[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Key lawmakers involved in transportation issues are working to come up with a compromise that would push back the current end-of-year deadline [/title][fusion_text]Friday, October 2nd 2015
Key lawmakers involved in transportation issues are working to come up with a compromise that would push back the current end-of-year deadline for implementation of a rail safety system – avoiding a threatened disruption of grain and fertilizer deliveries. In the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, Congress directed rail providers to install Positive Train Control (PTC) on rail lines that carry passengers or hazardous materials. Despite the seven-year warning and the allocation of what the Association of American Railroads calls “enormous human and financial resources.” Railroads say they won’t be able to have the technology fully implemented by Dec. 31. With that in mind, House and Senate leaders are working on a possible compromise that would extend the PTC implementation deadline until the end of 2018. The Senate passed language in July that included an extension of the PTC deadline, and earlier this week, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership introduced the Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act (H.R. 3651), which would push back the deadline three years. Ag groups think so too. Rail service providers have publicly stated that they plan to stop service on certain lines to avoid breaking federal law if the deadline is not extended. That could put grain and fertilizer delivery at risk starting at the beginning of November, according to a coalition of more than 40 national and state commodity and agriculture-related groups.
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