Surface Transportation Authorization Bill

The 2005 “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU), approved by Congress and signed by the President in August 2005, authorized $286.5 billion in federal investment for the highway, public transportation and highway safety programs from fiscal years (FY) 2004-09. The law expired on September 30, 2009 and the program has been extended until March 31, 2012. This action was taken to enable Congress to continue consideration of a long-term surface transportation authorization bill or a further extension of existing programs. Congress has an important task to play by shaping a well crafted multi-modal federal transportation bill and advancing rail should be part of a balanced approach to this policy. Investing in rail will ensure competitiveness, promote job creation and improve our nation’s mobility. Decisions made during the debate of reauthorizing SAFETEA-LU will have a profound impact on the rail supply industry.

Below are programs within SAFETEA-LU that historically impact the rail supply industry.

Grade Crossing Safety

Since 1973 Congress has provided dedicated funding for states through the Section 130 Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Program to implement safety improvements projects at grade crossings. Such improvements include flashing lights, gates or other warning devices and even upgraded surfacing material. Combined with Operation Lifesaver’s safety message of “look, listen and live” at highway rail grade crossings, fatalities and injuries have been reduced dramatically. The Section 130 program within SAFETEA-LU provides $220 million per year which allows states, localities and railroads to implement this simple strategy: close unnecessary crossings, upgrade the remaining crossings with the most modern warning devices available and, with Operation Lifesaver, educate the public on the dangers at these unique intersections.

Currently, there is a push in Congress to consolidate existing smaller safety programs into one large safety block grant. With rail freight traffic beginning to rebound, the promise of more and faster passenger trains in the next few years and increased highway traffic, now is not the time to turn our back on this program. We believe that, given the alternative, states will use federal safety funds on other projects and not on grade crossing projects. RSI often meets with states to discuss Section 130 issues and we have found that states do use this modestly funded program. The state officials who oversee the Section 130 program often suggest that they could use even more money if Congress would provide it to them.

RSI supports H.R. 825/S. 918, the Surface Transportation Safety Act of 2011 which, among other safety initiatives, would help preserve the Section 130 program in the next surface transportation bill at $220 million per fiscal year.

Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is a nationwide volunteer education organization. This public information and education program is an essential tool in the prevention of motor vehicle accidents, injuries and fatalities at highway-rail grade crossings. Recognizing the importance of a coordinated nationwide safety message, Congress, beginning in 1988, provided an annual $250,000 set aside for OLI through the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987. Congress has continued to fund OLI and increased the set aside to $560,000 per year in the late 1990s.

Funding for this important program should not be eliminated nor should OLI have to compete with others in the uncertainty of the appropriations process. With forecasts calling for a substantial boost in the amount of freight and passenger rail, safeguarding American pedestrians and motorists around highway-rail grade crossings remains very important. This nationwide highway-rail crossing education and safety program should continue to receive federal funding at the modest level of $560,000 per year. RSI is working with Members of Congress to ensure that funding for OLI remains in the next surface

Truck Sizes & Weights

Currently, truck size and weight limits on federal highways have been frozen by Congress since 1991. Under current law, trucks operating on most of the U.S. Interstate Highway System can have a gross vehicle weight of no more than 80,000 pounds. Past attempts to thaw the federal freeze have been rejected by Congress. Proponents of heavier trucks are now asking Congress to raise the national cap on truck size by 20 percent to 97,000 pounds from the current limit of 80,000 pounds. RSI continues to partner with and supports the activities of the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks including seeking cosponsors for H.R. 1574/S. 876, the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act. These bills would extend the present freeze on longer and heavier combination vehicles from the Interstate Highway System to the entire National Highway System.