Establishes locomotive school zones for passenger and freight rail. Sets speed limit.

Provides that a city or town may establish designated school zones for passenger and freight locomotive engines operating on railroads within the city or town, and may set speed limits for locomotives operating in said zones at a rate of speed not to exceed 20 miles per hour; designation or speed limit shall be effective when the city or town; (i) notifies any railroad corporation with a railroad running through the designated zone of such designation and speed limit, and (ii) erects signs indicating such designation and speed limit, in a manner consistent with the department of highways� current manual on uniform traffic control devices and said department�s sample regulation for a standard municipal traffic code, at such points as said department and the effected railroad corporations, acting jointly, may designate. No railroad corporation, including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, shall permit a passenger or freight locomotive to operate on a railroad at a rate of speed greater than the rate posted while traveling through a designated school zone in a city or town. Cities and towns shall be responsible for the cost of erecting and maintaining signs pursuant to this section.

Carries-over to 2024. Pending Committee action.

02/16/2023 Referred to House Committee on Transportation.