In yesterday's Richmond Times Dispatch, Thomas Jefferson Institute President and CEO, Derrick Max, urged Governor Youngkin to veto the deceptively named, "Railroad Safety; Requirements for Railroad Companies Act" (HB385/SB143) which passed the General Assembly on party-line votes and is now in the hands of the Governor.
In this article, Max noted that this bill would require two-man crews aboard trains used in connection with moving freight through the Commonwealth. Trying to comply with this legislation would interfere with interstate commerce and drive up costs for Virginia's vital short-line carriers and small businesses. While well intended, legislation like this would implement heavy-handed regulation on an already appropriately regulated industry overseen by the federal government.
In 2016, the Federal Rail Administration published a report noting that there was no evidence that two-man crews had any positive impact on rail safety. This was also the conclusion of a study in 2015 and 2021 by the consulting firm, Oliver Wyman who studied rail in the U.S. and Europe and concluded that there is "no effect from doubling" crew size.
If this bill won't improve safety, will interfere with freight, and increase costs, why was this bill passed with the unanimous support of Democrats and opposed by every Republican? I don't think it is too cynical to say that this bill is really about increasing the number of union workers on freight trains in the Commonwealth, thus, increasing union coffers.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has one of the shortest legislative sessions in the country, rather than trying to pass union-boosting legislation under the guise of safety -- they should be spending their time working on issues that make a real difference in the lives of Virginians.
Read Derrick Max's timely and insightful commentary in the Richmond Times Dispatch by clicking here.
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