HomeMy Public PortalAboutr 03:107No. 03-107 Dale of Adoptionlslslt[I4 18~ 2003
RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE USE OF REMOTE
CONTROL LOCOMOTIVES WITHIN THE BOROUGH
OF CARTERET
WHEREAS, railroads operate throughout the Borough of
Carteret ("the Borough") over numerous public and private rail
crossings and on property accessible to persons of all ages; and
WHEREAS, railroad equipment is known to present significant
danger to persons and property from collision, derailment, and
possible release of hazardous materials; and
WHEREAS, an enormous amount of rail cargo traveling
through the Borough consists of potentially lethal chemicals and
hazardous materials; and
WHEREAS, in addition to accidental derailments, collision
and spills, the United States government has issued a safety
alert against vandalism and terrorist threats against railroads,
and
WHEREAS, operation of a railroad is traditionally conducted
with the use of locomotives manned by experienced, trained
individuals who are required to be certified prior to the
operating the locomotive; and
WHEREAS, railroads have been granted permission from the
Federal Railroad Administration ("FRA") to operate unmanned
(remote controlled) locomotives by less trained, tested and
qualified individuals; and
WHEREAS, the FRA has only established guidelines and not
regulations in connection with such remote controlled
operations; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret
are charged with protecting the health, safety and welfare of the
people of the Borough; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret
believes that significant safety risk exist which must be
eliminated before "remote control" trains are permitted to
operate in the Borough;
NOW~ THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF
CARTERET, that the Federal Railroad Administration is
hereby urged to ban the use of"ramote controlled" trains within
the Borough of Carteret until the following safety concerns are
met:
1. Remote controlled locomotives be barred from
transporting chemicals and hazardous materials; and be
prohibited from operating on or near (i) tracks occupied by
NO. 03-107 PAGE
hazardous materials; or (ii) facilities which house hazardous
materials.
2. Railroads operating a remote control locomotive be
required to notify the Office of the Mayor before implementing
such operations.
3. Remote control locomotives be barred from operating
over a public or private highway rail crossing without a person
occupying the cab of the locomotive who has the required skill
to stop the locomotive and its attached equipment.
4. The railroad be required to provide effective and
reliable protection at the point of movement in any location
accessible to the general public for any remote control
operation.
5. Remote controlled locomotives have sufficiently
secured operating cabs and controls to prevent against terrorists,
vandals and other authorized persons.
6. Railroads be required to install a track related device
to stop a remote control locomotive in the event of a runaway;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the FRA develop
comprehensive regulations for the use of remote control
locomotives and those who operate them; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the FRA order an
immediate halt to operation of remote controlled trains within
the Borough of Carteret, New Jersey; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution
be forwarded to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Adopted this 18th day of March
and certified as a true copy of
original on March 19th, 2003.
LINDA A. RIVERA,
Assistant Municipal Clerk
RECORD OFCOUNCILVOTE
X - Indicate Vote AB - Absent NV - Not Voting XOR - Indicates Vote to Overrule Vet<}
Adopted at a meeting of the Municipal Council MARCH 18. 2003
C4.~,~R=. CLERK