CLEVELAND, December 19 — Harris County, Texas, unanimously passed a remote control safety resolution on December 16, becoming the 13th county in the United States to enact such a measure.
A total of 46 communities throughout the United States have now enacted remote control safety resolutions. Harris County is the third largest county in the United States with a population of 3.4 million.
The resolution calls upon the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to develop enforceable safety regulations to govern the operation of remote control trains.
The operation of remote control trains in the United States is virtually unregulated. To date, the FRA has only issued recommended guidelines and not enforceable safety regulations.
BLE Texas State Legislative Board Chairman Terry Briggs reports that the first meeting between the BLE and Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia (Precinct 2) was on October 31. Also in attendance were: Herb Yambra President of BLE Division 194 (Houston); Bob Tramuto, BLE Legal Council; Richard Shaw, Secretary-Treasurer of the Harris County AFL-CIO; and Dale Wortham, President of the Harris County AFL-CIO.
The Harris County AFL-CIO had enacted its own remote control safety resolution on September 24.
At the October 31 meeting, the BLE distributed informational packets to all the Commissioners. The BLE and Commissioners discussed the issue of remote control and resolutions enacted by other communities and AFL-CIO bodies.
After the initial meeting, Commissioner Garcia and Brother Yambra corresponded by telephone, e-mail, fax and in a continual exchange of safety information. Ms. Garcia and Brother Yambra met again in person on December 11, at which time she stated that the resolutions would be going for a vote in front of the County Commissioners on December 16.
“It’s all history from that point,” Chairman Briggs said. “The resolution was passed unanimously thanks to the hard work of Herb and Kathy Yambra, Commissioner Garcia, Bob Tramuto, Richard Shaw and Dale Wortham.”
Brother Briggs also thanked all BLE members in the Houston area who worked on the project and participated in a remote control safety rally.
Harris County, Texas, joins 12 other counties in passing a remote control safety 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.; Clinton County, Iowa; and Roanoke County, Va.
In addition to these 13 counties, 33 cities have enacted remote control safety resolutions. They 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.; 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.
The Harris County resolution reads:
WHEREAS:
A significant amount of rail cargo traveling through and moving within Harris County, Texas consists of petrochemicals and other hazardous materials; and
WHEREAS:
The United States Government has issued a safety alert against vandalism and terrorist threats against railroads; and
WHEREAS:
Operation of a railroad is traditionally conducted with the use of locomotives manned by individuals who are rigorously certified and qualified by the standards established by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); and
WHEREAS:
Railroads have requested from the Federal Railroad Administration and been granted authority to operate unmanned locomotives; and
WHEREAS:
These remote controlled locomotives will be operated by railroads in Harris County, Texas; and
WHEREAS:
The FRA has issued “guidelines” and not regulations to provide for the implementation of these operations.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Harris County, Texas requests that in the interest of the safety of the citizens of Harris County that the FRA develop comprehensive regulations for the use of remote controlled locomotives, and that those regulations ensure the highest level of skill and qualification of persons operating remote controlled locomotives.
It is hereby ORDERED that this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of Commissioners Court this 16th day of December 2003.
Robert Eckels, County Judge
El Franco Lee, Precinct One
Sylvia Garcia, Precinct Two
Steve Radack, Precinct Three
Jerry Eversole, Precinct Four