COM/JB2/tcg Date of Issuance 11/22/2010

Decision 10-11-009 November 19, 2010

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Order Instituting Rulemaking to Consider Implementation of Collision-Avoidance Systems on Commuter Rail Lines in California.

Rulemaking 08-11-017 (Filed November 21, 2008)

DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF COLLISION-AVOIDANCE
SYSTEMS ON COMMUTER RAIL LINES IN CALIFORNIA

1. Summary

This decision determines that it is no longer necessary for the Commission to take action in this proceeding, Order Instituting Rulemaking 08-11-017 (R.08-11-017). Since the issuance of R.08-11-017, Congress passed the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which required that each Class I railroad carrier and each entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation must install a positive train control system (an advanced collision avoidance system) by December 31, 2015. Such systems prevent train-to-train collisions resulting from human or mechanical errors. Because of this Federal requirement, which makes a separate Commission requirement moot, the Commission's Consumer Protection and Safety Division has submitted a report and recommendation titled Commuter Rail Collision-Avoidance Report in R.08-11-017, dated December 15, 2009, which recommends that the Commission take no further action concerning implementation of collision-avoidance systems for commuter rail systems operating in California. This decision adopts that recommendation and closes the proceeding.