[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 48 (Monday, April 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RAILROAD CAR VISIBILITY ACT

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the ``Railroad 
Car Visibility Act,'' requiring that all railroad cars have some form 
of visible marker such as reflectors or reflective tape.
  The purpose of this legislation is to reduce the number of accidents 
with both moving trains at rail crossings, and with rail cars parked on 
sidings. In South Dakota a number of such accidents have occurred 
recently at rural and small town rail crossings and sidings which are 
often unprotected or unlighted. Such accidents occur in rural areas 
across the country.
  As a result, last year I urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) 
to take appropriate measures to improve railroad car visibility. While 
DOT has begun enforcing rules governing locomotive visibility, rail 
cars are still not required to have reflective lighting. However, DOT 
research concludes that ``retroreflective materials are useful and 
satisfactory for enhancing the visibility of railroad cars.''
  This legislation has the support of both South Dakota's legislature 
and Governor Janklow. For relatively little cost, this legislation will 
improve railroad car visibility and thereby reduce the number of 
accidents, unnecessary injuries and deaths at rail crossings and 
sidings. Therefore I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and 
work with me to secure its passage.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have this bill printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1991

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. IMPROVED CONSPICUITY OF RAIL CARS.

       (a) In General.--Section 20132 of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking the heading and inserting the following:

     ``Sec. 20132. Visible markers for train cars'';

     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Improved Conspicuity.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall--
       ``(1) develop and implement a plan to ensure that the 
     requirements of this section are met; and
       ``(2) issue regulations that require that, not later than 2 
     years after the date of issuance of the regulations, all cars 
     of freight, passenger, or commuter trains be equipped, and, 
     if necessary, retrofitted, with at least 1 highly visible 
     marker (including reflective tape or appropriate 
     lighting).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 201 of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
     relating to section 20132 and inserting the following:

``20132. Visible markers for train cars.''.




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