Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has introduced legislation that would extend until 2020 a federal statutory deadline that freight railroads install collision-avoidance technology.
The legislation, introduced last week before the August Congressional recess, would extend by five years a requirement that “positive train control,” or PTC, implementation on about 60,000 miles of track and provide another optional two-year extension if Federal Railroad Administration approval is granted.
The current deadline is Dec. 31, 2015, and the bill would extend that through Dec. 31, 2020. Shortline railroads that operate on PTC-mandated track would also receive a five-year extension, according to the legislation.
The bill “ensures that safety for rail passengers and secure freight transportation remains a priority while the FRA moves forward in implementing PTC,” Thune said in a statement, adding that without the extension, many railroads would be forced to decide between stopping service and operating in violation of the law.
The Association of American Railroads said it “supports and appreciates” the efforts of Thune and other senators to extend the deadline.
