Railway Inspection and Transparency Act

Bill: 113-hr-3551
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1]
Introduced: 2013-11-20
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Business records

Government information and archives

Railroads

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-11-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Railway Inspection and Transparency Act - Directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to require each railroad carrier to arrange for an independent inspection by a professional engineer of: (1) all railroad bridges at least biennially, and (2) all railroad signals and switches at least semiannually.</p> <p>Requires: (1) each railroad carrier to provide inspection results to the FRA, and (2) the FRA to make those results available to the public.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3551 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 20, 2013 Mr. Andrews introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require the periodic inspection of certain railroad facilities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Railway Inspection and Transparency Act . 2. Inspection of railroad facilities (a) Requirement The Federal Railroad Administration shall require each railroad carrier to arrange for an independent inspection by a professional engineer of— (1) all railroad bridges owned or leased by that railroad carrier at least once every 2 years; and (2) all railroad signals and switches owned or leased by that railroad carrier at least once every 6 months. (b) Documentation Each railroad carrier shall provide to the Federal Railroad Administration documentation of the results of inspections carried out under subsection (a). The Federal Railroad Administration shall make such documentation available to the public. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Independent inspection The term independent inspection means an inspection conducted by a professional engineer that is not employed by the railroad carrier or the Federal Railroad Administration. (2) Professional engineer The term professional engineer means an individual who— (A) is currently registered as a professional engineer or structural engineer by a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States; and (B) has expertise in railroad operations. (3) Railroad carrier The term railroad carrier has the meaning given that term in section 20102 of title 49, United States Code.