House Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Postpone PTC Deadline to End of 2018
Leaders of the House Transportation Committee introduced legislation (HR-3651) Wednesday to postpone the deadline for positive train control implementation from Dec. 31 of this year to the end of 2018. The technology involves railroads’ acquisition of spectrum and FCC siting…
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approval, both of which had caused delays, and many railroads can't meet this year’s congressionally mandated deadline. Extension “is essential to preventing significant disruptions of both passenger and freight rail service across the country,” said committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., in a statement. The legislation text said exceptions to the new deadline could be made for some railroads and called for progress reports. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., lauded the bill, in a statement: “Our country’s economy cannot afford the significant disruptions that will occur if we don’t act soon. Reaching an agreement and passing legislation in the coming weeks is the only way to avert a rail service shutdown.” Thune said "there have been some unexpected delays in implementing the technology,” in a floor speech Wednesday. “The [FCC] halted the construction of necessary communication towers for over a year in 2013 over concerns about historic preservation and potential impacts on tribal lands. There have also been delays in regulatory approvals, problems in obtaining necessary communications spectrum, and many difficulties that come with building a new technology.” Association of American Railroads President Edward Hamberger praised the House legislation. “The committee leadership clearly recognizes the need for immediate action to forestall the looming economic crisis that would result from widespread freight and passenger rail service disruption,” he said.