ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

HB2747: railroads; train length

Sponsor: Representative Hernandez C, LD 21

Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure

Overview

Stipulates that a railroad is not allowed to run a train on a main track or branch line that exceeds 8,500 feet.

History

Currently, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) prescribes standards of safety requiring: 1) installation and maintenance by railroads of electric marker warning lights on the rear of all trains to be visible at a distance of three thousand feet under ordinary atmospheric conditions; and 2) installation and maintenance by railroads of adequate electrical lighting within cabooses for clerical work (A.R.S. § 40-841).

All persons engaged in the operation of railroads are required to comply with any regulation or order of the ACC. The ACC or its authorized agent may, during reasonable hours, enter the place of operation of a railroad to assess whether set safety standards are being complied with (A.R.S. § 40-844).

An engineer, conductor or other employee or officer of a railroad company who allows a locomotive or cars to be or remain upon the crossing of a public highway over such railway so as to obstruct travel over the crossing for over 15 minutes, except in cases of unavoidable accident, is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 40-852).

A person in charge of a railroad locomotive who before crossing any traveled public does not cause the bell to ring or a whistle, siren or other sounding device to sound at a distance of at least 80 rods from a crossing and until it is reached, is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 40-854).

Provisions

1. Prohibits a railroad operating in this state from running or allowing to be run a train that exceeds 8,500 feet in length on any part of a main track or branch line. (Sec. 1)

4. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

5. HB 2747

6. Initials LM Page 0 Transportation & Infrastructure

8. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------