Press release: https://railroads.dot.gov/newsroom/press-releases/federal-railroad-administration-launches-web-portal-public-report-blocked-0
www.railwayage.com/safety/fra-launches-webpage-to-report-blocked-crossings/
Webpage to report: https://www.fra.dot.gov/blockedcrossings/
https://www.progressiverailroading.com/federal_legislation_regulation/news/FRA-sets-up-web-page-for-reporting-blocked-crossings--59357
Original notice of the proposal:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/06/14/2019-12572/proposed-agency-information-collection-activities-comment-request
Some comments/ observations:
This could be: 1) just a place for persons/ local governments to complain to ("vent"), without any real prospect for action; or 2) evidence-gathering mode to support a new regulation which limits the times. (If so, I'm going to be near the head of the "I told you so" line.)
I anticipate this webpage will be real popular in Barrington, Illinois (see controversy over expected increase in train traffic and blocked crossings as a result of the EJ&E being acquired by the CN about 20 years ago).
Wait until some town like that puts up either fixed or changeable message signs aat the crossing approaches that say something like "REPORT BLOCKED CROSSING . . . www.fra.dot.gov/blockedcrossings/ " Might not work for those farther back in the line, but they'll have their chance to sign the sign later . . .
- PDN.
My first reading of this topic title had me thinking it was a way to report people stopping their cars on railroad tracks. As in: train hits car
My mistake.
Ed
7j43kMy first reading of this topic title had me thinking it was a way to report people stopping their cars on railroad tracks. As in: train hits car
That ought to be a priority, too. Just that it's not, and never will be, a Federal one. Enforcement of trespassers of any kind is a local or perhaps State matter, although the FRA has been and probably still is very active in crossing design and testing of various devices to reduce the incidence and severity of vehicular-related accidents.
YES, I'd like a hot-line number to call or text when I see someone running a crossing or walking somewhere unsafe. And YES, this can easily be refined into a system that allows people to file a civil complaint for which local enforcement will issue a citation -- if necessary, going to the address of record of a vehicle owner and serving it on that person.
In addition to which, 'fusion' of a good suite of crossing cameras with any such complaint can comparatively easily be requested (coming from local law enforcement) and then provided as additional evidence against the often-presumed 'you can't prove who was driving but it wasn't me and it's a company car' dodge I saw practiced in New Jersey and New York courts a few times.
Even something as primitive as the 'proximity-enabled' alert pushbutton I proposed be incorporated into the 'car radios that alert for crossing warning' idea could be enabled, for example tapping into the systems now being deployed for harmonization of emergency communications systems. The location is of course determinable from proximity sensitivity alone; it will be timestamped on receipt and local enforcement can review the crossing cameras at their leisure, or call for pursuit quickly, at their option...
Sounds like a PD asking for 'tips' from the public on a heinous crime - whether the PD can handle the level of the response or not will be the question.
Recall a County Commisioner at Sterling, OH. Dirt 'public' road that serviced his farm had a crossing over the tracks East of the tower at Sterling. He could see the crossing from his house - would 'write up' every time he saw the road crossing blocked and would initiate a official complaint through the local PD. Every month a court date was set and the B&O legal representation would attend with a check book. Fines by statute were individual and not cumulative.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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