CLEVELAND, June 23 — Despite heavy oppposition from Union Pacific Railroad, the city of Sparks, Nev., on June 9, became the 30th U.S. community to approve a resolution questioning the safety of remote control locomotives.
The Sparks resolution, which was passed unanimously, cites the possible danger to its citizens due to remote control and bans the use of remote controlled locomotives in the city until the Federal Railroad Administration takes action to improve the safety of the operations.
The resolution was passed after the BLE held its International Western Convention in the city from June 1-5.
The BLE’s Nevada State Legislative Board Chairman Joe Carter was instrumental in gaining passage of the resolution. He said that several representatives of Union Pacific attended the meeting to oppose the resolution. Ted Lewis, Regional Safety Director, and Wayne Horiuchi, Union Pacific Lobbyist, voiced their opposition to the resolution, and Horiuchi presented a video and chart alleging the safety of the technology.
Chairman Carter extened thanks BLE Division 158 (Sparks, Nev.) Local Chairman Lindy Klock for updating the remote control operations audio-video presentation. He would also like to thank BLE Division 236 (Portland, Ore.) member and mobilizer Jeff Cheney for his work in getting the resolution passed. Chairman Carter also wished to thank all of the City Council members.
Sparks joins 30 other communities in questioning the safety of remote controlled locomotives. In addition to Sparks, 20 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.; Belen, N.M.; Maple Heights, Ohio; Alliance, Neb.; Evansville, Ind.; Dupo, Ill.; Durand, Mich; Flat Rock, Mich.; Woodhaven, Mich; and Flint, Mich.
Also, nine counties have passed similar remote control resolutions. They 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.; and Contra Costa County, Calif.
For a PDF of the resolution, click here:
http://www.ble.org/pr/pdf/sparks.pdf