Sec. 11406. SPEED LIMIT ACTION PLANS

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## SEC. 11406 SPEED LIMIT ACTION PLANS ###

(a)In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each railroad carrier providing intercity rail passenger transportation or commuter rail passenger transportation, in consultation with any applicable host railroad carrier, shall survey its entire system and identify each main track location where there is a reduction of more than 20 miles per hour from the approach speed to a curve, bridge, or tunnel and the maximum authorized operating speed for passenger trains at that curve, bridge, or tunnel. ###

(b)Action Plans Not later than 120 days after the date that the survey under subsection

(a)is complete, a railroad carrier described in subsection

(a)shall submit to the Secretary an action plan that— ####

(1)identifies each main track location where there is a reduction of more than 20 miles per hour from the approach speed to a curve, bridge, or tunnel and the maximum authorized operating speed for passenger trains at that curve, bridge, or tunnel; ####

(2)describes appropriate actions to enable warning and enforcement of the maximum authorized speed for passenger trains at each location identified under paragraph (1), including— #####

(A)modification to automatic train control systems, if applicable, or other signal systems; #####

(B)increased crew size; #####

(C)installation of signage alerting train crews of the maximum authorized speed for passenger trains in each location identified under paragraph (1); #####

(D)installation of alerters; #####

(E)increased crew communication; and #####

(F)other practices; ####

(3)contains milestones and target dates for implementing each appropriate action described under paragraph (2); and ####

(4)ensures compliance with the maximum authorized speed at each location identified under paragraph (1). ###

(c)Approval Not later than 90 days after the date on which an action plan is submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary shall approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the action plan. ###

(d)Alternative Safety Measures The Secretary may exempt from the requirements of this section each segment of track for which operations are governed by a positive train control system certified under section 20157 of title 49, United States Code, or any other safety technology or practice that would achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety in reducing derailment risk. ###

(e)Report Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that describes— ####

(1)the actions railroad carriers have taken in response to Safety Advisory 2013-08, entitled “Operational Tests and Inspections for Compliance With Maximum Authorized Train Speeds and Other Speed Restrictions”; ####

(2)the actions railroad carriers have taken in response to Safety Advisory 2015-03, entitled “Operational and Signal Modifications for Compliance with Maximum Authorized Passenger Train Speeds and Other Speed Restrictions”; and ####

(3)the actions the Federal Railroad Administration has taken to evaluate or incorporate the information and findings arising from the safety advisories referred to in paragraphs

(1)and

(2)into the development of regulatory action and oversight activities. ###

(f)Savings Clause Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary from applying the requirements of this section to other segments of track at high risk of overspeed derailment.