HB0813 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 04038 HEP 14054 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0813

Introduced 2/10/2021, by Rep. Robyn Gabel

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 505/8	from Ch. 120, par. 424
625 ILCS 5/18c-7401	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7401

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that the funds transferred each month to the Grade Crossing Protection Fund may go to the maintenance of safety treatments to deter trespassing. Deletes language providing that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not order more than $2,000,000 per year in Grade Crossing Protection Fund moneys for pedestrian walkways. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Illinois Commerce Commission, after a hearing or by stipulated agreement, to authorize and order the terms of installation, operation, maintenance, and use of safety treatments requested by a public authority or rail carrier to deter trespassing on railroad property at a place other than a public crossing. Provides that the trespassing location shall be within 1,000 feet of a public crossing or at a hotspot location as identified by the Federal Railroad Administration and confirmed by the unit of local government, railroad, and Illinois Commerce Commission via diagnostic review.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Motor Fuel Tax Law is amended by changing Section 8 as follows:

(35 ILCS 505/8) (from Ch. 120, par. 424)

Sec. 8. Except as provided in subsection (a-1) of this Section, Section 8a, subdivision (h)(1) of Section 12a, Section 13a.6, and items 13, 14, 15, and 16 of Section 15, all money received by the Department under this Act, including payments made to the Department by member jurisdictions participating in the International Fuel Tax Agreement, shall be deposited in a special fund in the State treasury, to be known as the "Motor Fuel Tax Fund", and shall be used as follows:

(a) 2 1/2 cents per gallon of the tax collected on special fuel under paragraph (b) of Section 2 and Section 13a of this Act shall be transferred to the State Construction Account Fund in the State Treasury; the remainder of the tax collected on special fuel under paragraph (b) of Section 2 and Section 13a of this Act shall be deposited into the Road Fund;

(a-1) Beginning on July 1, 2019, an amount equal to the amount of tax collected under subsection (a) of Section 2 as a result of the increase in the tax rate under Public Act 101-32 this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly shall be transferred each month into the Transportation Renewal Fund; .

(b) $420,000 shall be transferred each month to the State Boating Act Fund to be used by the Department of Natural Resources for the purposes specified in Article X of the Boat Registration and Safety Act;

(c) $3,500,000 shall be transferred each month to the Grade Crossing Protection Fund to be used as follows: not less than $12,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used for the construction or reconstruction of rail highway grade separation structures; $2,250,000 in fiscal years 2004 through 2009 and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter shall be transferred to the Transportation Regulatory Fund and shall be accounted for as part of the rail carrier portion of such funds and shall be used to pay the cost of administration of the Illinois Commerce Commission's railroad safety program in connection with its duties under subsection (3) of Section 18c-7401 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, with the remainder to be used by the Department of Transportation upon order of the Illinois Commerce Commission, to pay that part of the cost apportioned by such Commission to the State to cover the interest of the public in the use of highways, roads, streets, or pedestrian walkways in the county highway system, township and district road system, or municipal street system as defined in the Illinois Highway Code, as the same may from time to time be amended, for separation of grades, for installation, construction or reconstruction of crossing protection or reconstruction, alteration, relocation including construction or improvement of any existing highway necessary for access to property or improvement of any grade crossing and grade crossing surface including the necessary highway approaches thereto of any railroad across the highway or public road, or for the installation, construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of safety treatments to deter trespassing or a pedestrian walkway over or under a railroad right-of-way, as provided for in and in accordance with Section 18c-7401 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The Commission may order up to $2,000,000 per year in Grade Crossing Protection Fund moneys for the improvement of grade crossing surfaces and up to $300,000 per year for the maintenance and renewal of 4-quadrant gate vehicle detection systems located at non-high speed rail grade crossings. The Commission shall not order more than $2,000,000 per year in Grade Crossing Protection Fund moneys for pedestrian walkways. In entering orders for projects for which payments from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund will be made, the Commission shall account for expenditures authorized by the orders on a cash rather than an accrual basis. For purposes of this requirement an "accrual basis" assumes that the total cost of the project is expended in the fiscal year in which the order is entered, while a "cash basis" allocates the cost of the project among fiscal years as expenditures are actually made. To meet the requirements of this subsection, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall develop annual and 5-year project plans of rail crossing capital improvements that will be paid for with moneys from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund. The annual project plan shall identify projects for the succeeding fiscal year and the 5-year project plan shall identify projects for the 5 directly succeeding fiscal years. The Commission shall submit the annual and 5-year project plans for this Fund to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the first Wednesday in April of each year;

(d) of the amount remaining after allocations provided for in subsections (a), (a-1), (b), and (c), a sufficient amount shall be reserved to pay all of the following:

(1) the costs of the Department of Revenue in administering this Act;

(2) the costs of the Department of Transportation in performing its duties imposed by the Illinois Highway Code for supervising the use of motor fuel tax funds apportioned to municipalities, counties and road districts;

(3) refunds provided for in Section 13, refunds for overpayment of decal fees paid under Section 13a.4 of this Act, and refunds provided for under the terms of the International Fuel Tax Agreement referenced in Section 14a;

(4) from October 1, 1985 until June 30, 1994, the administration of the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law, which amount shall be certified monthly by the Environmental Protection Agency to the State Comptroller and shall promptly be transferred by the State Comptroller and Treasurer from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund to the Vehicle Inspection Fund, and for the period July 1, 1994 through June 30, 2000, one-twelfth of $25,000,000 each month, for the period July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2003, one-twelfth of $30,000,000 each month, and $15,000,000 on July 1, 2003, and $15,000,000 on January 1, 2004, and $15,000,000 on each July 1 and October 1, or as soon thereafter as may be practical, during the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2012, and $30,000,000 on June 1, 2013, or as soon thereafter as may be practical, and $15,000,000 on July 1 and October 1, or as soon thereafter as may be practical, during the period of July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015, for the administration of the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law of 2005, to be transferred by the State Comptroller and Treasurer from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund into the Vehicle Inspection Fund;

(4.5) beginning on July 1, 2019, the costs of the Environmental Protection Agency for the administration of the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law of 2005 shall be paid, subject to appropriation, from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund into the Vehicle Inspection Fund; beginning in 2019, no later than December 31 of each year, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer from the Vehicle Inspection Fund to the Motor Fuel Tax Fund any balance remaining in the Vehicle Inspection Fund in excess of $2,000,000;

(5) amounts ordered paid by the Court of Claims; and

(6) payment of motor fuel use taxes due to member jurisdictions under the terms of the International Fuel Tax Agreement. The Department shall certify these amounts to the Comptroller by the 15th day of each month; the Comptroller shall cause orders to be drawn for such amounts, and the Treasurer shall administer those amounts on or before the last day of each month;

(e) after allocations for the purposes set forth in subsections (a), (a-1), (b), (c), and (d), the remaining amount shall be apportioned as follows:

(1) Until January 1, 2000, 58.4%, and beginning January 1, 2000, 45.6% shall be deposited as follows:

(A) 37% into the State Construction Account Fund, and

(B) 63% into the Road Fund, $1,250,000 of which shall be reserved each month for the Department of Transportation to be used in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6-901 through 6-906 of the Illinois Highway Code;

(2) Until January 1, 2000, 41.6%, and beginning January 1, 2000, 54.4% shall be transferred to the Department of Transportation to be distributed as follows:

(A) 49.10% to the municipalities of the State,

(B) 16.74% to the counties of the State having 1,000,000 or more inhabitants,

(C) 18.27% to the counties of the State having less than 1,000,000 inhabitants,

(D) 15.89% to the road districts of the State.

If a township is dissolved under Article 24 of the Township Code, McHenry County shall receive any moneys that would have been distributed to the township under this subparagraph, except that a municipality that assumes the powers and responsibilities of a road district under paragraph (6) of Section 24-35 of the Township Code shall receive any moneys that would have been distributed to the township in a percent equal to the area of the dissolved road district or portion of the dissolved road district over which the municipality assumed the powers and responsibilities compared to the total area of the dissolved township. The moneys received under this subparagraph shall be used in the geographic area of the dissolved township. If a township is reconstituted as provided under Section 24-45 of the Township Code, McHenry County or a municipality shall no longer be distributed moneys under this subparagraph.

As soon as may be after the first day of each month, the Department of Transportation shall allot to each municipality its share of the amount apportioned to the several municipalities which shall be in proportion to the population of such municipalities as determined by the last preceding municipal census if conducted by the Federal Government or Federal census. If territory is annexed to any municipality subsequent to the time of the last preceding census the corporate authorities of such municipality may cause a census to be taken of such annexed territory and the population so ascertained for such territory shall be added to the population of the municipality as determined by the last preceding census for the purpose of determining the allotment for that municipality. If the population of any municipality was not determined by the last Federal census preceding any apportionment, the apportionment to such municipality shall be in accordance with any census taken by such municipality. Any municipal census used in accordance with this Section shall be certified to the Department of Transportation by the clerk of such municipality, and the accuracy thereof shall be subject to approval of the Department which may make such corrections as it ascertains to be necessary.

As soon as may be after the first day of each month, the Department of Transportation shall allot to each county its share of the amount apportioned to the several counties of the State as herein provided. Each allotment to the several counties having less than 1,000,000 inhabitants shall be in proportion to the amount of motor vehicle license fees received from the residents of such counties, respectively, during the preceding calendar year. The Secretary of State shall, on or before April 15 of each year, transmit to the Department of Transportation a full and complete report showing the amount of motor vehicle license fees received from the residents of each county, respectively, during the preceding calendar year. The Department of Transportation shall, each month, use for allotment purposes the last such report received from the Secretary of State.

As soon as may be after the first day of each month, the Department of Transportation shall allot to the several counties their share of the amount apportioned for the use of road districts. The allotment shall be apportioned among the several counties in the State in the proportion which the total mileage of township or district roads in the respective counties bears to the total mileage of all township and district roads in the State. Funds allotted to the respective counties for the use of road districts therein shall be allocated to the several road districts in the county in the proportion which the total mileage of such township or district roads in the respective road districts bears to the total mileage of all such township or district roads in the county. After July 1 of any year prior to 2011, no allocation shall be made for any road district unless it levied a tax for road and bridge purposes in an amount which will require the extension of such tax against the taxable property in any such road district at a rate of not less than either .08% of the value thereof, based upon the assessment for the year immediately prior to the year in which such tax was levied and as equalized by the Department of Revenue or, in DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, whichever is less. Beginning July 1, 2011 and each July 1 thereafter, an allocation shall be made for any road district if it levied a tax for road and bridge purposes. In counties other than DuPage County, if the amount of the tax levy requires the extension of the tax against the taxable property in the road district at a rate that is less than 0.08% of the value thereof, based upon the assessment for the year immediately prior to the year in which the tax was levied and as equalized by the Department of Revenue, then the amount of the allocation for that road district shall be a percentage of the maximum allocation equal to the percentage obtained by dividing the rate extended by the district by 0.08%. In DuPage County, if the amount of the tax levy requires the extension of the tax against the taxable property in the road district at a rate that is less than the lesser of (i) 0.08% of the value of the taxable property in the road district, based upon the assessment for the year immediately prior to the year in which such tax was levied and as equalized by the Department of Revenue, or (ii) a rate that will yield an amount equal to $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, then the amount of the allocation for the road district shall be a percentage of the maximum allocation equal to the percentage obtained by dividing the rate extended by the district by the lesser of (i) 0.08% or (ii) the rate that will yield an amount equal to $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district.

Prior to 2011, if any road district has levied a special tax for road purposes pursuant to Sections 6-601, 6-602, and 6-603 of the Illinois Highway Code, and such tax was levied in an amount which would require extension at a rate of not less than .08% of the value of the taxable property thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, or, in DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, whichever is less, such levy shall, however, be deemed a proper compliance with this Section and shall qualify such road district for an allotment under this Section. Beginning in 2011 and thereafter, if any road district has levied a special tax for road purposes under Sections 6-601, 6-602, and 6-603 of the Illinois Highway Code, and the tax was levied in an amount that would require extension at a rate of not less than 0.08% of the value of the taxable property of that road district, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue or, in DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, whichever is less, that levy shall be deemed a proper compliance with this Section and shall qualify such road district for a full, rather than proportionate, allotment under this Section. If the levy for the special tax is less than 0.08% of the value of the taxable property, or, in DuPage County if the levy for the special tax is less than the lesser of (i) 0.08% or (ii) $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, and if the levy for the special tax is more than any other levy for road and bridge purposes, then the levy for the special tax qualifies the road district for a proportionate, rather than full, allotment under this Section. If the levy for the special tax is equal to or less than any other levy for road and bridge purposes, then any allotment under this Section shall be determined by the other levy for road and bridge purposes.

Prior to 2011, if a township has transferred to the road and bridge fund money which, when added to the amount of any tax levy of the road district would be the equivalent of a tax levy requiring extension at a rate of at least .08%, or, in DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, whichever is less, such transfer, together with any such tax levy, shall be deemed a proper compliance with this Section and shall qualify the road district for an allotment under this Section.

In counties in which a property tax extension limitation is imposed under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, road districts may retain their entitlement to a motor fuel tax allotment or, beginning in 2011, their entitlement to a full allotment if, at the time the property tax extension limitation was imposed, the road district was levying a road and bridge tax at a rate sufficient to entitle it to a motor fuel tax allotment and continues to levy the maximum allowable amount after the imposition of the property tax extension limitation. Any road district may in all circumstances retain its entitlement to a motor fuel tax allotment or, beginning in 2011, its entitlement to a full allotment if it levied a road and bridge tax in an amount that will require the extension of the tax against the taxable property in the road district at a rate of not less than 0.08% of the assessed value of the property, based upon the assessment for the year immediately preceding the year in which the tax was levied and as equalized by the Department of Revenue or, in DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, whichever is less.

As used in this Section, the term "road district" means any road district, including a county unit road district, provided for by the Illinois Highway Code; and the term "township or district road" means any road in the township and district road system as defined in the Illinois Highway Code. For the purposes of this Section, "township or district road" also includes such roads as are maintained by park districts, forest preserve districts and conservation districts. The Department of Transportation shall determine the mileage of all township and district roads for the purposes of making allotments and allocations of motor fuel tax funds for use in road districts.

Payment of motor fuel tax moneys to municipalities and counties shall be made as soon as possible after the allotment is made. The treasurer of the municipality or county may invest these funds until their use is required and the interest earned by these investments shall be limited to the same uses as the principal funds.

(Source: P.A. 101-32, eff. 6-28-19; 101-230, eff. 8-9-19; 101-493, eff. 8-23-19; revised 9-24-19.)

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 18c-7401 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/18c-7401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7401)

Sec. 18c-7401. Safety Requirements for Track, Facilities, and Equipment.

(1) General Requirements. Each rail carrier shall, consistent with rules, orders, and regulations of the Federal Railroad Administration, construct, maintain, and operate all of its equipment, track, and other property in this State in such a manner as to pose no undue risk to its employees or the person or property of any member of the public.

(2) Adoption of Federal Standards. The track safety standards and accident/incident standards promulgated by the Federal Railroad Administration shall be safety standards of the Commission. The Commission may, in addition, adopt by reference in its regulations other federal railroad safety standards, whether contained in federal statutes or in regulations adopted pursuant to such statutes.

(3) Railroad Crossings. No public road, highway, or street shall hereafter be constructed across the track of any rail carrier at grade, nor shall the track of any rail carrier be constructed across a public road, highway or street at grade, without having first secured the permission of the Commission; provided, that this Section shall not apply to the replacement of lawfully existing roads, highways, and tracks. No public pedestrian bridge or subway shall be constructed across the track of any rail carrier without having first secured the permission of the Commission. The Commission shall have the right to refuse its permission or to grant it upon such terms and conditions as it may prescribe. The Commission shall have power to determine and prescribe the manner, including the particular point of crossing, and the terms of installation, operation, maintenance, use, and protection of each such crossing. To deter trespassing on railroad property at a place other than a public crossing, as established in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of Section 18c-7503, the Commission has the right to authorize safety treatments requested by a public authority or rail carrier and order the terms of installation, operation, maintenance, and use after a hearing or by stipulated agreement. The trespassing location shall be within 1,000 feet of a public crossing or at a hotspot location as identified by the Federal Railroad Administration and confirmed by the unit of local government, railroad, and Commission via diagnostic review.

The Commission shall also have power, after a hearing, to require major alteration of or to abolish any crossing, heretofore or hereafter established, when in its opinion, the public safety requires such alteration or abolition, and, except in cities, villages, and incorporated towns of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, to vacate and close that part of the highway on such crossing altered or abolished and cause barricades to be erected across such highway in such manner as to prevent the use of such crossing as a highway, when, in the opinion of the Commission, the public convenience served by the crossing in question is not such as to justify the further retention thereof; or to require a separation of grades, at railroad-highway grade crossings; or to require a separation of grades at any proposed crossing where a proposed public highway may cross the tracks of any rail carrier or carriers; and to prescribe, after a hearing of the parties, the terms upon which such separations shall be made and the proportion in which the expense of the alteration or abolition of such crossings or the separation of such grades, having regard to the benefits, if any, accruing to the rail carrier or any party in interest, shall be divided between the rail carrier or carriers affected, or between such carrier or carriers and the State, county, municipality or other public authority in interest. However, a public hearing by the Commission to abolish a crossing shall not be required when the public highway authority in interest vacates the highway. In such instance the rail carrier, following notification to the Commission and the highway authority, shall remove any grade crossing warning devices and the grade crossing surface.

The Commission shall also have power by its order to require the reconstruction, minor alteration, minor relocation, or improvement of any crossing (including the necessary highway approaches thereto) of any railroad across any highway or public road, pedestrian bridge, or pedestrian subway, whether such crossing be at grade or by overhead structure or by subway, whenever the Commission finds after a hearing or without a hearing as otherwise provided in this paragraph that such reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement is necessary to preserve or promote the safety or convenience of the public or of the employees or passengers of such rail carrier or carriers. By its original order or supplemental orders in such case, the Commission may direct such reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement to be made in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as may be reasonable and necessary and may apportion the cost of such reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement and the subsequent maintenance thereof, having regard to the benefits, if any, accruing to the railroad or any party in interest, between the rail carrier or carriers and public utilities affected, or between such carrier or carriers and public utilities and the State, county, municipality or other public authority in interest. The cost to be so apportioned shall include the cost of changes or alterations in the equipment of public utilities affected as well as the cost of the relocation, diversion or establishment of any public highway, made necessary by such reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement of said crossing. A hearing shall not be required in those instances when the Commission enters an order confirming a written stipulation in which the Commission, the public highway authority or other public authority in interest, the rail carrier or carriers affected, and in instances involving the use of the Grade Crossing Protection Fund, the Illinois Department of Transportation, agree on the reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement and the subsequent maintenance thereof and the division of costs of such changes of any grade crossing (including the necessary highway approaches thereto) of any railroad across any highway, pedestrian bridge, or pedestrian subway.

Every rail carrier operating in the State of Illinois shall construct and maintain every highway crossing over its tracks within the State so that the roadway at the intersection shall be as flush with the rails as superelevated curves will allow, and, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, shall construct and maintain the approaches thereto at a grade of not more than 5% within the right of way for a distance of not less the 6 feet on each side of the centerline of such tracks; provided, that the grades at the approaches may be maintained in excess of 5% only when authorized by the Commission.

Every rail carrier operating within this State shall remove from its right of way at all railroad-highway grade crossings within the State, such brush, shrubbery, and trees as is reasonably practical for a distance of not less than 500 feet in either direction from each grade crossing. The Commission shall have power, upon its own motion, or upon complaint, and after having made proper investigation, to require the installation of adequate and appropriate luminous reflective warning signs, luminous flashing signals, crossing gates illuminated at night, or other protective devices in order to promote and safeguard the health and safety of the public. Luminous flashing signal or crossing gate devices installed at grade crossings, which have been approved by the Commission, shall be deemed adequate and appropriate. The Commission shall have authority to determine the number, type, and location of such signs, signals, gates, or other protective devices which, however, shall conform as near as may be with generally recognized national standards, and the Commission shall have authority to prescribe the division of the cost of the installation and subsequent maintenance of such signs, signals, gates, or other protective devices between the rail carrier or carriers, the public highway authority or other public authority in interest, and in instances involving the use of the Grade Crossing Protection Fund, the Illinois Department of Transportation. Except where train crews provide flagging of the crossing to road users, yield signs shall be installed at all highway intersections with every grade crossing in this State that is not equipped with automatic warning devices, such as luminous flashing signals or crossing gate devices. A stop sign may be used in lieu of the yield sign when an engineering study conducted in cooperation with the highway authority and the Illinois Department of Transportation has determined that a stop sign is warranted. If the Commission has ordered the installation of luminous flashing signal or crossing gate devices at a grade crossing not equipped with active warning devices, the Commission shall order the installation of temporary stop signs at the highway intersection with the grade crossing unless an engineering study has determined that a stop sign is not appropriate. If a stop sign is not appropriate, the Commission may order the installation of other appropriate supplemental signing as determined by an engineering study. The temporary signs shall remain in place until the luminous flashing signal or crossing gate devices have been installed. The rail carrier is responsible for the installation and subsequent maintenance of any required signs. The permanent signs shall be in place by July 1, 2011.

No railroad may change or modify the warning device system at a railroad-highway grade crossing, including warning systems interconnected with highway traffic control signals, without having first received the approval of the Commission. The Commission shall have the further power, upon application, upon its own motion, or upon complaint and after having made proper investigation, to require the interconnection of grade crossing warning devices with traffic control signals at highway intersections located at or near railroad crossings within the distances described by the State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices adopted pursuant to Section 11-301 of this Code. In addition, State and local authorities may not install, remove, modernize, or otherwise modify traffic control signals at a highway intersection that is interconnected or proposed to be interconnected with grade crossing warning devices when the change affects the number, type, or location of traffic control devices on the track approach leg or legs of the intersection or the timing of the railroad preemption sequence of operation until the Commission has approved the installation, removal, modernization, or modification. Commission approval shall be limited to consideration of issues directly affecting the public safety at the railroad-highway grade crossing. The electrical circuit devices, alternate warning devices, and preemption sequences shall conform as nearly as possible, considering the particular characteristics of the crossing and intersection area, to the State manual adopted by the Illinois Department of Transportation pursuant to Section 11-301 of this Code and such federal standards as are made applicable by subsection (2) of this Section. In order to carry out this authority, the Commission shall have the authority to determine the number, type, and location of traffic control devices on the track approach leg or legs of the intersection and the timing of the railroad preemption sequence of operation. The Commission shall prescribe the division of costs for installation and maintenance of all devices required by this paragraph between the railroad or railroads and the highway authority in interest and in instances involving the use of the Grade Crossing Protection Fund or a State highway, the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Any person who unlawfully or maliciously removes, throws down, damages or defaces any sign, signal, gate, or other protective device, located at or near any public grade crossing, shall be guilty of a petty offense and fined not less than $50 nor more than $200 for each offense. In addition to fines levied under the provisions of this Section a person adjudged guilty hereunder may also be directed to make restitution for the costs of repair or replacement, or both, necessitated by his misconduct.

It is the public policy of the State of Illinois to enhance public safety by establishing safe grade crossings. In order to implement this policy, the Illinois Commerce Commission is directed to conduct public hearings and to adopt specific criteria by July 1, 1994, that shall be adhered to by the Illinois Commerce Commission in determining if a grade crossing should be opened or abolished. The following factors shall be considered by the Illinois Commerce Commission in developing the specific criteria for opening and abolishing grade crossings:

(a) timetable speed of passenger trains;

(b) distance to an alternate crossing;

(c) accident history for the last 5 years;

(d) number of vehicular traffic and posted speed limits;

(e) number of freight trains and their timetable speeds;

(f) the type of warning device present at the grade crossing;

(g) alignments of the roadway and railroad, and the angle of intersection of those alignments;

(h) use of the grade crossing by trucks carrying hazardous materials, vehicles carrying passengers for hire, and school buses; and

(i) use of the grade crossing by emergency vehicles.

The Illinois Commerce Commission, upon petition to open or abolish a grade crossing, shall enter an order opening or abolishing the crossing if it meets the specific criteria adopted by the Commission.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (3), in no instance shall a grade crossing be permanently closed without public hearing first being held and notice of such hearing being published in an area newspaper of local general circulation.

(4) Freight Trains; Radio Communications. The Commission shall after hearing and order require that every main line railroad freight train operating on main tracks outside of yard limits within this State shall be equipped with a radio communication system. The Commission after notice and hearing may grant exemptions from the requirements of this Section as to secondary and branch lines.

(5) Railroad Bridges and Trestles; Walkway and Handrail. In cases in which the Commission finds the same to be practical and necessary for safety of railroad employees, bridges and trestles, over and upon which railroad trains are operated, shall include as a part thereof, a safe and suitable walkway and handrail on one side only of such bridge or trestle, and such handrail shall be located at the outer edge of the walkway and shall provide a clearance of not less than 8 feet, 6 inches, from the center line of the nearest track, measured at right angles thereto.

(6) Packages Containing Articles for First Aid to Injured on Trains.

(a) All rail carriers shall provide a first aid kit that contains, at a minimum, those articles prescribed by the Commission, on each train or engine, for first aid to persons who may be injured in the course of the operation of such trains.

(b) A vehicle, excluding a taxi cab used in an emergency situation, operated by a contract carrier transporting railroad employees in the course of their employment shall be equipped with a readily available first aid kit that contains, as a minimum, the same articles that are required on each train or engine.

(7) Abandoned Bridges, Crossings, and Other Rail Plant. The Commission shall have authority, after notice and hearing, to order:

(a) the removal of any abandoned railroad tracks from roads, streets or other thoroughfares in this State; and

(b) the removal of abandoned overhead railroad structures crossing highways, waterways, or railroads.

The Commission may equitably apportion the cost of such actions between the rail carrier or carriers, public utilities, and the State, county, municipality, township, road district, or other public authority in interest.

(8) Railroad-Highway Bridge Clearance. A vertical clearance of not less than 23 feet above the top of rail shall be provided for all new or reconstructed highway bridges constructed over a railroad track. The Commission may permit a lesser clearance if it determines that the 23-foot clearance standard cannot be justified based on engineering, operational, and economic conditions.

(9) Right of Access To Railroad Property.

(a) A community antenna television company franchised by a municipality or county pursuant to the Illinois Municipal Code or the Counties Code, respectively, shall not enter upon any real estate or rights-of-way in the possession or control of a railroad subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission unless the community antenna television company first complies with the applicable provisions of subparagraph (f) of Section 11-42-11.1 of the Illinois Municipal Code or subparagraph (f) of Section 5-1096 of the Counties Code.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, this subsection (9) applies to all entries of railroad rights-of-way involving a railroad subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission by a community antenna television company and shall govern in the event of any conflict with any other provision of law.

(c) This subsection (9) applies to any entry upon any real estate or right-of-way in the possession or control of a railroad subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission for the purpose of or in connection with the construction, or installation of a community antenna television company's system or facilities commenced or renewed on or after August 22, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 100-251).

(d) Nothing in Public Act 100-251 shall be construed to prevent a railroad from negotiating other terms and conditions or the resolution of any dispute in relation to an entry upon or right of access as set forth in this subsection (9).

(e) For purposes of this subsection (9):

"Broadband service", "cable operator", and "holder" have the meanings given to those terms under Section 21-201 of the Public Utilities Act.

"Community antenna television company" includes, in the case of real estate or rights-of-way in possession of or in control of a railroad, a holder, cable operator, or broadband service provider.

(f) Beginning on August 22, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 100-251), the Transportation Division of the Illinois Commerce Commission shall include in its annual Crossing Safety Improvement Program report a brief description of the number of cases decided by the Illinois Commerce Commission and the number of cases that remain pending before the Illinois Commerce Commission under this subsection (9) for the period covered by the report.

(Source: P.A. 100-251, eff. 8-22-17; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)