S.F. 2155 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 327F.15 Switch targets. 1 1. On or before June 30, 2012, the owner or operator of 2 a railroad track located in this state shall install switch 3 targets along main line tracks at locations lacking a signal 4 system. 5 a. The targets shall measure twenty-four inches by 6 twenty-four inches, shall be reflectorized, and shall be 7 maintained so as to be visible for a distance of two thousand 8 feet when illuminated by bright headlights. 9 b. The targets shall be designed to display green for 10 movement along the main line and red for movement off the main 11 line. 12 2. The department of transportation shall enforce the 13 provisions of this section. 14 3. Failure to install targets or failure to properly 15 maintain targets is a schedule three violation. Each day that 16 a violation continues constitutes a separate violation. 17 EXPLANATION 18 This bill requires the owner or operator of a railroad track 19 to install switch targets along main line tracks at locations 20 that do not have a signal system (known as “dark territory”). 21 The bill specifies that the targets must be 24 inches by 24 22 inches square, with a reflective surface visible for a distance 23 of 2,000 feet under bright headlights. The targets must signal 24 green when the switch is set to the main line, and red for 25 movement off the main line. 26 The bill establishes a deadline of June 30, 2012, for 27 installation of the switch targets. The department of 28 transportation is required to enforce the new provisions. 29 Failure to install or properly maintain the targets is a 30 schedule three violation, which may result in a penalty of 31 not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 for each day the 32 violation continues. 33 -1- LSB 5704XS (4) 83 dea/nh 1/ 1