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, rule or regulation to the contrary, a railroad
corporation, including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, shall
not permit a locomotive engine passing on its railroad in the town of Newbury
to sound a whistle at any grade crossing in said town which is otherwise
protected by the following safety features:
(i)
flashing lights in each
direction which are automatically activated by the approaching train;
(ii)
two gates, one on each side of the crossing, both of which are
automatically lowered by the approaching train and both of which extend across
approximately one-half 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 the 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 two 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 January 04, 2001.