Label
Council Members Ujvagi and Delaney
Title
Urging the Ohio General Assembly to enact House Bill No. 186 to enact legislation regarding railyard walkway safety and illumination, two-person freight train crews, and public roadway obstruction that delays emergency vehicles; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
WHEREAS, this legislation has bi-partisan support from Representative Hillyer (R) and Representative Sheehy (D); and
WHEREAS, the Northwest Ohio Region has been a crossroads for the rail industry connecting the east and mid-west and has a large number of railroad crossing and rail yards the affect the mobility of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, with the large number of rail yards in the Northwest Ohio area and a large number of citizens who are employed through the railroad, we are looking to ensure the health and welfare of our residents by implementing safety measures such as proper walkways and illumination; and
WHEREAS, with the increase in the use of automated systems to run industry throughout the nation, we are looking to restore the safety of the human perspective to the control of freight engines by establishing a standard of two person crews to control freight rail movements; and
WHEREAS, with the large number of rail lines that cross our landscape we must ensure that emergency vehicles are not delayed in their response to people in emergencies or in the transport of those that have just experienced an emergency to care; and
WHEREAS, House Bill 186 seeks to amend and change portions of the Ohio Revised Code regarding the safety and security of those who work in the rail industry and those residents that are affected by the rail industry and impose penalties for those in the rail industry that violate these amended sections; NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That Toledo City Council calls upon the Ohio General Assembly to enact House Bill 186.
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