Roanoke County, Va., passes remote safety resolution
CLEVELAND, December 18 -- The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted to pass a remote control safety resolution at their December 16 meeting. The resolution asks the Federal Railroad Administration to adopt mandatory regulations for remote control locomotive operations.
The Board of Supervisors, acting on a request made by BLE Division 301 (Roanoke, Va.), cited the Board's long standing position of being pro-active toward public safety in passing the resolution.
The measure was sponsored by County Supervisor Mike Altizer, who expressed the need to have enforceable federal regulations regarding remote control locomotives.
"I cannot see how the Federal Railroad Administration can require a licensed railroad employee (an Engineer) to operate a train under mandatory regulations, and then allow another employee (a remote control operator) to operate a train under voluntary guidelines, " Supervisor Altizer said.
"Obviously, we're very pleased with the Board's decision for several reasons," said Division 301 Legislative Representative Michael Roop. "Roanoke County becomes the first Virginia municipality to enact a remote control safety resolution."
Brother Roop recognized the efforts of Division 301 members Mike Worley, Gary Myers, Paul Paxton, and Frank Owens (retired) for their part in making the BLE's successful presentation to the Board of Supervisors.
The resolution is the result of many months of meetings with various members of the Board of Supervisors, providing them with an insight into the dangers associated with railroading.
Roanoke County joins 11 other counties in passing a remote control resolution. The other counties are: Douglas County, Wisc.; West Baton Rouge Parish, La.; Point Coupee Parish, La.; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Huron County, Ohio; Erie County, Ohio; Whitley County, Ky.; Unicoi County, Tenn.; Contra Costa County, Calif.; Knox County, Tenn.; and Clinton, County, Iowa.
Also, 33 U.S. cities have adopted similar resolutions: 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.; Maple Heights, Ohio; Alliance, Neb.; Evansville, Ind.; Dupo, Ill.; Durand, Mich; Flat Rock, Mich.; Woodhaven, Mich; Flint, Mich.; Sparks, Nev.; Commerce, Calif.; Clinton, Iowa; Montebello, Calif.; Saginaw, Mich.; Mankato, Minn.; Wamac, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; River Rouge, Mich.; Melvindale, Mich.; Redford Township, Mich.; Irvington, Ill.; Berwyn, Ill.; and Allen Park, Mich.
For a PDF of the Roanoke County resolution, click here:
http://www.ble.org/pr/pdf/roanoke.pdf
Thursday, December 18, 2003
bentley@ble.org
