Altoona Times

With approximately 5,600 miles of railroad track in Pennsylvania, Representative Lou Schmitt has introduced two legislative bills aimed at enhancing rail safety standards in the state.

Schmitt emphasized the historical significance of railroads in Pennsylvania and expressed a desire for the state to lead in national rail safety efforts. "The railroad is synonymous with Pennsylvania, and we should be a leader in the nation when it comes to making the rails safer for everyone," he stated. He noted that his proposed legislation stems from lessons learned from past incidents, particularly referencing the disaster in East Palestine, Ohio.

One of Schmitt's bills mandates that freight locomotives be staffed by at least two workers: an engineer and a conductor. Exceptions would apply when locomotives are situated in repair or servicing facilities. Another proposal seeks to limit train lengths to 8,500 feet due to growing safety concerns linked with longer trains, including traffic congestion and delayed emergency response times at rail crossings.

The proposed legislation would empower the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to impose fines on non-compliant rail companies.

Despite these safety concerns, Schmitt acknowledged the importance of railroads as a crucial component of transportation infrastructure. He highlighted that trains can transport a ton of freight over 470 miles on just one gallon of diesel fuel and that the industry supports 167,000 jobs across the United States.

"Rail continues to be the most economical mode of transporting goods and a big part of our economy here in Altoona and across the Commonwealth," Schmitt said. "We must ensure the safety of the men and women who work on the lines, as well as all Pennsylvanians. My bills take a commonsense approach to improved safety standards."

The bills have been forwarded to the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee for further consideration.