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Committee backs bill letting DOT mark low‑use spur crossings as exempt from required stops
Summary
The House Transportation Committee voted to give Senate Bill 2061 a do‑pass recommendation after hearing from the North Dakota Department of Transportation on letting the DOT designate certain industrial or spur rail crossings as "exempt," aligning state law with federal regulations and aiming to reduce rear‑end collisions on busy highways.
The House Transportation Committee voted to give Senate Bill 2061 a do‑pass recommendation after hearing testimony that the change would allow the North Dakota Department of Transportation to designate some industrial and spur rail crossings as "exempt," meaning certain vehicles would no longer be required by state law to stop at those crossings.
Chad Orin, deputy director of planning for the North Dakota Department of Transportation, told the committee that current state law limits exempt crossing designations to abandoned or discontinued tracks, while federal regulations also allow exemptions at industrial or spur line crossings that remain open to train traffic. Orin said federal rules are less restrictive and that aligning state law would give DOT another safety option.
"Some of the most dangerous situations on highways are unexpected stops by other vehicles," Orin said. He testified that at several high‑traffic intersections the DOT has spent more than $1 million to install pullout lanes so required‑to‑stop vehicles can pull out of the mainline; in other places, he said, it may be safer and more efficient to mark a crossing as exempt where train traffic is extremely low and automatic gates and flashing lights already exist.
Committee members asked about who initiates reviews and whether local governments would be consulted. Orin said the DOT or local entities could initiate a review; the agency convenes a field diagnostic team that includes the DOT, the railroad operator and local road authorities or affected parties, and that team would make a recommendation to the DOT director.
Representative Christiansen moved the do‑pass motion, which Representative Morton seconded. The clerk recorded the committee's vote as 12‑0‑2; the motion carried.
Supporters told the committee exempting low‑use spur crossings could reduce rear‑end collisions and is appropriate where train movements are rare and protective devices are present. Opponents were not listed in the hearing. The committee named Representative Christiansen as the bill carrier.
The bill now moves to the full House for further consideration.
