I want to commend Utah State House Speaker Mike Schultz for his leadership in introducing HB63 in 2023 which established the Department of Rail Safety within the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). The bill passed overwhelmingly with a 71-0-4 vote in the House and a 26-0-3 vote in the Senate.
During the 2023 committee hearings on HB63, several important reasons were cited for creating this Office of Rail Safety. Key concerns included prolonged rail crossing blockages that hinder emergency response times, the safety and quality of grade crossings, and a decreasing number of inspectors with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), who inspect all aspects of Railroad Safety, including but not limited to equipment, track, grade crossings and operating practices. It is anticipated that the current federal administration will make cuts to the current FRA inspectors.
Following its passage, Utah’s Legislature was praised nationally for its foresight, with the bill serving as a model for other states. However, last year’s legislative session delayed the establishment of the Office of Rail Safety by one year to provide UDOT additional preparation time.
This year, Sen. Wayne Harper introduced SB263 which would, among other things, eliminate the Office of Rail Safety before it becomes operational. This year the primary opposition to the existence of the Office of Rail Safety appears to come from Union Pacific (UPRR) railroad. They claim inspections are unnecessary, yet one could argue that if the UPRR’s safety standards are as robust as they suggest, independent verification should be welcomed. Unfortunately, UPRR’s support for eliminating the office of rail safety seems driven by profit considerations, despite the potential risk to public safety. Blocked crossings can delay critical emergency services, endangering lives.
Railroads transport hazardous materials through Utah communities daily. Residents deserve assurance that safety isn’t being compromised in the pursuit of higher profits. Tragic incidents like the 2013 Lac-Mégantic derailment in Canada, which killed 42 people and destroyed 115 businesses, and the 2023 East Palestine derailment in Ohio, which forced mass evacuations, underscore the potential consequences of railroad’s lack of attention to rail safety.
Utahns deserve safe communities. The Office of Rail Safety will play a vital role in ensuring that rail operations prioritize public safety. I am hopeful that Speaker Schultz will continue championing this important initiative and prevent it from being dismantled. I also encourage everyone to reach out to their senators and representatives and encourage them to vote against SB263 unless the repeal of the Office of Rail Safety is removed from the bill.
(F. Jay Seegmiller) F. Jay Seegmiller is a former Utah State Representative, and former state safety and legislative director at the United Transportation Union and a retired railroad conductor with 44 years of service.
F. Jay Seegmiller is a former Utah state representative, and former state safety and legislative director at the United Transportation Union and a retired railroad conductor with 44 years of service.
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