MN HF1467

Commissioner of Transportation shall apply for federal grants under the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 for railroad safety technology funding and development/installation of rail safety technology, including switch position indicator signals in nonsignalized main track territory.

Commissioner shall prioritize grant requests for installation of switch indicator signals on all nonsignalized track segments where posted speeds exceed 20 miles per hour and apply for funding annually after 2009 until all nonsignalized track territory in the state has switch indicator signals installed and operational.

Commissioner shall solicit grant requests from all eligible railroads and submit written notice to legislative committee chairs with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance before participating railroads receive federal grant funding for switch point indicator monitor systems.

Participating railroads must provide 20 percent nonfederal match funding and supply all technical documentation required by the Commissioner and Federal Railroad Administration for grant applications.

Railroads are responsible for developing, acquiring, and installing all rail safety technology obtained under this section in accordance with Federal Railroad Administration requirements.