Sec. 9501. National Academies study on safety impact of trains longer than 7,500 feet
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/bill/116/hr/2/eh/section-9501A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Transportation shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study and issue to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the safety impacts of freight trains longer than 7,500 feet. The study conducted pursuant to subsection
(a)shall include— an examination of any potential risks of the operation of such trains and recommendations on mitigation of such risks; among other safety factors with respect to such trains, an evaluation of— any increased risk of loss of communications between the end of train device and the locomotive cab, including communications over differing terrains and conditions; any increased risk of loss of communications between crewmembers, including communications over differing terrains and conditions; any increased risk of derailments, including risks associated with in-train compressive forces and slack action or other safety risks in the operations of such trains in differing terrains and conditions; safety risks associated with the deployment of multiple distributed power units in the consists of such trains; and impacts of the length of trains on braking and locomotive performance and track wear and tear; and an evaluation of whether additional engineer and conductor training is required for safely operating such trains. Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study. From the amounts made available for fiscal year 2021 to carry out section 20117(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall expend not less than $1,000,000 and not more than $2,000,000 to carry out the study required under subsection (a).