Reynolds Railroad Bill Awaits Action in West Virginia Senate
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WHEELING -- Delegate Charlie Reynolds has a day job as a railroad inspector, and he wants to make railroad companies take more notice when safety issues crop up on their tracks.
Reynolds, R-Marshall, is the lead sponsor of House Bill 3059, which would give authority to the Public Service Commission to fine Class I railroads for safety and operational violations.
The measure passed the House on Feb. 25 with a vote of 89 in favor, three against. It is now before the Senate awaiting committee assignment.
Reynolds began pushing the bill last year -- well before the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. He had already seen a need for such legislation.
"I wanted to give some more control to the PSC," he said. "I know Ohio, Virginia and Arkansas already do it."
Reynolds works as an independent safety inspector contracted through CSX.
He explained the Federal Railroad Administration is charged with going out and inspecting railroad lines, "but they are not going out as much."
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there are now fewer inspectors in the field, according to Reynolds.
"But this was going on before COVID, and something had to be done," he said. "That's why I wanted to get this underway. This bill provides for more inspectors, and allows the state (PSC) to fine Class 1 railroad operators when there are issues. It's not a lot, but it's enough to make them take notice."
Under the bill, the commission could fine or obtain civil penalties in an amount not less than $100, but not more than $1,000 for each such violation.
One example of a railway in the state with a serious safety issue can be found in Parkersburg, he said. Reynolds said he has notified operators about decking breaking apart on a bridge along the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad line.
"The Belpre shortline is a 48-mile railroad, and they haul a lot of hazardous chemicals," Reynolds said. "I have made them aware of it twice. They are now taking care to fix the problem."
He expects now will be the time to get such a bill through the West Virginia Legislature.
"It's unfortunate it is the time it is, but the Ohio incident is going to help the West Virginia bill go through," Reynolds said.