A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to make technical and minor modifications to the positive train control requirements under chapter 201.

Revises positive train control systems implementation requirements for Class I railroad carriers that regularly provide intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation over their main lines. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to afford such carriers an opportunity to revise their plans as lines are added or removed.

Prohibits the Secretary from disapproving a carrier's plan on the grounds that it does not cover a line over which intercity rail or commuter rail passenger transportation will not be provided, nor will poison- or toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials be transported, on or after December 31, 2015.

Requires a certain report by the Secretary to Congress to include the ability of such carriers to meet the December 31, 2015, deadline for implementation of positive train control systems.

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 301 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 301

  To amend title 49, United States Code, to make technical and minor 
modifications to the positive train control requirements under chapter 
                                  201.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 8, 2011

  Mrs. Hutchison (for herself, Mr. Thune, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Coburn) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 49, United States Code, to make technical and minor 
modifications to the positive train control requirements under chapter 
                                  201.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. IMPLEMENTATION OF POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL.

    Section 20157 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``transported;'' in subsection (a)(1)(B) 
        and inserting ``transported on or after December 31, 2015;'';
            (2) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the following: 
        ``The Secretary shall also afford railroads an opportunity to 
        revise their plans as lines are added or removed pursuant to 
        subsection (a). No plan shall be disapproved on grounds that 
        the plan does not cover main line track over which--
            ``(1) intercity rail passenger transportation or commuter 
        rail passenger transportation will not be provided on or after 
        December 31, 2015; or
            ``(2) poison- or toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials 
        will not be transported on or after December 31, 2015.''; and
            (3) by striking ``systems.'' in subsection (d) and 
        inserting ``systems, including the ability of railroad carriers 
        to meet the December 31, 2015, deadline for implementation of 
        positive train control systems. The report shall include 
        recommendations for improving the ability of rail carriers to 
        implement positive train control systems in accordance with 
        this section.''.
                                 <all>