WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, participated in a hearing entitled, “Passenger Rail Safety: Accident Prevention and On-Going Efforts to Implement Train Control Technology.”
The hearing featured testimony from expert witnesses about ongoing efforts to prevent passenger rail accidents in the wake of the tragic Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia on May 12, particularly through the use of positive train control technology. Witnesses discussed the capabilities and limitations of the technology the current status of the deployment and functionality of positive train control systems; and current challenges with on-going efforts to install, test, and certify positive train control systems (PTC) by the statutory deadline of December 31, 2015.
Booker called for greater investment in rail infrastructure for the US to remain globally competitive with other nations. He is currently working on bipartisan passenger rail legislation that would make updates to America’s passenger rail system.
Senator Booker’s questions and remarks can be viewed here.