State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_SB0679

 
                                               LRB9106022DJcd

 1        AN ACT concerning railroads, amending named Acts.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5.   The  Motor  Fuel  Tax  Law  is  amended  by
 5    changing Section 8 as follows:

 6        (35 ILCS 505/8) (from Ch. 120, par. 424)
 7        Sec.  8.   Except  as  provided  in Section 8a, all money
 8    received by the Department under this Act, including payments
 9    made to the Department by member jurisdictions  participating
10    in  the  International Fuel Tax Agreement, shall be deposited
11    in a special fund in the State treasury, to be known  as  the
12    "Motor Fuel Tax Fund", and shall be used as follows:
13        (a)  2  1/2  cents  per  gallon  of  the tax collected on
14    special fuel under paragraph (b) of Section 2 and Section 13a
15    of this Act shall be transferred to  the  State  Construction
16    Account Fund in the State Treasury;
17        (b)  $420,000  shall  be  transferred  each  month to the
18    State Boating Act Fund  to  be  used  by  the  Department  of
19    Natural  Resources for the purposes specified in Article X of
20    the Boat Registration and Safety Act;
21        (c)  $1,500,000 shall be transferred each  month  to  the
22    Grade  Crossing  Protection  Fund  to be used as follows: not
23    less than $6,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used  for  the
24    construction   or   reconstruction   of  rail  highway  grade
25    separation structures; beginning with fiscal  year  1997  and
26    ending  in fiscal year 2002 1999, $1,500,000, and $750,000 in
27    fiscal year 2003 2000 and each fiscal year  thereafter  shall
28    be  transferred  to  the  Transportation  Regulatory Fund and
29    shall be accounted for as part of the rail carrier portion of
30    such  funds  and  shall  be  used  to   pay   the   cost   of
31    administration of the Illinois Commerce Commission's railroad
 
                            -2-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1    safety program in connection with its duties under subsection
 2    (3)  of  Section  18c-7401 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, with
 3    the remainder to be used by the Department of  Transportation
 4    upon  order  of the Illinois Commerce Commission, to pay that
 5    part of the cost apportioned by such Commission to the  State
 6    to  cover  the interest of the public in the use of highways,
 7    roads or streets in the county highway system,  township  and
 8    district road system or municipal street system as defined in
 9    the  Illinois Highway Code, as the same may from time to time
10    be amended,  for  separation  of  grades,  for  installation,
11    construction,  or  reconstruction, or maintenance of crossing
12    protection devices or reconstruction, alteration,  relocation
13    including construction or improvement of any existing highway
14    necessary  for access to property or improvement of any grade
15    crossing including the necessary highway  approaches  thereto
16    of  any  railroad  across  the highway or public road, or for
17    costs of maintenance, repair, reconstruction, or  replacement
18    of  the  grade crossing surface structure, or to compensate a
19    highway authority in interest for the closure of  a  crossing
20    that  otherwise  would qualify for automatic warning devices,
21    as provided for in and in accordance with Section 18c-7401 of
22    the Illinois Vehicle Code.  In entering orders  for  projects
23    for  which  payments  from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund
24    will be made, the Commission shall account  for  expenditures
25    authorized  by  the  orders  on a cash rather than an accrual
26    basis.  For purposes of this requirement an  "accrual  basis"
27    assumes that the total cost of the project is expended in the
28    fiscal  year  in  which  the  order is entered, while a "cash
29    basis" allocates the cost of the project among  fiscal  years
30    as  expenditures are actually made.  To meet the requirements
31    of this subsection, the Illinois  Commerce  Commission  shall
32    develop  annual  and  5-year  project  plans of rail crossing
33    capital improvements that will be paid for with  moneys  from
34    the  Grade Crossing Protection Fund.  The annual project plan
 
                            -3-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1    shall identify projects for the succeeding  fiscal  year  and
 2    the  5-year  project  plan  shall identify projects for the 5
 3    directly  succeeding  fiscal  years.   The  Commission  shall
 4    submit the annual and 5-year project plans for this  Fund  to
 5    the  Governor,  the  President  of  the  Senate,  the  Senate
 6    Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
 7    and  the  Minority  Leader of the House of Representatives on
 8    the first Wednesday in April of each year;
 9        (d)  of the amount remaining after  allocations  provided
10    for  in  subsections  (a),  (b)  and (c), a sufficient amount
11    shall be reserved to pay all of the following:
12             (1)  the costs  of  the  Department  of  Revenue  in
13        administering this Act;
14             (2)  the  costs  of the Department of Transportation
15        in performing its duties imposed by the Illinois  Highway
16        Code  for  supervising  the  use  of motor fuel tax funds
17        apportioned  to   municipalities,   counties   and   road
18        districts;
19             (3)  refunds  provided for in Section 13 of this Act
20        and  under  the  terms  of  the  International  Fuel  Tax
21        Agreement referenced in Section 14a;
22             (4)  from October 1, 1985 until June 30,  1994,  the
23        administration  of  the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law,
24        which  amount  shall  be   certified   monthly   by   the
25        Environmental  Protection Agency to the State Comptroller
26        and  shall  promptly  be   transferred   by   the   State
27        Comptroller and Treasurer from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund to
28        the  Vehicle Inspection Fund, and beginning July 1, 1994,
29        and until December 31, 2000, one-twelfth  of  $25,000,000
30        each   month   for  the  administration  of  the  Vehicle
31        Emissions Inspection Law of 1995, to  be  transferred  by
32        the  State  Comptroller and Treasurer from the Motor Fuel
33        Tax Fund into the Vehicle Inspection Fund;
34             (5)  amounts ordered paid by the  Court  of  Claims;
 
                            -4-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1        and
 2             (6)  payment  of  motor fuel use taxes due to member
 3        jurisdictions under the terms of the  International  Fuel
 4        Tax   Agreement.   The  Department  shall  certify  these
 5        amounts to the Comptroller by the 15th day of each month;
 6        the Comptroller shall cause orders to be drawn  for  such
 7        amounts, and the Treasurer shall administer those amounts
 8        on or before the last day of each month;
 9        (e)  after  allocations  for  the  purposes  set forth in
10    subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d), the remaining amount shall
11    be apportioned as follows:
12             (1)  58.4% shall be deposited as follows:
13                  (A)  37% into the  State  Construction  Account
14             Fund, and
15                  (B)  63%  into  the  Road  Fund,  $1,250,000 of
16             which  shall  be  reserved  each   month   for   the
17             Department   of   Transportation   to   be  used  in
18             accordance with the  provisions  of  Sections  6-901
19             through 6-906 of the Illinois Highway Code;
20             (2)  41.6% shall be transferred to the Department of
21        Transportation to be distributed as follows:
22                  (A)  49.10% to the municipalities of the State,
23                  (B)  16.74% to the counties of the State having
24             1,000,000 or more inhabitants,
25                  (C)  18.27% to the counties of the State having
26             less than 1,000,000 inhabitants,
27                  (D)  15.89% to the road districts of the State.
28        As  soon  as may be after the first day of each month the
29    Department of Transportation shall allot to each municipality
30    its  share  of  the  amount  apportioned   to   the   several
31    municipalities which shall be in proportion to the population
32    of  such  municipalities  as determined by the last preceding
33    municipal census if conducted by the  Federal  Government  or
34    Federal  census.  If territory is annexed to any municipality
 
                            -5-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1    subsequent to the time  of  the  last  preceding  census  the
 2    corporate authorities of such municipality may cause a census
 3    to  be  taken of such annexed territory and the population so
 4    ascertained  for  such  territory  shall  be  added  to   the
 5    population  of  the  municipality  as  determined by the last
 6    preceding census for the purpose of determining the allotment
 7    for that municipality.  If the population of any municipality
 8    was not determined by the last Federal census  preceding  any
 9    apportionment,  the  apportionment to such municipality shall
10    be in accordance with any census taken by such  municipality.
11    Any  municipal  census  used  in accordance with this Section
12    shall be certified to the Department of Transportation by the
13    clerk of such municipality, and the accuracy thereof shall be
14    subject to approval of the Department  which  may  make  such
15    corrections as it ascertains to be necessary.
16        As  soon  as may be after the first day of each month the
17    Department of Transportation shall allot to each  county  its
18    share  of  the  amount apportioned to the several counties of
19    the State as herein provided. Each allotment to  the  several
20    counties  having  less than 1,000,000 inhabitants shall be in
21    proportion to  the  amount  of  motor  vehicle  license  fees
22    received  from  the residents of such counties, respectively,
23    during the preceding calendar year. The  Secretary  of  State
24    shall,  on  or  before April 15 of each year, transmit to the
25    Department of  Transportation  a  full  and  complete  report
26    showing  the  amount  of  motor vehicle license fees received
27    from the residents of each county, respectively,  during  the
28    preceding  calendar  year.  The  Department of Transportation
29    shall, each month, use for allotment purposes the  last  such
30    report received from the Secretary of State.
31        As  soon as may be after the first day of each month, the
32    Department of  Transportation  shall  allot  to  the  several
33    counties their share of the amount apportioned for the use of
34    road districts.  The allotment shall be apportioned among the
 
                            -6-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1    several  counties  in  the  State in the proportion which the
 2    total mileage of township or district roads in the respective
 3    counties bears to the  total  mileage  of  all  township  and
 4    district roads in the State. Funds allotted to the respective
 5    counties  for  the  use  of  road  districts therein shall be
 6    allocated to the several road districts in the county in  the
 7    proportion  which  the  total  mileage  of  such  township or
 8    district roads in the respective road districts bears to  the
 9    total  mileage  of all such township or district roads in the
10    county.  After July 1 of any year,  no  allocation  shall  be
11    made  for  any  road district unless it levied a tax for road
12    and bridge purposes in  an  amount  which  will  require  the
13    extension  of  such  tax  against the taxable property in any
14    such road district at a rate of not less than either .08%  of
15    the  value  thereof,  based  upon the assessment for the year
16    immediately prior to the year in which such  tax  was  levied
17    and  as  equalized by the Department of Revenue or, in DuPage
18    County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000  per  mile
19    of   road  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  road  district,
20    whichever is less.  If any road district has levied a special
21    tax for road purposes pursuant to Sections 6-601,  6-602  and
22    6-603  of  the Illinois Highway Code, and such tax was levied
23    in an amount which would require extension at a rate  of  not
24    less  than .08% of the value of the taxable property thereof,
25    as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, or, in
26    DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per
27    mile of road under the jurisdiction  of  the  road  district,
28    whichever  is  less,  such  levy  shall, however, be deemed a
29    proper compliance with this Section and  shall  qualify  such
30    road  district  for  an  allotment  under this Section.  If a
31    township has transferred to the road and  bridge  fund  money
32    which,  when  added to the amount of any tax levy of the road
33    district would be the equivalent  of  a  tax  levy  requiring
34    extension  at a rate of at least .08%,  or, in DuPage County,
 
                            -7-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1    an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile  of  road
 2    under  the  jurisdiction  of  the road district, whichever is
 3    less, such transfer, together with any such tax  levy,  shall
 4    be  deemed  a  proper  compliance with this Section and shall
 5    qualify  the  road  district  for  an  allotment  under  this
 6    Section.
 7        In counties in which a property tax extension  limitation
 8    is  imposed  under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law,
 9    road districts may retain their entitlement to a  motor  fuel
10    tax  allotment  if,  at  the  time the property tax extension
11    limitation was imposed, the road district was levying a  road
12    and  bridge tax at a rate sufficient to entitle it to a motor
13    fuel  tax  allotment  and  continues  to  levy  the   maximum
14    allowable  amount  after  the  imposition of the property tax
15    extension  limitation.   Any  road  district   may   in   all
16    circumstances  retain  its  entitlement  to  a motor fuel tax
17    allotment if it levied a road and bridge  tax  in  an  amount
18    that  will  require  the  extension  of  the  tax against the
19    taxable property in the road district at a rate of  not  less
20    than  0.08% of the assessed value of the property, based upon
21    the assessment for the year immediately preceding the year in
22    which the tax was levied and as equalized by  the  Department
23    of  Revenue  or,  in  DuPage  County,  an  amount equal to or
24    greater than $12,000 per mile of road under the  jurisdiction
25    of the road district, whichever is less.
26        As  used  in  this Section the term "road district" means
27    any road district, including a  county  unit  road  district,
28    provided  for  by  the  Illinois  Highway  Code; and the term
29    "township or district road" means any road  in  the  township
30    and  district  road system as defined in the Illinois Highway
31    Code.  For the purposes of this Section, "road district" also
32    includes  park  districts,  forest  preserve  districts   and
33    conservation  districts  organized  under  Illinois  law  and
34    "township  or  district road" also includes such roads as are
 
                            -8-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1    maintained by park districts, forest preserve  districts  and
 2    conservation  districts.   The  Department  of Transportation
 3    shall determine the mileage  of  all  township  and  district
 4    roads  for  the purposes of making allotments and allocations
 5    of motor fuel tax funds for use in road districts.
 6        Payment of motor fuel tax moneys  to  municipalities  and
 7    counties  shall  be  made  as  soon  as  possible  after  the
 8    allotment  is  made.   The  treasurer  of the municipality or
 9    county may invest these funds until their use is required and
10    the interest earned by these investments shall be limited  to
11    the same uses as the principal funds.
12    (Source:  P.A.  89-167,  eff.  1-1-96;  89-445,  eff. 2-7-96;
13    89-699, eff. 1-16-97;  90-110,  eff.  7-14-97;  90-655,  eff.
14    7-30-98;  90-659,  eff.  1-1-99; 90-691, eff. 1-1-99; revised
15    9-16-98.)

16        Section  10.  The Illinois Vehicle  Code  is  amended  by
17    changing Section 18c-7401 as follows:

18        (625 ILCS 5/18c-7401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7401)
19        Sec.    18c-7401.    Safety   Requirements   for   Track,
20    Facilities, and Equipment.
21        (1)  General  Requirements.  Each  rail  carrier   shall,
22    consistent with rules, orders, and regulations of the Federal
23    Railroad Administration, construct, maintain, and operate all
24    of  its equipment, track, and other property in this State in
25    such a manner as to pose no undue risk to  its  employees  or
26    the person or property of any member of the public.
27        (2)  Adoption  of  Federal  Standards.  The  track safety
28    standards and accident/incident standards promulgated by  the
29    Federal  Railroad Administration shall be safety standards of
30    the Commission.  The Commission may, in  addition,  adopt  by
31    reference  in  its  regulations other federal railroad safety
32    standards,  whether  contained  in  federal  statutes  or  in
 
                            -9-                LRB9106022DJcd
 1    regulations adopted pursuant to such statutes.
 2        (3)  Railroad Crossings.
 3        No public road, highway, or  street  shall  hereafter  be
 4    constructed  across  the  track of any rail carrier at grade,
 5    nor shall the track of any rail carrier be constructed across
 6    a public road, highway or street  at  grade,  without  having
 7    first  secured  the  permission  of the Commission; provided,
 8    that this Section shall  not  apply  to  the  replacement  of
 9    lawfully  existing roads, highways and tracks. The Commission
10    shall permit the construction of a public road,  highway,  or
11    street  across  the  track  of  a rail carrier (i) if, in its
12    opinion, the public safety and public  convenience    justify
13    the grade crossing and (ii) upon a determination that a grade
14    separation structure is  not a viable alternative due to lack
15    of  funding,  or  engineering  constraints,  or  both.    The
16    Commission  shall  have the right to refuse its permission or
17    to grant  it  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  it  may
18    prescribe.   The Commission shall have power to determine and
19    prescribe the  manner,  including  the  particular  point  of
20    crossing,   and   the   terms   of  installation,  operation,
21    maintenance, use and protection of each such crossing.    The
22    Commission  shall apportion all maintenance costs between the
23    highway authority in interest and the rail carrier  based  on
24    the  benefits  each  party derives from the installation of a
25    new grade crossing.  The Commission may allocate moneys  from
26    the  Grade Crossing Protection Fund to pay for all or part of
27    these costs.
28        The Commission shall also have power, after a hearing, to
29    require major alteration  of  or  to  abolish  any  crossing,
30    heretofore or hereafter established, when in its opinion, the
31    public  safety  requires  such  alteration or abolition, and,
32    except  in  cities,  villages  and  incorporated   towns   of
33    1,000,000  or more inhabitants, to vacate and close that part
34    of the highway on such  crossing  altered  or  abolished  and
 
                            -10-               LRB9106022DJcd
 1    cause  barricades  to  be erected across such highway in such
 2    manner as to prevent the use of such crossing as  a  highway,
 3    when,   in   the   opinion  of  the  Commission,  the  public
 4    convenience served by the crossing in question is not such as
 5    to justify the further retention thereof;  or  to  require  a
 6    separation  of  grades,  at  such  crossings; or to require a
 7    separation  of  grades  at  any  proposed  crossing  where  a
 8    proposed public highway may cross  the  tracks  of  any  rail
 9    carrier or carriers; and to prescribe, after a hearing of the
10    parties,  the terms upon which such separations shall be made
11    and the proportion in which the expense of the alteration  or
12    abolition of such crossings or the separation of such grades,
13    having  regard  to the benefits, if any, accruing to the rail
14    carrier or any party in interest, shall  be  divided  between
15    the  rail  carrier  or  carriers  affected,  or  between such
16    carrier or carriers and the State,  county,  municipality  or
17    other  public  authority  in  interest.    However,  a public
18    hearing by the Commission to abolish a crossing shall not  be
19    required  when  the  public  highway  authority  in  interest
20    vacates  the  highway.   In  such  instance the rail carrier,
21    following notification to  the  Commission  and  the  highway
22    authority,  shall  remove  any grade crossing warning devices
23    and the grade crossing surface. The Commission shall endeavor
24    to  achieve  a  reduction  in  public  grade   crossings   as
25    recommended by the Federal Railroad Administration.
26        The  Commission  shall  also  have  power by its order to
27    require   the   reconstruction,   minor   alteration,   minor
28    relocation or improvement  of  any  crossing  (including  the
29    necessary  highway approaches thereto) of any railroad across
30    any highway or public road, whether such crossing be at grade
31    or  by  overhead  structure  or  by  subway,   whenever   the
32    Commission  finds  after  a  hearing  or without a hearing as
33    otherwise   provided   in   this    paragraph    that    such
34    reconstruction,  alteration,  relocation  or  improvement  is
 
                            -11-               LRB9106022DJcd
 1    necessary to preserve or promote the safety or convenience of
 2    the  public  or  of  the employees or passengers of such rail
 3    carrier or carriers.  By its original order  or  supplemental
 4    orders   in   such  case,  the  Commission  may  direct  such
 5    reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement to  be
 6    made in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as may
 7    be  reasonable  and  necessary  and may apportion the cost of
 8    such reconstruction, alteration,  relocation  or  improvement
 9    and  the subsequent maintenance thereof, having regard to the
10    benefits, if any, accruing to the railroad or  any  party  in
11    interest,  between  the  rail  carrier or carriers and public
12    utilities affected, or between such carrier or  carriers  and
13    public utilities and the State, county, municipality or other
14    public  authority in interest.  The cost to be so apportioned
15    shall include the cost  of  changes  or  alterations  in  the
16    equipment of public utilities affected as well as the cost of
17    the  relocation,  diversion  or  establishment  of any public
18    highway, made necessary by such  reconstruction,  alteration,
19    relocation  or improvement of said crossing.  A hearing shall
20    not be required in those instances when the Commission enters
21    an order  confirming  a  written  stipulation  in  which  the
22    Commission,  the  public  highway  authority in interest, the
23    rail carrier or carriers affected, and in instances involving
24    the use of the Grade Crossing Protection Fund,  the  Illinois
25    Department  of  Transportation,  agree on the reconstruction,
26    alteration, relocation, or  improvement  and  the  subsequent
27    maintenance thereof and the division of costs of such changes
28    of  any  grade  crossing  (including  the  necessary  highway
29    approaches thereto) of any railroad across any highway.
30        Every  rail  carrier  operating  in the State of Illinois
31    shall construct and maintain every highway crossing over  its
32    tracks   within   the  State  so  that  the  roadway  at  the
33    intersection  shall  be  as   flush   with   the   rails   as
34    superelevated   curves  will  allow,  and,  unless  otherwise
 
                            -12-               LRB9106022DJcd
 1    ordered by the Commission, shall construct and  maintain  the
 2    approaches  thereto at a grade of not more than 5% within the
 3    right of way for a distance of not less the 6  feet  on  each
 4    side  of  the  centerline  of such tracks; provided, that the
 5    grades at the approaches may be maintained in  excess  of  5%
 6    only when authorized by the Commission.
 7        Every  rail  carrier  operating  within  this State shall
 8    remove from its right of way at all  grade  crossings  within
 9    the  State, such brush, shrubbery, and trees as is reasonably
10    practical for a distance of not less than 500 feet in  either
11    direction from each grade crossing. The Commission shall have
12    power,  upon  its  own  motion,  or upon complaint, and after
13    having made proper investigation, to require the installation
14    of  adequate  and  appropriate  luminous  reflective  warning
15    signs, luminous flashing signals, crossing gates  illuminated
16    at night, or other protective devices in order to promote and
17    safeguard  the  health  and  safety  of  the public. Luminous
18    flashing signal or crossing gate devices installed  at  grade
19    crossings,  which have been approved by the Commission, shall
20    be deemed adequate and appropriate. The Commission shall have
21    authority to determine the number, type, and location of such
22    signs, signals, gates, or  other  protective  devices  which,
23    however,  shall  conform  as  near  as  may be with generally
24    recognized national standards, and the Commission shall  have
25    authority  to  prescribe  the  division  of  the  cost of the
26    installation  and  subsequent  maintenance  of  such   signs,
27    signals,  gates, or other protective devices between the rail
28    carrier  or  carriers,  the  public  highway   authority   in
29    interest,  and  in  instances  involving the use of the Grade
30    Crossing  Protection  Fund,  the   Illinois   Department   of
31    Transportation.
32        No  railroad  may  change  or  modify  the warning device
33    system  at  a  railroad-highway  grade  crossing,   including
34    warning  systems  interconnected with highway traffic control
 
                            -13-               LRB9106022DJcd
 1    signals, without having first received the  approval  of  the
 2    Commission.   The  Commission  shall  have the further power,
 3    upon application, upon its own motion, or upon complaint  and
 4    after  having  made  proper  investigation,  to  require  the
 5    interconnection   of  grade  crossing  warning  devices  with
 6    traffic control signals at highway intersections  located  at
 7    or  near railroad crossings within the distances described by
 8    the State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control  Devices  adopted
 9    pursuant  to Section 11-301 of this Code.  In addition, State
10    and local authorities may not install, remove, modernize,  or
11    otherwise   modify  traffic  control  signals  at  a  highway
12    intersection  that  is  interconnected  or  proposed  to   be
13    interconnected  with  grade crossing warning devices when the
14    change affects the  number,  type,  or  location  of  traffic
15    control  devices  on  the  track  approach leg or legs of the
16    intersection  or  the  timing  of  the  railroad   preemption
17    sequence  of  operation until the Commission has approved the
18    installation,  removal,   modernization,   or   modification.
19    Commission  approval  shall  be  limited  to consideration of
20    issues  directly  affecting  the   public   safety   at   the
21    railroad-highway  grade  crossing.   The  electrical  circuit
22    devices,  alternate warning devices, and preemption sequences
23    shall  conform  as  nearly  as  possible,   considering   the
24    particular  characteristics  of the crossing and intersection
25    area, to the State manual adopted by the Illinois  Department
26    of Transportation pursuant to Section 11-301 of this Code and
27    such  federal  standards as are made applicable by subsection
28    (2) of this Section.  In order to carry out  this  authority,
29    the  Commission  shall  have  the  authority to determine the
30    number, type, and location of traffic control devices on  the
31    track approach leg or legs of the intersection and the timing
32    of  the  railroad  preemption   sequence  of  operation.  The
33    Commission   shall   prescribe  the  division  of  costs  for
34    installation and maintenance of all devices required by  this
 
                            -14-               LRB9106022DJcd
 1    paragraph  between  the railroad or railroads and the highway
 2    authority in interest and in instances involving the  use  of
 3    the  Grade  Crossing  Protection Fund or a State highway, the
 4    Illinois Department of Transportation.
 5        Any person who unlawfully or maliciously removes,  throws
 6    down,  damages  or  defaces  any  sign, signal, gate or other
 7    protective device,  located  at  or  near  any  public  grade
 8    crossing,  shall  be  guilty of a petty offense and fined not
 9    less than $50 nor  more  than  $200  for  each  offense.   In
10    addition to fines levied under the provisions of this Section
11    a  person  adjudged  guilty hereunder may also be directed to
12    make restitution for the costs of repair or  replacement,  or
13    both, necessitated by his misconduct.
14        It  is  the  public  policy  of  the State of Illinois to
15    enhance public safety by establishing safe  grade  crossings.
16    In  order  to  implement  this  policy, the Illinois Commerce
17    Commission is directed to  conduct  public  hearings  and  to
18    adopt  specific  criteria  by  July  1,  1994,  that shall be
19    adhered to by the Illinois Commerce Commission in determining
20    if a grade crossing  should  be  opened  or  abolished.   The
21    following   factors  shall  be  considered  by  the  Illinois
22    Commerce Commission in developing the specific  criteria  for
23    opening and abolishing grade crossings:
24             (a)  timetable speed of passenger trains;
25             (b)  distance to an alternate crossing;
26             (c)  accident history for the last 5 years;
27             (d)  number  of  vehicular  traffic and posted speed
28        limits;
29             (e)  number of freight trains  and  their  timetable
30        speeds;
31             (f)  the type of warning device present at the grade
32        crossing;
33             (g)  alignments of the roadway and railroad, and the
34        angle of intersection of those alignments;
 
                            -15-               LRB9106022DJcd
 1             (h)  use  of  the  grade crossing by trucks carrying
 2        hazardous materials,  vehicles  carrying  passengers  for
 3        hire, and school buses; and
 4             (i)  use   of   the   grade  crossing  by  emergency
 5        vehicles.
 6        The Illinois Commerce Commission, upon petition  to  open
 7    or  abolish a grade crossing, shall enter an order opening or
 8    abolishing the crossing if it  meets  the  specific  criteria
 9    adopted by the Commission.
10        Except  as  otherwise provided in this subsection (3), in
11    no instance shall a  grade  crossing  be  permanently  closed
12    without  public  hearing  first being held and notice of such
13    hearing being published in an area newspaper of local general
14    circulation.
15        (4)  Freight   Trains   -   Radio   Communications.   The
16    Commission shall after hearing and order require  that  every
17    main  line  railroad  freight  train operating on main tracks
18    outside of yard limits within this State  shall  be  equipped
19    with  a  radio  communication  system.   The Commission after
20    notice and hearing may grant exemptions from the requirements
21    of this Section as to secondary and branch lines.
22        (5)  Railroad  Bridges  and  Trestles   -   Walkway   and
23    Handrail.  In cases in which the Commission finds the same to
24    be practical and necessary for safety of railroad  employees,
25    bridges and trestles, over and upon which railroad trains are
26    operated,  shall  include  as  a  part  thereof,  a  safe and
27    suitable walkway and handrail on one side only of such bridge
28    or trestle, and such handrail shall be located at  the  outer
29    edge of the walkway and shall provide a clearance of not less
30    than  8  feet,  6 inches, from the center line of the nearest
31    track, measured at right angles thereto.
32        (6)  Packages  Containing  Articles  for  First  Aid   to
33    Injured  on Trains. All rail carriers shall provide a package
34    containing the articles prescribed by the Commission, on each
 
                            -16-               LRB9106022DJcd
 1    train or engine, for first aid to persons who may be  injured
 2    in the course of the operation of such trains.
 3        (7)  Abandoned  Bridges, Crossings, and Other Rail Plant.
 4    The  Commission  shall  have  authority,  after  notice   and
 5    hearing, to order:
 6             (a)  The  removal  of  any abandoned railroad tracks
 7        from roads, streets or other thoroughfares in this State;
 8        and
 9             (b)  The  removal  of  abandoned  overhead  railroad
10        structures crossing highways, waterways, or railroads.
11        The Commission may equitably apportion the cost  of  such
12    actions   between   the  rail  carrier  or  carriers,  public
13    utilities, and the  State,  county,  municipality,  township,
14    road district, or other public authority in interest.
15        (8)  Railroad-Highway   Bridge   Clearance.   A  vertical
16    clearance of not less than 23 feet  above  the  top  of  rail
17    shall  be  provided  for  all  new  or  reconstructed highway
18    bridges constructed over a railroad  track.   The  Commission
19    may  permit  a  lesser clearance if it determines that the 23
20    foot  clearance  standard  cannot  be  justified   based   on
21    engineering, operational, and economic conditions.
22    (Source: P.A. 89-699, eff. 1-16-97; 90-691, eff. 1-1-99.)

23        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect July
24    1, 1999.

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