CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WBEN) Standing in front of a Norfolk Southern rail yard at the foot of Raymond Park in Cheektowaga Saturday, members of the Western New York state legislature delegation called on the railroad industry to agree to rail reforms.
"What happened in Ohio could happen here," said Buffalo Assemblymember Jon Rivera. "We're not going to wait for another derailment. We're not going to wait for another accident. We're pushing the industry to do something about it now before our communities are damaged anymore."
The democratic delegation, among other things, is calling for freight rail operators to adopt electronically controlled pneumatic brakes.
The derailment and ensuing disaster in East Palestine, Ohio last month involved a Norfolk Southern train that was not equipped with electronically controlled brakes.
"This technology allows trains to brake in a safe and smarter way, avoiding derailments and preventing the train from an accordion-type collapse when it does brake," noted Senator Tim Kennedy of Buffalo.
In addition, legislators want rail operators to provide more transparency, including notification of the contents of trains crossing through communities.
Senator Sean Ryan of Buffalo said rail lines are threaded through neighborhoods throughout Western New York. "I grew up six houses from a railroad track. It was a common thing. But in the 1980's we had confidence that train companies were working with communities to keep us safe. Now they've gone the other way."
Legislators vow to fight the fight until they see change. Senators Kennedy, Ryan and Assemblyman Rivera were also joined by Assemblywomen Monica Wallace and Karen McMahon.
Does the state have any control when it comes to railroad policy? Senator Kennedy admitted that rail companies are beholden to the federal government due to interstate commerce laws. But as Chair of the State Transportation Committee, he is working to see what he can do to put in place better safety standards and to hold rail companies accountable to make sure that what happened in East Palestine never happens here or anywhere else.
Asked why this is being pushed only by the democratic delegation, Kennedy acknowledged it is a bi-partisan push. "But with a Democratic governor, Democratic controlled Senate and Assembly, we're leading the charge with our respective conferences and working with Congressman Brian Higgins at the federal level for better safety standards.
