Ugh. The politics surrounding the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio have been painful to watch.
So let’s see if we can turn that terrible situation into some actual progress, shall we?
Last week, on our monthly Blue Ohio virtual lunch, we heard direct updates from State Representatives Lauren McNally and Bride Rose Sweeney about the situation on the ground in East Palestine, and about promising legislation they have been pushing in the Ohio Statehouse (for years!) that may finally have a chance of passing.
So I’m writing to ask for your help.
Specifically, State Rep Sweeney described rail safety amendments that are now in the House Transportation Budget – including the long history of them going nowhere in the face of intense lobbying.
Here's a summary of what they do, and why it's important for them to pass:
The first, a two-person crew amendment, requires a freight train to have
at least a two-person crew for safety purposes. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a notice of a potential rule covering this issue late last year and if that rule is adopted, it would supersede this state law. However, state law would remain in effect if that rule were ever rolled back.
The second deals with what are known as wayside detector systems. The system monitoring the Norfolk Southern freight train took three chances to catch something wrong with the train’s railcar axle once a fire was detected. This amendment would require the state’s Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) work with railroad companies to ensure that the wayside detector systems are operational, effective, and current. The amendment would also require the state (PUCO and ODOT) to issue a report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recommending enforcement action against the railroad company if the results of an investigation show that the company does not appear to be in compliance with federal safety standards.
The good news: These rail safety amendments passed the Ohio House of Representatives yesterday. Now the goal is to get them passed in the State Senate without being stripped out of the Transportation Budget.
That's the biggest risk to the legislation, and it’s also where we (and you!) come in. The Transportation Budget could come up for a vote and be passed in the State Senate as early as next week.
Please take a few minutes in the coming days to call and encourage State Senate leaders to keep these rail safety amendments in the Transportation Budget. Communities across Ohio deserve to see their elected representatives fighting for them, doing all they can to prevent future accidents.
The two leaders who will be crucial to this decision are:
Senator Matt Dolan:
614-466-8056
Twitter: @electmattdolan
Dolan@ohiosenate.gov
Senator Matt Huffman
614-466-7584
Twitter: @matthuffman
Huffman@ohiosenate.gov
There will no doubt be intense lobbying efforts to kill these amendments. So every call from folks across Ohio helps push back the other way. It lets Senators know we are watching.
Please, if you can reach out and let these Senators know you support these amendments, it would be a huge boost in getting these common sense measures passed.
And please share this email with your networks so they do the same.
Thank you.