Matzie marks one-year since the East Palestine crash by renewing call for state Senate to pass the bipartisan House Rail Safety Bill
Protecting people, helping first responders, holding corporations accountable
Rep. Robert Matzie February 2, 2024 | 12:21 PM
State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, said as the commonwealth marks one year since the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment that impacted Pennsylvania families, it is more important than ever to not wait for federal action and for the state Senate to pass the bipartisan Safer Rails, Safer Communities legislation the state House approved in June.
“We didn’t wait for Washington, D.C., to act, we took the lead and made sure we crafted a Pennsylvania solution to protect Pennsylvania communities, families and first responders,” Matzie said. “While the Shapiro administration has been proactive in delivering resources, I am frustrated our legislative solution is bottled up in the state Senate.
“We’re averaging nearly 1,700 derailments each and every year in the United States. We can’t pretend this isn’t an issue.”
The Safer Rails, Safer Community Act, H.B. 1028, passed the state House with a 141-62 vote in June, has been stalled in the state Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee ever since.
Among other things, the bill would:
- Establish staffing and train length requirements – including, among other things, a minimum two-man crew and a maximum train length of 8,500 feet (approximately 1.6 miles) – to be enforced by the state Public Utility Commission.
- Require PUC, working with the state Transportation Department, to develop standards for reporting and tracking the transport of hazardous materials, including maintaining a database to be accessed by FEMA, PEMA and county emergency response agencies in the event of a derailment.
- Require PUC and PennDOT to ensure proper functioning of wayside detectors – trackside sensors intended to warn when train cars are overheating because of problems that can cause derailment.
- Limit the length of time trains may be parked in an area where they block road crossings needed for access by emergency response vehicles.
- Allow a union representative to be present for rail safety inspections without being accused of trespassing.
“The bill doesn’t hurt railroads and doesn’t hurt businesses – that never would be our intention – but the bill does enhance and strengthen rail safety for the public, the workforce and emergency responders. Extraordinary events bring about extraordinary action. This bill lets the public know we hear them, and we are responding,” Matzie said.
“We passed our plan with a massive majority and the people know it’s the right thing to do – now our Senate colleagues need to step up, and I urge people concerned about stopping the next East Palestine to call their senators and ask them to pass this bill.”