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Although all the public meetings scheduled for this safety inquiry have been conducted, the FRA will continue to solicit comments, which may be submitted to docket number 23281 using the link to the Docket Management System listed in the "Other Links" section below prior to September 30, 2007. Comments submitted after September 30 will be considered to the extent practicable.

The FRA is initiating an effort to define responsibility for safety at private highway-railroad grade crossings. This effort will begin with a series of open public meetings held at locations throughout the United States to solicit input from private crossing owners, railroads, and other interested parties. The subjects on which the FRA will solicit statements will include, but not be limited to, current practices concerning responsibility for safety at private grade crossings, the adequacy of warning devices at private crossings, and the relative merits of a more uniform approach to improving safety at private crossings. FRA has also opened a public docket on these issues, so that interested parties may submit written comments for public review and consideration.

The initial public meeting was held at 9:30 a.m. on August 30, 2006, in the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111 . Additional public meetings will be announced over the next three months.

The second public meeting was held at 9:30 a.m. on September 27, 2006, in the McKimmon Conference and Training Center, North Carolina State University, 1100 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC 26795 .

The third public meeting was held at 9:30 a.m. on October 26, 2006, in the Philip Burton Federal Building and Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102 .

The fourth public meeting was held at 9:30 a.m. on December 6, 2006, Chateau Sonesta Hotel, 800 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 .

The fifth public meeting was held at 9:30 a.m. on July 26, 2007, in the Renaissance Syracuse Hotel, 701 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, New York 13210 .

Persons wishing to participate are requested to provide their names, organizational affiliation and contact information to Michelle Silva, Docket Clerk, FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20590
(202-493-6030) .

The photo below shows railcars moving across a private highway-railroad grade crossing. Both the near-side and far-side warning devices are visible.



Other Links
    Alternative Approach Discussion Topics
    Press Release
    Federal Register Notice - April 13, 2007
    Federal Register Notice - March 21, 2007
    Federal Register Notice - January 5, 2007
    Federal Register Notice - September 22, 2006
    Federal Register Notice - July 27, 2006
    Secretary's Action Plan
    Docket Management System

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