<section xmlns="http://xml.house.gov/schemas/uslm/1.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" style="-uslm-lc:I80" id="id3b00eef3-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8" identifier="/us/usc/t49/s20101"><num value="20101">§ 20101.</num><heading> Purpose</heading><content>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0">The purpose of this chapter is to promote safety in every area of railroad operations and reduce railroad-related accidents and incidents.</p>
</content><sourceCredit id="id3b00eef4-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8">(<ref href="/us/pl/103/272/s1/e">Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e)</ref>, <date date="1994-07-05">July 5, 1994</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/108/863">108 Stat. 863</ref>.)</sourceCredit>
<notes type="uscNote" id="id3b00eef5-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8">
<note topic="historicalAndRevision" id="id3b00eef6-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8">
<table xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="HNR" width="50%" style="border-collapse:collapse;  border-bottom:1px solid black; -uslm-lc: c3,L2,tp7,s10,xls64,xs90,tp7,s10,xls64,xs90; ">
<colgroup>
<col style="min-width: 44pt;"/>
<col style="width:68pt ; max-width:68pt;"/>
<col style="width:94pt ; max-width:94pt;"/>
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="title" style="font-size:7pt; border-bottom:1px solid black; -uslm-lc:I95;">
<th colspan="3">
<p style=""><span style="font-variant:small-caps">Historical and Revision Notes</span></p></th>
</tr>
<tr class="header" style="font-size:6pt; border-bottom:1px solid black;  border-top:1px solid black; -uslm-lc:h1;">
<th style="min-width: 44.0pt; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; border-right:1px solid black;"><p style=" text-align:center; margin-bottom:0em;"><i>Revised</i></p><p style=" text-align:center; margin-top:0em;"><i>Section</i></p></th><th style="width:68.0pt ; max-width:68.0pt; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black;"><p style=" text-align:center;"><i>Source (U.S. Code)</i></p></th><th style="width:94.0pt ; max-width:94.0pt; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle; border-left:1px solid black;"><p style=" text-align:center;"><i>Source (Statutes at Large)</i></p></th></tr>
</thead>
<tbody style="line-height:7pt; font-size:6pt;">
<tr style="border-top:1px solid black; -uslm-lc:I01;"><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;" class="leaders"><span>20101</span></p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid black; border-left:1px solid black; padding-right:2pt; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;">45:421.</p></td><td style=" text-align:left; vertical-align:top; border-left:1px solid black; padding-left: 2pt;"><p style=" text-align:left; text-indent: -1em; padding-left:1em;"><span class="date">Oct. 16, 1970</span>, <a href="/us/pl/91/458/s101">Pub. L. 91–458, § 101</a>, <a href="/us/stat/84/971">84 Stat. 971</a>.</p></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">The words “The Congress declares that” are omitted as surplus. The words “accidents and incidents” are substituted for “accidents” for consistency with the source provisions restated in section 20105(b)(1)(B) of the revised title. The words “and to reduce deaths and injuries to persons and to reduce damage to property caused by accidents involving any carrier of hazardous materials” are omitted as obsolete because they applied to 49 App.:1761 and 1762, that were repealed by section 113(g) of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (<ref href="/us/pl/93/633">Public Law 93–633</ref>, <ref href="/us/stat/88/2163">88 Stat. 2163</ref>).</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="shortTitleOfAmendment" id="id3b00eef7-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Short Title of 2008 Amendment</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s1/a">Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, § 1(a)</ref>, <date date="2008-10-16">Oct. 16, 2008</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/122/4848">122 Stat. 4848</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/110/432/s1/a">“This division [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008’.”</quotedContent>
</p>
<p><ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s1/a">Pub. L. 110–432, div. B, § 1(a)</ref>, <date date="2008-10-16">Oct. 16, 2008</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/122/4907">122 Stat. 4907</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/110/432/s1/a">“This division [enacting chapters 227, 244, and 285 of this title and sections 24105, 24310, 24316, 24702, 24710, 24711, 24910, and 26106 of this title, amending sections 103, 24101, 24102, 24302, 24308, 24706, 24904, 24905, 26101, and 26104 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 24101, 24302, 24305, 24307, 24308, 24405, 24702, 24709, 24711, 24902, and 26106 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under <ref href="/us/usc/t49/s24101">section 24101 of this title</ref>] may be cited as the ‘Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008’.”</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="shortTitleOfAmendment" id="id3b00eef8-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Short Title of 1997 Amendment</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/105/134/s1/a">Pub. L. 105–134, § 1(a)</ref>, <date date="1997-12-02">Dec. 2, 1997</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/111/2570">111 Stat. 2570</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/105/134/s1/a">“This Act [enacting <ref href="/us/usc/t49/s28103">section 28103 of this title</ref>, amending sections 24101, 24102, 24104, 24301 to 24307, 24309, 24312, 24315, 24701, 24706, 24902, and 24904 of this title, section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978, <ref href="/us/pl/95/452">Pub. L. 95–452</ref>, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and <ref href="/us/usc/t31/s9101">section 9101 of Title 31</ref>, Money and Finance, repealing sections 24310, 24314, 24501 to 24506, 24702 to 24705, 24707, 24708, and 24903 of this title, and <ref href="/us/usc/t45/s1111">section 1111 of Title 45</ref>, Railroads, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 24101, 24104, 24301, 24304, 24305, 24307, 24312, 24315, 24501, and 24706 of this title, section 8G of the Appendix to Title 5, and <ref href="/us/usc/t26/s172">section 172 of Title 26</ref>, Internal Revenue Code] may be cited as the ‘Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997’.”</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="shortTitleOfAmendment" id="id3b00eef9-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Short Title of 1994 Amendment</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/103/440/s101">Pub. L. 103–440, title I, § 101</ref>, <date date="1994-11-02">Nov. 2, 1994</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/108/4615">108 Stat. 4615</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/103/440/s101">“This title [enacting sections 26101 to 26105 of this title, renumbering former sections 26101 and 26102 of this title as 28101 and 28102 of this title, respectively, and enacting provisions set out as notes under <ref href="/us/usc/t49/s26101">section 26101 of this title</ref> and <ref href="/us/usc/t45/s838">section 838 of Title 45</ref>, Railroads] may be cited as the ‘Swift Rail Development Act of 1994’.”</quotedContent>
</p>
<p><ref href="/us/pl/103/440/s201">Pub. L. 103–440, title II, § 201</ref>, <date date="1994-11-02">Nov. 2, 1994</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/108/4619">108 Stat. 4619</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/103/440/s201">“This title [enacting sections 20145 to 20151 and 21108 of this title, amending sections 103, 20103, 20111, 20116, 20117, 20133, 20142, and 21303 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under <ref href="/us/usc/t49/s11504">section 11504 of this title</ref>] may be cited as the ‘Federal Railroad Safety Authorization Act of 1994’.”</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="miscellaneous" id="id3b00eefa-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Railroad Safety Strategy</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s102">Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title I, § 102</ref>, <date date="2008-10-16">Oct. 16, 2008</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/122/4852">122 Stat. 4852</ref>, provided that:<quotedContent origin="/us/pl/110/432/s102">
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="a">“(a)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Safety Goals</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>In conjunction with existing federally-required and voluntary strategic planning efforts ongoing at the Department and the Federal Railroad Administration as of the date of enactment of this Act [<date date="2008-10-16">Oct. 16, 2008</date>], the Secretary shall develop a long-term strategy for improving railroad safety to cover a period of not less than 5 years. The strategy shall include an annual plan and schedule for achieving, at a minimum, the following goals:</chapeau><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="1">“(1)</num><content> Reducing the number and rates of accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities involving railroads including train collisions, derailments, and human factors.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="2">“(2)</num><content> Improving the consistency and effectiveness of enforcement and compliance programs.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="3">“(3)</num><content> Improving the identification of high-risk highway-rail grade crossings and strengthening enforcement and other methods to increase grade crossing safety.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="4">“(4)</num><content> Improving research efforts to enhance and promote railroad safety and performance.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="5">“(5)</num><content> Preventing railroad trespasser accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="6">“(6)</num><content> Improving the safety of railroad bridges, tunnels, and related infrastructure to prevent accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities caused by catastrophic failures and other bridge and tunnel failures.</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="b">“(b)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Resource Needs</inline>.—</heading><content>The strategy and annual plan shall include estimates of the funds and staff resources needed to accomplish the goals established by subsection (a). Such estimates shall also include the staff skills and training required for timely and effective accomplishment of each such goal.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="c">“(c)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Submission With the President’s Budget</inline>.—</heading><content>The Secretary shall submit the strategy and annual plan to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure at the same time as the President’s budget submission.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><num value="d">“(d)</num><heading> Achievement of Goals.—</heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="1">“(1)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Progress assessment</inline>.—</heading><content>No less frequently than annually, the Secretary shall assess the progress of the Department toward achieving the strategic goals described in subsection (a). The Secretary shall identify any deficiencies in achieving the goals within the strategy and develop and institute measures to remediate such deficiencies. The Secretary and the Administrator shall convey their assessment to the employees of the Federal Railroad Administration and shall identify any deficiencies that should be remediated before the next progress assessment.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="2">“(2)</num><heading> <inline class="small-caps">Report to congress</inline>.—</heading><content>Beginning in 2009, not later than November 1 of each year, the Secretary shall transmit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the performance of the Federal Railroad Administration containing the progress assessment required by paragraph (1) toward achieving the goals of the railroad safety strategy and annual plans under subsection (a).”</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
</quotedContent>
</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">[For definitions of “railroad”, “Department”, “Secretary”, and “crossing”, as used in <ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s102">section 102 of Pub. L. 110–432</ref>, set out above, see <ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s2/a">section 2(a) of Pub. L. 110–432</ref>, set out as a note under <ref href="/us/usc/t49/s20102">section 20102 of this title</ref>.]</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="miscellaneous" id="id3b00eefb-3bf5-11e3-a342-84d17a7c85b8"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Reports on Statutory Mandates and Recommendations</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s106">Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title I, § 106</ref>, <date date="2008-10-16">Oct. 16, 2008</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/122/4859">122 Stat. 4859</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/110/432/s106">“Not later than <date date="2008-12-31">December 31, 2008</date>, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit a report to the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the specific actions taken to implement unmet statutory mandates regarding railroad safety and each open railroad safety recommendation made by the National Transportation Safety Board or the Department’s Inspector General.”</quotedContent>
</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">[For definitions of “Secretary”, “railroad”, and “Department”, as used in <ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s106">section 106 of Pub. L. 110–432</ref>, set out above, see <ref href="/us/pl/110/432/s2/a">section 2(a) of Pub. L. 110–432</ref>, set out as a note under <ref href="/us/usc/t49/s20102">section 20102 of this title</ref>.]</p>
</note>
</notes>
</section>