Cities and Counties Take Look at Remotes

Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 4:14 PM
Subject: City of Boston bans remotes [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers]

City of Boston bans remotes
CLEVELAND, February 13 -- The City of Boston has become the fifth U.S. city to take action against remote control locomotive operations. In a resolution by Councilor at-Large Stephen J. Murphy, the city demanded that railroad cease operations of remote control locomotives until safety considerations are met.

In its resolution, the council cited various safety concerns, including terrorism, public safety around the tracks, passenger rail safety and the lack of training by remote control operators. The council resolved to ask the FRA to create more comprehensive safety requirements and the city to prepare for emergencies.

The resolution by Boston follows similar resolutions passed by the city councils of Baton Rouge, La., Shreveport, La., Detroit, Mich., Marysville, Mich., and, most recently, Cleveland, Ohio.

BLE Massachusetts State Legislative Board Chairman George Newman lead the effort to get the Boston resolution introduced. He also credits Mass. SLBC Vice-Chairman Dan Lauzon and the rest of the State Legislative Board Executive Committee; Bob Haynes, President of the Mass. AFL-CIO; Rich Rodgers, Political Director of the Mass. AFL-CIO; Tony Romano, Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Boston Central Labor Council; Mass. State Senator Steven Tolman; and, especially, Boston City Councilor At-Large Murphy, who introduced the resolution.

"We’re happy that the city council recognized the importance of keeping the public safe from this technology, especially around high-speed passenger rail lines," said Chairman Newman. "The council recognized that the employees operating this technology are insufficiently trained and the public needs to be protected from the dangers associated with the operation of remote control."

The text of the resolution follows:

City of Boston
In City Council

A Resolution of Councilor At-Large, Stephen J. Murphy

February 13, 2003

Whereas The City of Boston has a duty to provide for the public safety of its Citizens; and

Whereas Railroads operate within the geographic boundaries of Boston over public and private highway rail crossings and on property accessible to persons of all ages and abilities; and

Whereas A significant amount of rail cargo traveling through and moving within the City of Boston consists of hazardous materials; and

Whereas Freight hauling railroads doing business within the City of Boston operate in switching yards and on tracks adjacent to and connecting with tracks carrying high-speed Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail passenger trains; and

Whereas The United States government has issued a safety alert with respect to vandalism and terrorist threats against railroads; and

Whereas The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has granted authority to the Railroads to operate unmanned (remote controlled) locomotives by persons who have been certified by the railroads under 49 CFR Part 240 but who have significantly less training, experience, testing and qualifications than individuals who have traditionally manned these operations; therefore be it

Resolved That no railroad shall operate remote controlled locomotives within the boundaries of the City of Boston until all of the following safety considerations are met:

Any railroad operating a remote control locomotive must notify the Office of the Mayor before implementing such operations;

Remote controlled locomotives shall not be used to transport hazardous materials on or near tracks occupied by rail cars containing hazardous materials.

Remote controlled locomotives shall not be used in switching yards or tracks adjacent to or connection with tracks used for the transport of Amtrak high-speed passenger trains or MBTA Commuter Rail passenger trains.

Remote controlled locomotives shall not be operated over a public or private highway rail crossing without a person occupying the cab of the locomotive who has the required skills to stop the locomotive and its attached equipment.

Railroads must provide effective and reliable protection at the point of movement in any location accessible to the general public for any remote controlled operation.

Locomotives within a consist of one or more remote controlled locomotives shall be provided with devices to secure the operating cab and its controls against terrorists, vandals, and other unauthorized persons.

And be it further

Resolved That the City of Boston requests that the FRA develop comprehensive regulations to govern the use of remote controlled locomotives which shall ensure the highest level of training, skill, experience, and qualification for all persons operating remote controlled locomotives; and be it further

Resolved That all remote controlled locomotive operations within the City of Boston cease and desist until such time as all City of Boston agencies responsible for Emergency preparedness implements a plan to provide for evacuation and emergency response before such remote controlled operations are implemented.

Thursday, February 13, 2003
bentley@ble.org

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=3678

Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 4:19 PM
Subject: Cleveland passes 'emergency measure' on remote control [Brotherhood of Locomoti

Cleveland passes ‘emergency measure’ on remote control
CLEVELAND, February 13 -- The City Council of Cleveland, Ohio, adopted an “emergency measure” on February 10 that encourages members of the Ohio State Legislature to pass legislation addressing security and safety concerns surrounding the use of remote control locomotives.

The measure also calls upon state and federal agencies that regulate railroad operations to work with the Department of Homeland Security to establish regulations to address remote control locomotives.

Cleveland is now the sixth U.S. city to adopt a resolution calling for improved safety regarding remote control trains.

The Cleveland City Council’s resolution is, “an emergency measure for the immediate preservation of public peace, property, health, or safety.”

According to the resolution, No. 194-03, the federal government recently identified railroad shipments of hazardous materials as potential terrorist targets, and noted that various railroad operators in Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, have recently begun using or are considering the use of remote control trains.

The City Council determined that, “the use of remote control locomotives raises a number of safety and security concerns, particularly with hazardous cargo.”

Cleveland now joins five other U.S. cities in adopting resolutions that call for improved safety regarding remote control locomotives -– Boston, Mass., Baton Rouge, La., Shreveport, La., Detroit, Mich., and Marysville, Mich. The Boston, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Detroit resolutions call for an outright ban of remote control trains until certain safety requirements have been met.

James F. Ong, Chairman of the BLE’s Ohio State Legislative Board, played the lead role is securing passage of the resolution. In addition to members of the Cleveland City Council, Brother Ong thanked First Vice-Chairman Tim Hanely and Second Vice-Chairman Tim Price for their efforts. He also recognized Bill Ellert, Legislative Representative of BLE Division 3 (Cleveland).

Thursday, February 13, 2003
bentley@ble.org

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=3679

Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 4:24 PM
Subject: Ohio county calls for remote control ban [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers]

Ohio county calls for remote control ban
CLEVELAND, February 14 -– The Cuyahoga County Local Emergency Planning Committee recently adopted a resolution that calls for a moratorium on remote control trains and suggests that remotes be banned from switching operations that involve hazardous materials.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee for Cuyahoga County (LEPC), where Cleveland is located, is a local organization that plans and coordinates how safety crews will respond to emergencies involving hazardous substances. In Ohio, LEPCs have been established in each of its 88 counties and have been given new responsibilities following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The resolution, passed on January 31, urges legislators to place a moratorium on remote control locomotives “until the safety and security issues raised by this technology have been thoroughly addressed and adequate regulations have been established.”

The Cuyahoga County LEPC becomes the seventh local government agency to adopt a resolution calling for improved safety of remote control trains. The other include the city councils of Baton Rouge, La, Shreveport, La., Detroit, Mich., Marysville, Mich., Boston, Mass., and Cleveland, Ohio.

LEPC resolution No. SARA 030106-02 also calls upon the Federal Railroad Administration to work with the Department of Homeland Security to establish regulations governing the operation of remote control trains. It urged that such regulations include:

1. Adequate crew size to insure safe and secure operation and switching service;

2. Prohibition of the use of remote control locomotives to operate and conduct switching operations to move trains with hazardous cargo; and

3. Requirements for high standards of training for operators of remote control technology.

Jim Ong, Chairman of the BLE’s Ohio State Legislative Board, is credited with lobbying the Board to bring this serious safety matter to its attention. He thanked First Vice-Chairman Tim Hanely, Second Vice-Chairman Tim Price, and BLE Division 3 (Cleveland) Legislative Representative Bill Ellert for also playing important roles in lobbying on behalf of this safety issue.

Brothers Hanley and Price testified before the LEPC at a hearing in Cleveland on November 4.

The U.S. government stipulates that each community in the United States must be a part of a comprehensive plan regarding emergency response to hazardous material releases. LEPC members normally include representatives of police, fire, civil defense, public health, transportation and environmental professionals.

Friday, February 14, 2003
bentley@ble.org

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=3680