A House committee has passed legislation that includes rail safety provisions authored by a New York congressman.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed two provisions authored by Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney as part of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act, or PRRIA. The provisions include authorizing investments in rail crossing improvements and positive train control technology. PRRIA includes Maloney’s Rail Crossings Safety Improvement Act, which he introduced following the February 3 fatal Metro-North collision at a rail crossing in Valhalla in Westchester County. It also includes Maloney’s Commuter Rail Passenger Safety Act to help finance positive train control systems for commuter rail lines, like Metro-North. He introduced the latter following the December 2013 fatal Metro-North derailment in the Bronx. PRRIA also provides about $7 billion over four years for Amtrak, including for improvements in the Northeast Corridor.
