SB 972

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
  SENATE BILL NO. 972
  103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  INTRODUCED BY SENATOR TRENT.
 5506S.01I  KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
  AN ACT
 To amend chapter 389, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to railroad crossings.
 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
1Section A. Chapter 389, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto
2  one new section, to be known as section 389.611, to read as
3  follows:
1389.611.  1. As used in this section, the following
2  terms shall mean:
3(1)      "Advanced detection and monitoring system", any
4  system capable of detecting and classifying objects such as
5  pedestrians, vehicles, and wildlife at railroad crossings,
6  using technologies such as light detection and ranging
7  sensors, high-resolution cameras, and artificial
8  intelligence;
9(2)      "Department", the Missouri department of
10  transportation;
11(3)      "Hazard assessment", the process of analyzing
12  detected objects to determine whether a safety risk exists
13  based on predefined criteria;
14(4)      "Real-time alerts", automated notifications
15  generated to warn train crews, operations centers, or other
16  stakeholders of safety hazards.
172.     Notwithstanding any provision of section 389.610 to
18  the contrary, any at grade railroad crossing constructed on
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19 or after August 28, 2026, shall include advanced detection
20 and monitoring systems capable of:
21(1)    Detecting and classifying objects along the
22 crossing and its approaches;
23(2)    Analyzing object behavior in real time to identify
24 safety risks;
25(3)    Generating real-time alerts to warn train crews,
26 operations personnel, and other relevant parties of
27 potential hazards; and
28(4)    Providing integration capability with existing and
29 future rail operation protocols, including positive train
30 control (PTC) systems.
313.    The state highways and transportation commission,
32 in consultation with rail operators and safety experts,
33 shall:
34(1)    Develop standards and specifications for the
35 deployment of advanced detection and monitoring systems at
36 railroad crossings;
37(2)    Identify priority crossings for immediate upgrades
38 based on hazard assessments and traffic volume; and
39(3)    Provide technical assistance to rail operators in
40 implementing advanced detection and monitoring systems.
414.    The department shall develop a program for the
42 provision of grant funds and public-private partnerships for
43 the installation of advanced detection and monitoring
44 systems, with preference given to the priority crossings as
45 determined pursuant to subsection 3 of this section.  The
46 department may promulgate rules to implement such program.
47 Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in
48 section 536.010, that is created under the authority
49 delegated in this section shall become effective only if it
50 complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of
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51 chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.       This
52 section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the
53 powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter
54 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove
55 and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional,
56 then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed
57 or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void.
585.   Rail operators shall annually submit a report to
59 the department detailing the performance of advanced
60 detection and monitoring systems installed at railroad
61 crossings in this state, including data on hazard detection,
62 real-time alerts issued, and incidents prevented.       The
63 department shall biennially submit a report to the general
64 assembly evaluating the effectiveness of such systems and
65 providing recommendations for any changes to state law
66 relating to such systems.
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