Schumer, Blumenthal Propose Bill To Force Implementation Of Railroad Safety Technology
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Richard Blumenthal have introduced legislation that would require railroads to install additional safety technology by 2018 to help prevent crashes from speed and human error.
Schumer, D-N.Y., and Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Sunday delays are unacceptable for adding the communications and signaling system called Positive Train Control.
"If a train is going too fast, it's slowed down," Blumenthal said at a news conference at Grand Central Terminal. "If it's about to collide with another train, it's stopped."
The senators say it could have prevented crashes.
"Spuyten Duyvil, Valhalla, Bridgeport are names in a hall of shame," Blumenthal told WCBS 880's Monica Miller.
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, another New York Democrat, is also a sponsor.
Congress in 2008 set an implementation deadline at the end of 2015 for a significant portion of the industry. However, the railroad industry says meeting that deadline is impossible.
Schumer said he wants it done in three years.
"Right now, there's another bill in Congress to delay it another seven years," he said. "We propose doing it by 2018."
Schumer said the legislation would also make sure railroads are "transparent" about their efforts and would require regular status updates.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)