(File Photo of State Representative Rob Matzie)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania House passed legislation introduced by State Representative Rob Matzie, (D-Beaver), in Harrisburg yesterday. This bill is called House Bill 1191 and it will improve rail safety for both workers and the communities that trains pass through. Matzie introduced it to improve public safety at railroad crossings and it comes three years after the February 3rd, 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which released toxic chemicals and caused widespread environmental and health concerns. According to a release from Matzie’s office, this bill would:

• Prohibit trains from blocking crossings, which could delay emergency responders. This can ensure faster response times.
• Limit the length of freight or work trains to 8,500 feet, or approximately 1.6 miles.
• Require safe staffing levels for trains or light engines, including a minimum of a two-person crew on a train or light engine.
• Authorize a union representative to monitor safety practices and operations of a railroad, which would allow a representative to take photographs and conduct investigations without being accused of trespassing.
• Ensure proper functioning of wayside detector systems. These are trackside sensors that warn when trains are overheating because of problems that can cause derailment.
• Strengthen oversight by requiring studies, a reporting system and additional precautions for trains transporting hazardous materials or waste.
• Impose civil penalties for violation of these regulations.

Similar legislation that was sponsored by Matzie called House Bill 1028, passed the House in 2023 but it never received a vote in the state Senate. House Bill 1191 now heads to the Senate for consideration.