Lawmaker Pushes Rail Crossing Bill

HARTSELLE, Ala. (AP) - Family members of two teen-agers killed in a recent train collision joined U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer as he announced legislation Thursday that would allocate money for upgrading railroad safety devices.

The Democrat from Huntsville made the announcement at Kayo Road and the CSX Railroad crossing near Hartselle, where two high school students were killed after their car collided with a train in July.

The bill, called the Railway Safety and Funding Equity Act of 1999, would also provide funds to promote awareness of the danger of railroad crossings.

Last year, 135 Alabamians were involved in vehicle-train collisions, resulting in 45 injuries and 11 deaths. State Public Service Commissioner Jan Cook said Alabama is ranked the ninth worst nationally for railroad-crossing safety. Of the state's more than 3,500 railroad crossing, only 12 percent have gates and 18 percent have lights, she said.

"The numbers don't lie," Cramer said. "The longer we wait to deal with this problem, the more we risk turning on the news and hearing of another tragic accident."

The bill was introduced June 8 and already has 14 co-sponsors. It would raise the federal tax on diesel fuel by 4.3 percent, with revenue earmarked to upgrade railroad crossings and for public safety education.

2484