H.B. 5473: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - SNOWMOBILE RAILROAD CROSSINGS

House Bill 5473 (as passed by the House)

Sponsor: Representative Michael A. Prusi

House Committee: Conservation, Environment and Recreation

Senate Committee: Transportation and Tourism

Date Completed: 2-18-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to exempt from the Act's prohibition against operating a snowmobile on a railroad or railroad right-of-way a person who operated a snowmobile over an at-grade crossing or along a railroad right-of-way that had been approved by the owner of the right-of-way and each railroad that used the tracks.

Under the bill, the at-grade crossing of a railroad right-of-way would have to be aligned at 90 degrees or as close to 90 degrees as possible to the railroad track being crossed, and would have to be located where approach grades to the crossing were minimal and where the vision of a person operating a snowmobile would be unobstructed as he or she approached the railroad tracks.

The bill also would require that an at-grade crossing of a railroad right-of-way be constructed and maintained by the person operating the railroad at the cost of the persons operating the trails connected by the crossing.

MCL 324.82126 - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

- Fiscal Analyst: G. CutlerS9798\S5473SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.