State Rep. Jill Billings says she thinks the state can do more to prevent future rail accidents.
Billings has introduced new legislation to improve rail safety regulations in Wisconsin that she says would increase safety standards for railroad companies and provide funding for more rail inspectors and training for local emergency response teams. The La Crosse Democrat said the recent derailments in Alma and Watertown point to the need for more regulation over the increased rail traffic in Wisconsin.
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“It brings home the realizations that yeah, something could happen in my backyard, something could happen in my community,” said Billings.
Companion legislation was also introduced in the Senate by Democrat Sen. Jennifer Shilling and Republican Sen. Jerry Petrowski.
Rep. Jill Billings speaking in La Crosse with members of CARS. Hope Kirwan/WPR
Several parts of Billings’ legislation addresses emergency response planning in the event of a train accident. The bill would require railroad companies to submit accident response plans to the state and would fund training for local emergency response training, an issue that rail safety activists feel is an important part of protecting communities along the railroads.
“I believe that the first responders have to have more ongoing resources,” said Maureen Freedland, a member of Citizens Acting for Rail Safety, or CARS. “It isn’t enough just to train and then expect this training to continue. The funds have to be coming in on a regular basis.”
Billings said she recognizes the economic benefits that increased rail traffic brings the state, but railroad companies need to take more responsibility for protecting Wisconsinites.
“With the increased rail traffic, there’s been increased profits for the railroad companies,” Billings said. “I think that with that increased profit that they can help make sure that as they’re moving the faster, heavier trains, longer trains, that we also take into account safety of the communities.”
The causes of the two derailments from last weekend remain under investigation.
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