Casey Introduces Bicameral Bill to Improve Rail Bridge Safety, Empower Local Communities

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The Rail Bridge Safety and Transparency Act would require DOT to create safety standards for rail bridges and monitor railroad compliance

There is currently little federal oversight for the more than 100,000 rail bridges across the Nation, including more than 900 in PA

This legislation would empower local communities to report on and become aware of local rail bridge safety conditions

Senator Casey continues to push for passage of Railway Safety Act

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced The Rail Bridge Safety and Transparency Actto empower communities and increase the safety of our Nation's rail bridges. Due to limited oversight from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) or U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the safety of many rail bridges is unknown, putting communities at risk. This legislation would mitigate future railroad accidents by creating standards for DOT rail bridge oversight and empowering local communities to become aware of and report unsafe conditions. U.S. Representative Summer Lee (D-PA-12) plans to introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives in the coming weeks.

"The Commonwealth knows all too well how loose safety standards can cause train derailments and threaten communities. This bill is another step to raise safety standards, hold big rail companies accountable, and protect communities from preventable tragedies," said Senator Casey. "I will keep fighting for rail safety and will push for the Railway Safety Act for as long as it takes."

"Too many times, we've seen the disastrous consequences of railroad companies shirking their duty to maintain structurally sound bridges. No longer should we allow communities riddled with these deteriorating, privately owned structures to be kept in the dark, waiting for a catastrophe to unfold," said Representative Summer Lee (D-PA-12). "The Rail Bridge Safety and Transparency Act will provide long overdue oversight of rail companies' maintenance and inspection actions, holding them accountable for higher safety standards and demanding they prioritize public safety over secrecy and profits."

"Easton is crossed by railroads that once served passengers and local industry. Because of these historic uses, an elevated railroad divides the City in half, even though it no longer serves local commuters or businesses. Making sure that the railroad's 4 elevated bridges in the City are held to uniform safety standards similar to our elevated highways and roads would protect vulnerable road users who rely on the railroad's underpass for travel," said Salvatore J. Panto Jr., Mayor of Easton, PA.

"BMWED members are the foremost qualified and experienced rail bridge inspectors in the United States. Our Brotherhood fully supports Senator Casey's Rail Bridge Safety Act and urges its quick and timely passing into federal law. It is imperative that we address the deterioration of rail bridges throughout this country to protect railroaders, shippers and the public at large. Time and again, the rail carriers have proven that they will delay proper and necessary inspections, fearing the slowing or stopping of train traffic that would occur to address repairs. The railroads must be held accountable for the soundness and safety of their infrastructure and this bill is a step in that direction. We all know what tragedies can occur when maintenance is delayed or neglected because profitability is prioritized. Let's pass the Rail Bridge Safety Act and start the work on building better and safer railroads!" said Tony D. Cardwell, President of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes.

"As the largest U.S. transportation labor federation, we know it's critical to maintain, inspect, and repair the major infrastructure that keeps America moving," said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. "We applaud Senator Casey for introducing this bill to make rail bridges safer and preserve rail jobs."

"The Rail Bridge Safety and Transparency Act will enable small communities to establish communication with Federal Railways and identify any unsafe structures within our areas. With the local railway running through our town on an elevated platform, ensuring railway safety is a top priority for us," said Zachary Filous, Borough Manager of Freeport, PA.

Across the Nation, there are over 100,000 railroad bridges that connect communities across rivers, lakes, and highways. But despite rail bridges' critical importance, there is little federal oversight and bridges are almost always only inspected and monitored by the rail companies who own the bridges based on their own guidelines. The results of these inspections are largely inaccessible to local officials and constituents, leaving communities unaware of their local rail bridge safety.

After hearing repeated concerns from Pennsylvania mayors, union workers, and community members about unsafe bridges with little regulation, Senator Casey sponsored TheRail Bridge Safety and Transparency Act. The lack of strict oversight has already led to catastrophic consequences. In May 2023, a Montana Rail Link-owned bridge collapsed and caused a train derailment that released hazardous chemicals into the river below. Later that year, a broken rail on a BNSF-owned bridge caused a train derailment and bridge collapse and killed a truck driver below the bridge.

TheRail Bridge Safety and Transparency Act would improve safety by directing DOT to create standards to establish a rating system for rail bridges and require railroads to inspect their bridges in line with these standards. DOT would also perform independent inspections of the bridges to ensure safety standards are upheld. This legislation would also empower the DOT Secretary to fine railroads for dangerous lapses in safety, should a pattern of discrepancies between railroad reporting and DOT findings be found.

Additionally, the lack of oversight often leaves local officials and residents completely unaware of possible threats posed by unsafe rail bridges. Currently, local mayors can only learn of a rail bridge's condition if the DOT Secretary approves their request to receive a copy of a rail bridge inspection report. TheRail Bridge Safety and Transparency Act would remove the red tape to make it easier to access these reports and establish a protocol for community leaders report on safety issues.

Senator Casey has long fought to improve rail safety. In 2015, after learning that there was only one federal railroad inspector for more than 900 rail bridges in Pennsylvania, Senator Casey called on FRA to swiftly increase the number of inspectors. He has repeatedly pushed for legislation to prevent man-made disasters, including train derailments, from happening again. Following the Norfolk Southern train derailment in February 2023, Casey introduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act. In addition to requiring advanced notification to emergency response officials about hazardous materials being transported, the Railway Safety Act includes several requirements to enhance overall railway safety, support communities impacted by rail disasters, and force rail carriers to face heightened fines for wrongdoing. Casey successfully included key provisions of his Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Actin the Senate Commerce Committee-passed version of the Railway Safety Act.

This bill is endorsed by the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Division (TTD), the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW), Freeport, Pennsylvania Borough Manager Zachary Filous, and Easton, Pennsylvania Mayor Sal Panto.

Read more about TheRail Bridge Safety and Transparency Acthere.

See Senator Casey's full record on the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment here.

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