1.2relating to railroads; requiring lighting in switching yards;proposing coding for
1.3new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 219.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5    Section 1. [219.502] RAILROAD SWITCHING YARD LIGHTING
1.6REQUIREMENTS.
1.7All class one and class two rail carriers, as classified by the Federal Railroad
1.8Administration, their officers, and their agents operating in the state are required to
1.9illuminate and maintain lights between sunset and sunrise on all lead tracks in switching
1.10yards where cars or locomotives are switched, set out, picked up, inspected, or repaired.
1.11Suspension fixtures with a lighting source must consist of not less than three-fourths of the
1.12total number of track switches on the same switching lead or must comply with no less
1.13than the minimum recommended illuminance levels set forth by the American Railway
1.14Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA). Class one and class two rail
1.15carriers, their officers, and their agents operating a railroad in this state shall comply with
1.16switching yard lead track lighting provisions no later than December 31, 2012. Class one
1.17and class two rail carriers, their officers, and their agents operating a railroad in this state
1.18are required to illuminate and maintain lights between sunset and sunrise from midyard
1.19locations focused in direction of yard leads or must comply with no less than the minimum
1.20illuminance levels recommended by AREMA at midyard. Class one and class two rail
1.21carriers, their officers, and their agents operating a railroad in this state shall comply with
1.22midyard lighting provisions no later than December 31, 2014. Class one and class two
1.23rail carriers may appeal to the commissioner for a waiver of compliance from a midyard
1.24requirement with reasonable cause. Demonstration of reasonable cause must include an
2.1on-site inspection between sunset and sunrise with all parties affected by the waiver
2.2application at the specific yard where the waiver is to be applied.