[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1482-E1483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TO ALLOW RAILROAD EMPLOYEES TO REMAIN ON DUTY AS NECESSARY TO CLEAR A 
            BLOCKAGE OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AT GRADE CROSSINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, today, along with Representative 
Sensenbrenner and Representative Duffy, I am introducing common sense 
legislation that would provide flexibility for train crews to remain on 
duty past their maximum hours of service, when feasible to the extent 
necessary, in order to clear a blockage of vehicular traffic at grade 
crossings.
  My district and the state of Wisconsin have seen a surge in traffic 
on our rail lines. This

[[Page E1483]]

is great, but it has also caused a logjam of trains waiting on rail 
lines and blocking crossings, sometimes for hours on end. It was 
reported that last week near the small community of Byron in my 
district, a train blocked a state highway for five hours and could not 
move the fifty feet to clear the crossing because the crew had reached 
its maximum hours of service. A new crew was required before the train 
could be moved.
  I recognize that the rail system is very complex and there are many 
factors that go into trains being held and crossings being blocked. But 
I still struggle with the fact that motorists, including emergency 
services, were forced to wait five hours for a train to move fifty 
feet. Part of the benefit in moving goods by rail is to relieve 
congestion on the roads, not increase it. The goal of this legislation 
is to provide a common sense solution to scenarios such as the instance 
in Byron.
  While I realize these are the waning days of the 113th Congress, I 
hope that by at least introducing this legislation now, it will 
continue a discussion here in Congress and with the rail industry and 
rail labor on this common sense solution.

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