SB2527 Summary

• Amends Department of Transportation Law to expand the Department's powers to include developing, adopting, and implementing a system safety program standard for rail fixed guideway systems in compliance with the federal Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Section 5329 of 49 U.S.C., and 49 CFR Part 674.

• Grants the Department authority to establish procedures to regulate, investigate, inspect, audit, and enforce compliance with federal transportation oversight requirements and authorizes the Department to contract with qualified consultants for these duties.

• Establishes concurrent rail transit safety oversight authority between the St. Clair County Transit District and the Department for MetroLink through December 31, 2016, after which the Department assumes sole oversight authority in Illinois.

• Provides that security-related investigation reports, surveys, and data compiled under the safety program are not subject to discovery or admissible in civil court proceedings, and grants liability immunity to the Department and transit agencies for acts or omissions under the FAST Act except in cases of willful or wanton conduct.

• Repeals the Bi-State Transit Safety Act effective December 31, 2016, and modifies the Regional Transportation Authority Act to require compliance with Section 5329 of 49 U.S.C. and remove outdated references to 49 CFR Part 659.