Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
as follows:
Notwithstanding chapter 160 of the General Laws or any other general or
special
law or rule or regulation to the contrary, no railroad corporation, including
the
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, shall permit a locomotive
engine
passing on its railroad in the town of Concord to sound a whistle at any grade
crossing in the town that is otherwise protected by the following safety
features:
(i)
flashing lights in each direction which are automatically
activated by an approaching train;
(ii)
2 gates, 1 on each side of the
crossing, both of which are automatically lowered by an approaching train and
both of which extend across approximately ½ the width of the lanes of traffic
so that the entire width of the lanes of traffic is blocked when the gates are
lowered;
(iii)
a bell that is automatically activated by an approaching
train;
(iv)
overhead street lights;
(v)
signs posted before the grade
crossing in each direction warning pedestrians and motorists of the crossing
ahead;
(vi)
posted speed limits for traffic which shall not be more than
25 miles per hour; and
(vii)
not more than 2 lanes of vehicular traffic
in each direction at the grade crossing. Notwithstanding this act, a train
shall sound its whistle in the event of an emergency.
Approved December 24, 2002.