A Senate committee is looking at a bill that would establish a “rail safety committee.”
The committee would consist of five members – three appointed by the Public Service Commission and two by the Governor. Supporters say the committee would be tasked with checking rail crossings and track conditions – and making recommendations to the PSC for repairs or corrections. And they say the public would be involved.
Mike Muscha is an attorney from Enderlin. He told the Senate Transportation Committee the public’s concerns center around dangerous and blocked crossings.
"Due to the huge growth in rail traffic, these problems have frustrated the public," said Muscha. "And there seems to be no formal complaint process."
Public Service Commission chairman Julie Fedorchak says while she agrees with the bill’s goals, there are already efforts in place to help improve rail safety. She told the Committee the PSC, the Department of Transportation and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute are involved.
'This effort will, among other things, identify hazardous routes, review rail and highway crossings, examine traffic projections for the next 20 years, and link that data to crossing information and bus routes," said Fedorchak. "And it will include risk analysis, and identify areas for improvements."
In its budget request, the PSC has asked for three new employees to act as rail inspectors.
