others would face huge fines or be forced to cease operations Jan. 1.
Lawmakers initially sought a five-year extension but recalibrated after the Amtrak Train 188 derailment in Philadelphia, in which the train was traveling at more than twice the speed limit when it hurtled off the tracks, killing eight people and injuring more than 200. The National Transportation Safety Board said Positive Train Control, which can remotely slow or stop a train, could have prevented the crash.
"Extending the deadline is essential to preventing significant disruptions of both passenger and freight rail service," said a statement from Rep. Bill Shuster (R., Pa.), chairman of the committee.
The panel's top Democrat said he was "disappointed" an extension was necessary. He called Wednesday's proposal, which he backed, a "one-time" reprieve.
"Congress will not accept any more delays," Rep. Peter DeFazio (D., Ore.) said in a news release.
Commuter rail lines have complained about budget constraints and difficulty acquiring the radio spectrum needed to operate the system. Freight carriers say they have been hampered by technical challenges and the volume of work needed to equip 23,000 locomotives and 60,000 miles of track.
SEPTA has said it can meet the deadline. But in a recent letter to Congress, it said an extension would help "responsibly complete" installation and testing. NJ Transit will not have PTC ready by year's end, while Amtrak says it can meet the deadline on the Northeast Corridor.
Critics accuse railroads of dragging their feet.
The Senate this year also set 2018 as a new target for installing Positive Train Control equipment but left wiggle room, leading to worries about more delays. The Senate bill also included $199 million to help commuter rail lines meet the deadline. There is no such funding in the House bill. The chambers now have to work out their differences.
The sponsor of the Senate's extension, Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.), urged action well before Dec. 31, saying railroads will need to plan for a potential shutdown in advance of the deadline.
@JonathanTamari