HF 1465

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:51am

A bill for an act
relating to railroads; modifying requirements for railway walkways; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 219.501, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 219.501, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Duty to provide walkways.

(a) Rail carriers must provide walkways
adjacent to those portions of yard tracks where rail carrier employees frequently work on
the ground performing switching activities. For purposes of this section, "frequently
work" means at least five days per week, one shift per day.

(b) This section applies to reconstruction and new construction of yard track
completed after July 1, 2008.

new text begin (c) This section applies to main and secondary track switches and turnouts,
walkways at siding track, train inspection points, walkways by tracks where train crews
frequently board or leave trains en route, walkways by industry track turnouts and spotting
areas, and walkways by main track within two miles in opposite directions of a trackside
train defect detector, with a total walkway of not less than 500 feet on both sides of track.
A walkway by a switch stand may have a wider apron from the base of the switch stand
area. A walkway must not be constructed so as to impede drainage of water, snow, or
ice from mainline ballast or other structure. This paragraph applies to track repaired,
resurfaced, or replaced after July 1, 2010, or as set forth in section 219.51, subdivision 4.
new text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end This section does not apply to an entity that owns or operates track in this
state other than class one and class two rail carriers as classified by the Federal Railroad
Administration.