Lawmakers Call for Stronger Regulations to Prevent Health-Related Rail Accidents

WASHINGTON, DC — Nov. 18, 2016, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to implement safety measures that would prevent rail accidents related to health factors like sleep apnea. New information indicates that sleep apnea may have contributed to the deadly Hoboken trail derailment in September that tragically took the life of a mother and injured more than 100.
“It has come to our attention that health factors—specifically sleep apnea—may have been a contributing factor in this incident,” the lawmakers wrote. “Should these reports prove true, we urge the Federal Rail Administration to use all of the tools at its disposal to ensure any and all necessary measures are taken to improve safety as we head into a busy holiday season.”
Following Sept.’s tragic derailment, Sens. Booker and Menendez were both briefed at the scene by FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg and have since remained in constant communication with FRA officials. In a briefing convened by Sen. Booker, this week officials from FRA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided members of the New Jersey delegation an update on the federal investigation into the Hoboken crash.
“We owe it to these workers as well as the travelling public to provide the most thorough and timely safety guidance to ensure our constituents can depend on a safe and well-functioning transportation system,” the lawmakers continued. “If necessary, we urge the FRA to utilize the rulemaking process, safety advisories, and other tools to inform and hold rail operators accountable in order to prevent these tragedies in the future.”
In Oct., Sens. Booker and Menendez called on U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx to investigate safety concerns at NJ Transit to determine whether there are more systemic problems at the agency that may impair safety following reports indicating large numbers of safety violations at NJ Transit and increased Federal inspections of the agency.