Durand, Mich., passes remote control resolution
CLEVELAND, April 24 -– Durand, Mich., is the 17th U.S. city to adopt a resolution regarding remote control locomotives.
It was passed on April 21 and asks the Federal Railroad Administration to “conduct a comprehensive and thorough review of the safety of remote control locomotives and develop comprehensive regulations for the use of remote control locomotives to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Durand will not be jeopardized by the use of such devices.”
Greg Powell, Chairman of the BLE Michigan State Legislative Board, lobbied on behalf of the legislation along with G.A. Chapman, President of BLE Division 650 (Flint, Mich.) and M.J. Tyler, Local Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer of Division 650. Brother Powell thanked these two Brothers as well as all members of Division 650 for their efforts. In addition, he thanked Mayor Deborah Doyle and members of the Durand City Council for adopting the resolution.
The 16 other U.S. cities to adopt similar resolutions are Baton Rouge, La.; Detroit, Mich.; Shreveport, La.; Marysville, Mich.; Boston, Mass.; Cleveland, Ohio; Pine Bluff, Ark.; North Little Rock, Ark.; Beardstown, Ill.; Bakersfield, Calif.; Woodbridge, N.J.; Belen, N.M.; Maple Heights, Ohio; Alliance, Neb.; Evansville, Ind.; and Dupo, Ill.
In addition to these 17 cities, seven counties have also passed resolution that call for further investigation and improved safety of remote control operations. They are: Douglas County, Wisc.; West Baton Rouge Parish, La.; Point Coupee Parish, La.; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Huron County, Ohio; Whitley County, Ky.; and Unicoi County, Tenn.
Text of the resolution is available here:
http://www.ble.org/pr/pdf/durand.pdf
Thursday, April 24, 2003
bentley@ble.org
