1     
RAILROAD CROSSING AMENDMENTS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Joel Ferry

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions related to the operation of a train that blocks traffic at a
10     railroad crossing in a high-traffic area.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     prohibits a person or government agency operating a train from blocking a roadway
14     at a railroad crossing if:
15               •     the roadway has traffic of more than 5,000 vehicles per day, on average; and
16               •     once five or more vehicles are waiting on the roadway in either direction of
17     travel during the switch operation, the switch operation lasts longer than 15
18     consecutive minutes; and
19          ▸     makes technical changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          41-6a-1204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 412
27     

28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 41-6a-1204 is amended to read:
30          41-6a-1204. Trains -- Interference with vehicles limited.
31          (1) [A] Except as provided in Subsection (2), a person or government agency may not
32     operate a train in a manner to prevent vehicular use of a roadway for a period of time in excess
33     of five consecutive minutes except:
34          (a) when necessary to comply with signals affecting the safety of the movement of
35     trains;
36          (b) when necessary to avoid striking any object or person on the track;
37          (c) when the train is disabled;
38          (d) when the train is in motion or while engaged in switching operations;
39          (e) when there is no vehicular traffic waiting to use the crossing;
40          (f) when necessary to comply with a governmental safety regulation; or
41          (g) as determined by a highway authority.
42          (2) A person or government agency may not perform a switching operation in a manner
43     that prevents vehicular use of a roadway if:
44          (a) the roadway has traffic of more than 5,000 vehicles per day, on average; and
45          (b) once five or more vehicles are waiting on the roadway in either direction of travel
46     during the switch operation, the switching operation lasts for a period of time in excess of 15
47     consecutive minutes.
48          [(2)] (3) A violation of this section is an infraction.