House approves bill clarifying cost-sharing for railroad crossing maintenance

House members approved House Bill 11-10 on second reading after floor explanation of how the bill allocates costs for maintenance of railroad crossings.

Majority Leader Duran moved the bill. Assistant Minority Leader Winter described the legislation’s division of responsibilities: if the road authority is not a local government, maintenance costs are shared equally between the railroad and the road authority; if the road authority is a local government, the railroad is responsible for maintaining the area between the railroad ties and the local government maintains the area outside the ties. Winter said the bill ‘‘provides clarity and consistency’’ and reduces disputes over cost sharing.

The House voted to pass the bill on second reading; the measure was ordered in gross and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage.

The measure was presented as clarifying existing practice rather than creating new maintenance obligations beyond those described in the bill’s language. The transcript records the bill’s passage on second reading but does not include a full roll-call tally for final passage in the excerpt provided.