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91_SB0679 LRB9106022DJcd 1 AN ACT concerning railroads, amending named Acts. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Motor Fuel Tax Law is amended by 5 changing Section 8 as follows: 6 (35 ILCS 505/8) (from Ch. 120, par. 424) 7 Sec. 8. Except as provided in Section 8a, all money 8 received by the Department under this Act, including payments 9 made to the Department by member jurisdictions participating 10 in the International Fuel Tax Agreement, shall be deposited 11 in a special fund in the State treasury, to be known as the 12 "Motor Fuel Tax Fund", and shall be used as follows: 13 (a) 2 1/2 cents per gallon of the tax collected on 14 special fuel under paragraph (b) of Section 2 and Section 13a 15 of this Act shall be transferred to the State Construction 16 Account Fund in the State Treasury; 17 (b) $420,000 shall be transferred each month to the 18 State Boating Act Fund to be used by the Department of 19 Natural Resources for the purposes specified in Article X of 20 the Boat Registration and Safety Act; 21 (c) $1,500,000 shall be transferred each month to the 22 Grade Crossing Protection Fund to be used as follows: not 23 less than $6,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used for the 24 construction or reconstruction of rail highway grade 25 separation structures; beginning with fiscal year 1997 and 26 ending in fiscal year 20021999, $1,500,000, and $750,000 in 27 fiscal year 20032000and each fiscal year thereafter shall 28 be transferred to the Transportation Regulatory Fund and 29 shall be accounted for as part of the rail carrier portion of 30 such funds and shall be used to pay the cost of 31 administration of the Illinois Commerce Commission's railroad -2- LRB9106022DJcd 1 safety program in connection with its duties under subsection 2 (3) of Section 18c-7401 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, with 3 the remainder to be used by the Department of Transportation 4 upon order of the Illinois Commerce Commission, to pay that 5 part of the cost apportioned by such Commission to the State 6 to cover the interest of the public in the use of highways, 7 roads or streets in the county highway system, township and 8 district road system or municipal street system as defined in 9 the Illinois Highway Code, as the same may from time to time 10 be amended, for separation of grades, for installation, 11 construction,orreconstruction, or maintenance of crossing 12 protection devices or reconstruction, alteration, relocation 13 including construction or improvement of any existing highway 14 necessary for access to property or improvement of any grade 15 crossing including the necessary highway approaches thereto 16 of any railroad across the highway or public road, or for 17 costs of maintenance, repair, reconstruction, or replacement 18 of the grade crossing surface structure, or to compensate a 19 highway authority in interest for the closure of a crossing 20 that otherwise would qualify for automatic warning devices, 21 as provided for in and in accordance with Section 18c-7401 of 22 the Illinois Vehicle Code. In entering orders for projects 23 for which payments from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund 24 will be made, the Commission shall account for expenditures 25 authorized by the orders on a cash rather than an accrual 26 basis. For purposes of this requirement an "accrual basis" 27 assumes that the total cost of the project is expended in the 28 fiscal year in which the order is entered, while a "cash 29 basis" allocates the cost of the project among fiscal years 30 as expenditures are actually made. To meet the requirements 31 of this subsection, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall 32 develop annual and 5-year project plans of rail crossing 33 capital improvements that will be paid for with moneys from 34 the Grade Crossing Protection Fund. The annual project plan -3- LRB9106022DJcd 1 shall identify projects for the succeeding fiscal year and 2 the 5-year project plan shall identify projects for the 5 3 directly succeeding fiscal years. The Commission shall 4 submit the annual and 5-year project plans for this Fund to 5 the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Senate 6 Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 7 and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on 8 the first Wednesday in April of each year; 9 (d) of the amount remaining after allocations provided 10 for in subsections (a), (b) and (c), a sufficient amount 11 shall be reserved to pay all of the following: 12 (1) the costs of the Department of Revenue in 13 administering this Act; 14 (2) the costs of the Department of Transportation 15 in performing its duties imposed by the Illinois Highway 16 Code for supervising the use of motor fuel tax funds 17 apportioned to municipalities, counties and road 18 districts; 19 (3) refunds provided for in Section 13 of this Act 20 and under the terms of the International Fuel Tax 21 Agreement referenced in Section 14a; 22 (4) from October 1, 1985 until June 30, 1994, the 23 administration of the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law, 24 which amount shall be certified monthly by the 25 Environmental Protection Agency to the State Comptroller 26 and shall promptly be transferred by the State 27 Comptroller and Treasurer from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund to 28 the Vehicle Inspection Fund, and beginning July 1, 1994, 29 and until December 31, 2000, one-twelfth of $25,000,000 30 each month for the administration of the Vehicle 31 Emissions Inspection Law of 1995, to be transferred by 32 the State Comptroller and Treasurer from the Motor Fuel 33 Tax Fund into the Vehicle Inspection Fund; 34 (5) amounts ordered paid by the Court of Claims; -4- LRB9106022DJcd 1 and 2 (6) payment of motor fuel use taxes due to member 3 jurisdictions under the terms of the International Fuel 4 Tax Agreement. The Department shall certify these 5 amounts to the Comptroller by the 15th day of each month; 6 the Comptroller shall cause orders to be drawn for such 7 amounts, and the Treasurer shall administer those amounts 8 on or before the last day of each month; 9 (e) after allocations for the purposes set forth in 10 subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d), the remaining amount shall 11 be apportioned as follows: 12 (1) 58.4% shall be deposited as follows: 13 (A) 37% into the State Construction Account 14 Fund, and 15 (B) 63% into the Road Fund, $1,250,000 of 16 which shall be reserved each month for the 17 Department of Transportation to be used in 18 accordance with the provisions of Sections 6-901 19 through 6-906 of the Illinois Highway Code; 20 (2) 41.6% shall be transferred to the Department of 21 Transportation to be distributed as follows: 22 (A) 49.10% to the municipalities of the State, 23 (B) 16.74% to the counties of the State having 24 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, 25 (C) 18.27% to the counties of the State having 26 less than 1,000,000 inhabitants, 27 (D) 15.89% to the road districts of the State. 28 As soon as may be after the first day of each month the 29 Department of Transportation shall allot to each municipality 30 its share of the amount apportioned to the several 31 municipalities which shall be in proportion to the population 32 of such municipalities as determined by the last preceding 33 municipal census if conducted by the Federal Government or 34 Federal census. If territory is annexed to any municipality -5- LRB9106022DJcd 1 subsequent to the time of the last preceding census the 2 corporate authorities of such municipality may cause a census 3 to be taken of such annexed territory and the population so 4 ascertained for such territory shall be added to the 5 population of the municipality as determined by the last 6 preceding census for the purpose of determining the allotment 7 for that municipality. If the population of any municipality 8 was not determined by the last Federal census preceding any 9 apportionment, the apportionment to such municipality shall 10 be in accordance with any census taken by such municipality. 11 Any municipal census used in accordance with this Section 12 shall be certified to the Department of Transportation by the 13 clerk of such municipality, and the accuracy thereof shall be 14 subject to approval of the Department which may make such 15 corrections as it ascertains to be necessary. 16 As soon as may be after the first day of each month the 17 Department of Transportation shall allot to each county its 18 share of the amount apportioned to the several counties of 19 the State as herein provided. Each allotment to the several 20 counties having less than 1,000,000 inhabitants shall be in 21 proportion to the amount of motor vehicle license fees 22 received from the residents of such counties, respectively, 23 during the preceding calendar year. The Secretary of State 24 shall, on or before April 15 of each year, transmit to the 25 Department of Transportation a full and complete report 26 showing the amount of motor vehicle license fees received 27 from the residents of each county, respectively, during the 28 preceding calendar year. The Department of Transportation 29 shall, each month, use for allotment purposes the last such 30 report received from the Secretary of State. 31 As soon as may be after the first day of each month, the 32 Department of Transportation shall allot to the several 33 counties their share of the amount apportioned for the use of 34 road districts. The allotment shall be apportioned among the -6- LRB9106022DJcd 1 several counties in the State in the proportion which the 2 total mileage of township or district roads in the respective 3 counties bears to the total mileage of all township and 4 district roads in the State. Funds allotted to the respective 5 counties for the use of road districts therein shall be 6 allocated to the several road districts in the county in the 7 proportion which the total mileage of such township or 8 district roads in the respective road districts bears to the 9 total mileage of all such township or district roads in the 10 county. After July 1 of any year, no allocation shall be 11 made for any road district unless it levied a tax for road 12 and bridge purposes in an amount which will require the 13 extension of such tax against the taxable property in any 14 such road district at a rate of not less than either .08% of 15 the value thereof, based upon the assessment for the year 16 immediately prior to the year in which such tax was levied 17 and as equalized by the Department of Revenue or, in DuPage 18 County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile 19 of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, 20 whichever is less. If any road district has levied a special 21 tax for road purposes pursuant to Sections 6-601, 6-602 and 22 6-603 of the Illinois Highway Code, and such tax was levied 23 in an amount which would require extension at a rate of not 24 less than .08% of the value of the taxable property thereof, 25 as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, or, in 26 DuPage County, an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per 27 mile of road under the jurisdiction of the road district, 28 whichever is less, such levy shall, however, be deemed a 29 proper compliance with this Section and shall qualify such 30 road district for an allotment under this Section. If a 31 township has transferred to the road and bridge fund money 32 which, when added to the amount of any tax levy of the road 33 district would be the equivalent of a tax levy requiring 34 extension at a rate of at least .08%, or, in DuPage County, -7- LRB9106022DJcd 1 an amount equal to or greater than $12,000 per mile of road 2 under the jurisdiction of the road district, whichever is 3 less, such transfer, together with any such tax levy, shall 4 be deemed a proper compliance with this Section and shall 5 qualify the road district for an allotment under this 6 Section. 7 In counties in which a property tax extension limitation 8 is imposed under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, 9 road districts may retain their entitlement to a motor fuel 10 tax allotment if, at the time the property tax extension 11 limitation was imposed, the road district was levying a road 12 and bridge tax at a rate sufficient to entitle it to a motor 13 fuel tax allotment and continues to levy the maximum 14 allowable amount after the imposition of the property tax 15 extension limitation. Any road district may in all 16 circumstances retain its entitlement to a motor fuel tax 17 allotment if it levied a road and bridge tax in an amount 18 that will require the extension of the tax against the 19 taxable property in the road district at a rate of not less 20 than 0.08% of the assessed value of the property, based upon 21 the assessment for the year immediately preceding the year in 22 which the tax was levied and as equalized by the Department 23 of Revenue or, in DuPage County, an amount equal to or 24 greater than $12,000 per mile of road under the jurisdiction 25 of the road district, whichever is less. 26 As used in this Section the term "road district" means 27 any road district, including a county unit road district, 28 provided for by the Illinois Highway Code; and the term 29 "township or district road" means any road in the township 30 and district road system as defined in the Illinois Highway 31 Code. For the purposes of this Section, "road district" also 32 includes park districts, forest preserve districts and 33 conservation districts organized under Illinois law and 34 "township or district road" also includes such roads as are -8- LRB9106022DJcd 1 maintained by park districts, forest preserve districts and 2 conservation districts. The Department of Transportation 3 shall determine the mileage of all township and district 4 roads for the purposes of making allotments and allocations 5 of motor fuel tax funds for use in road districts. 6 Payment of motor fuel tax moneys to municipalities and 7 counties shall be made as soon as possible after the 8 allotment is made. The treasurer of the municipality or 9 county may invest these funds until their use is required and 10 the interest earned by these investments shall be limited to 11 the same uses as the principal funds. 12 (Source: P.A. 89-167, eff. 1-1-96; 89-445, eff. 2-7-96; 13 89-699, eff. 1-16-97; 90-110, eff. 7-14-97; 90-655, eff. 14 7-30-98; 90-659, eff. 1-1-99; 90-691, eff. 1-1-99; revised 15 9-16-98.) 16 Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by 17 changing Section 18c-7401 as follows: 18 (625 ILCS 5/18c-7401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18c-7401) 19 Sec. 18c-7401. Safety Requirements for Track, 20 Facilities, and Equipment. 21 (1) General Requirements. Each rail carrier shall, 22 consistent with rules, orders, and regulations of the Federal 23 Railroad Administration, construct, maintain, and operate all 24 of its equipment, track, and other property in this State in 25 such a manner as to pose no undue risk to its employees or 26 the person or property of any member of the public. 27 (2) Adoption of Federal Standards. The track safety 28 standards and accident/incident standards promulgated by the 29 Federal Railroad Administration shall be safety standards of 30 the Commission. The Commission may, in addition, adopt by 31 reference in its regulations other federal railroad safety 32 standards, whether contained in federal statutes or in -9- LRB9106022DJcd 1 regulations adopted pursuant to such statutes. 2 (3) Railroad Crossings. 3 No public road, highway, or street shall hereafter be 4 constructed across the track of any rail carrier at grade, 5 nor shall the track of any rail carrier be constructed across 6 a public road, highway or street at grade, without having 7 first secured the permission of the Commission; provided, 8 that this Section shall not apply to the replacement of 9 lawfully existing roads, highways and tracks. The Commission 10 shall permit the construction of a public road, highway, or 11 street across the track of a rail carrier (i) if, in its 12 opinion, the public safety and public convenience justify 13 the grade crossing and (ii) upon a determination that a grade 14 separation structure is not a viable alternative due to lack 15 of funding, or engineering constraints, or both. The 16 Commission shall have the right to refuse its permission or 17 to grant it upon such terms and conditions as it may 18 prescribe. The Commission shall have power to determine and 19 prescribe the manner, including the particular point of 20 crossing, and the terms of installation, operation, 21 maintenance, use and protection of each such crossing. The 22 Commission shall apportion all maintenance costs between the 23 highway authority in interest and the rail carrier based on 24 the benefits each party derives from the installation of a 25 new grade crossing. The Commission may allocate moneys from 26 the Grade Crossing Protection Fund to pay for all or part of 27 these costs. 28 The Commission shall also have power, after a hearing, to 29 require major alteration of or to abolish any crossing, 30 heretofore or hereafter established, when in its opinion, the 31 public safety requires such alteration or abolition, and, 32 except in cities, villages and incorporated towns of 33 1,000,000 or more inhabitants, to vacate and close that part 34 of the highway on such crossing altered or abolished and -10- LRB9106022DJcd 1 cause barricades to be erected across such highway in such 2 manner as to prevent the use of such crossing as a highway, 3 when, in the opinion of the Commission, the public 4 convenience served by the crossing in question is not such as 5 to justify the further retention thereof; or to require a 6 separation of grades, at such crossings; or to require a 7 separation of grades at any proposed crossing where a 8 proposed public highway may cross the tracks of any rail 9 carrier or carriers; and to prescribe, after a hearing of the 10 parties, the terms upon which such separations shall be made 11 and the proportion in which the expense of the alteration or 12 abolition of such crossings or the separation of such grades, 13 having regard to the benefits, if any, accruing to the rail 14 carrier or any party in interest, shall be divided between 15 the rail carrier or carriers affected, or between such 16 carrier or carriers and the State, county, municipality or 17 other public authority in interest. However, a public 18 hearing by the Commission to abolish a crossing shall not be 19 required when the public highway authority in interest 20 vacates the highway. In such instance the rail carrier, 21 following notification to the Commission and the highway 22 authority, shall remove any grade crossing warning devices 23 and the grade crossing surface. The Commission shall endeavor 24 to achieve a reduction in public grade crossings as 25 recommended by the Federal Railroad Administration. 26 The Commission shall also have power by its order to 27 require the reconstruction, minor alteration, minor 28 relocation or improvement of any crossing (including the 29 necessary highway approaches thereto) of any railroad across 30 any highway or public road, whether such crossing be at grade 31 or by overhead structure or by subway, whenever the 32 Commission finds after a hearing or without a hearing as 33 otherwise provided in this paragraph that such 34 reconstruction, alteration, relocation or improvement is -11- LRB9106022DJcd 1 necessary to preserve or promote the safety or convenience of 2 the public or of the employees or passengers of such rail 3 carrier or carriers. By its original order or supplemental 4 orders in such case, the Commission may direct such 5 reconstruction, alteration, relocation, or improvement to be 6 made in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as may 7 be reasonable and necessary and may apportion the cost of 8 such reconstruction, alteration, relocation or improvement 9 and the subsequent maintenance thereof, having regard to the 10 benefits, if any, accruing to the railroad or any party in 11 interest, between the rail carrier or carriers and public 12 utilities affected, or between such carrier or carriers and 13 public utilities and the State, county, municipality or other 14 public authority in interest. The cost to be so apportioned 15 shall include the cost of changes or alterations in the 16 equipment of public utilities affected as well as the cost of 17 the relocation, diversion or establishment of any public 18 highway, made necessary by such reconstruction, alteration, 19 relocation or improvement of said crossing. A hearing shall 20 not be required in those instances when the Commission enters 21 an order confirming a written stipulation in which the 22 Commission, the public highway authority in interest, the 23 rail carrier or carriers affected, and in instances involving 24 the use of the Grade Crossing Protection Fund, the Illinois 25 Department of Transportation, agree on the reconstruction, 26 alteration, relocation, or improvement and the subsequent 27 maintenance thereof and the division of costs of such changes 28 of any grade crossing (including the necessary highway 29 approaches thereto) of any railroad across any highway. 30 Every rail carrier operating in the State of Illinois 31 shall construct and maintain every highway crossing over its 32 tracks within the State so that the roadway at the 33 intersection shall be as flush with the rails as 34 superelevated curves will allow, and, unless otherwise -12- LRB9106022DJcd 1 ordered by the Commission, shall construct and maintain the 2 approaches thereto at a grade of not more than 5% within the 3 right of way for a distance of not less the 6 feet on each 4 side of the centerline of such tracks; provided, that the 5 grades at the approaches may be maintained in excess of 5% 6 only when authorized by the Commission. 7 Every rail carrier operating within this State shall 8 remove from its right of way at all grade crossings within 9 the State, such brush, shrubbery, and trees as is reasonably 10 practical for a distance of not less than 500 feet in either 11 direction from each grade crossing. The Commission shall have 12 power, upon its own motion, or upon complaint, and after 13 having made proper investigation, to require the installation 14 of adequate and appropriate luminous reflective warning 15 signs, luminous flashing signals, crossing gates illuminated 16 at night, or other protective devices in order to promote and 17 safeguard the health and safety of the public. Luminous 18 flashing signal or crossing gate devices installed at grade 19 crossings, which have been approved by the Commission, shall 20 be deemed adequate and appropriate. The Commission shall have 21 authority to determine the number, type, and location of such 22 signs, signals, gates, or other protective devices which, 23 however, shall conform as near as may be with generally 24 recognized national standards, and the Commission shall have 25 authority to prescribe the division of the cost of the 26 installation and subsequent maintenance of such signs, 27 signals, gates, or other protective devices between the rail 28 carrier or carriers, the public highway authority in 29 interest, and in instances involving the use of the Grade 30 Crossing Protection Fund, the Illinois Department of 31 Transportation. 32 No railroad may change or modify the warning device 33 system at a railroad-highway grade crossing, including 34 warning systems interconnected with highway traffic control -13- LRB9106022DJcd 1 signals, without having first received the approval of the 2 Commission. The Commission shall have the further power, 3 upon application, upon its own motion, or upon complaint and 4 after having made proper investigation, to require the 5 interconnection of grade crossing warning devices with 6 traffic control signals at highway intersections located at 7 or near railroad crossings within the distances described by 8 the State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices adopted 9 pursuant to Section 11-301 of this Code. In addition, State 10 and local authorities may not install, remove, modernize, or 11 otherwise modify traffic control signals at a highway 12 intersection that is interconnected or proposed to be 13 interconnected with grade crossing warning devices when the 14 change affects the number, type, or location of traffic 15 control devices on the track approach leg or legs of the 16 intersection or the timing of the railroad preemption 17 sequence of operation until the Commission has approved the 18 installation, removal, modernization, or modification. 19 Commission approval shall be limited to consideration of 20 issues directly affecting the public safety at the 21 railroad-highway grade crossing. The electrical circuit 22 devices, alternate warning devices, and preemption sequences 23 shall conform as nearly as possible, considering the 24 particular characteristics of the crossing and intersection 25 area, to the State manual adopted by the Illinois Department 26 of Transportation pursuant to Section 11-301 of this Code and 27 such federal standards as are made applicable by subsection 28 (2) of this Section. In order to carry out this authority, 29 the Commission shall have the authority to determine the 30 number, type, and location of traffic control devices on the 31 track approach leg or legs of the intersection and the timing 32 of the railroad preemption sequence of operation. The 33 Commission shall prescribe the division of costs for 34 installation and maintenance of all devices required by this -14- LRB9106022DJcd 1 paragraph between the railroad or railroads and the highway 2 authority in interest and in instances involving the use of 3 the Grade Crossing Protection Fund or a State highway, the 4 Illinois Department of Transportation. 5 Any person who unlawfully or maliciously removes, throws 6 down, damages or defaces any sign, signal, gate or other 7 protective device, located at or near any public grade 8 crossing, shall be guilty of a petty offense and fined not 9 less than $50 nor more than $200 for each offense. In 10 addition to fines levied under the provisions of this Section 11 a person adjudged guilty hereunder may also be directed to 12 make restitution for the costs of repair or replacement, or 13 both, necessitated by his misconduct. 14It is the public policy of the State of Illinois to15enhance public safety by establishing safe grade crossings.16In order to implement this policy, the Illinois Commerce17Commission is directed to conduct public hearings and to18adopt specific criteria by July 1, 1994, that shall be19adhered to by the Illinois Commerce Commission in determining20if a grade crossing should be opened or abolished. The21following factors shall be considered by the Illinois22Commerce Commission in developing the specific criteria for23opening and abolishing grade crossings:24(a) timetable speed of passenger trains;25(b) distance to an alternate crossing;26(c) accident history for the last 5 years;27(d) number of vehicular traffic and posted speed28limits;29(e) number of freight trains and their timetable30speeds;31(f) the type of warning device present at the grade32crossing;33(g) alignments of the roadway and railroad, and the34angle of intersection of those alignments;-15- LRB9106022DJcd 1(h) use of the grade crossing by trucks carrying2hazardous materials, vehicles carrying passengers for3hire, and school buses; and4(i) use of the grade crossing by emergency5vehicles.6The Illinois Commerce Commission, upon petition to open7or abolish a grade crossing, shall enter an order opening or8abolishing the crossing if it meets the specific criteria9adopted by the Commission.10 Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (3), in 11 no instance shall a grade crossing be permanently closed 12 without public hearing first being held and notice of such 13 hearing being published in an area newspaper of local general 14 circulation. 15 (4) Freight Trains - Radio Communications. The 16 Commission shall after hearing and order require that every 17 main line railroad freight train operating on main tracks 18 outside of yard limits within this State shall be equipped 19 with a radio communication system. The Commission after 20 notice and hearing may grant exemptions from the requirements 21 of this Section as to secondary and branch lines. 22 (5) Railroad Bridges and Trestles - Walkway and 23 Handrail. In cases in which the Commission finds the same to 24 be practical and necessary for safety of railroad employees, 25 bridges and trestles, over and upon which railroad trains are 26 operated, shall include as a part thereof, a safe and 27 suitable walkway and handrail on one side only of such bridge 28 or trestle, and such handrail shall be located at the outer 29 edge of the walkway and shall provide a clearance of not less 30 than 8 feet, 6 inches, from the center line of the nearest 31 track, measured at right angles thereto. 32 (6) Packages Containing Articles for First Aid to 33 Injured on Trains. All rail carriers shall provide a package 34 containing the articles prescribed by the Commission, on each -16- LRB9106022DJcd 1 train or engine, for first aid to persons who may be injured 2 in the course of the operation of such trains. 3 (7) Abandoned Bridges, Crossings, and Other Rail Plant. 4 The Commission shall have authority, after notice and 5 hearing, to order: 6 (a) The removal of any abandoned railroad tracks 7 from roads, streets or other thoroughfares in this State; 8 and 9 (b) The removal of abandoned overhead railroad 10 structures crossing highways, waterways, or railroads. 11 The Commission may equitably apportion the cost of such 12 actions between the rail carrier or carriers, public 13 utilities, and the State, county, municipality, township, 14 road district, or other public authority in interest. 15 (8) Railroad-Highway Bridge Clearance. A vertical 16 clearance of not less than 23 feet above the top of rail 17 shall be provided for all new or reconstructed highway 18 bridges constructed over a railroad track. The Commission 19 may permit a lesser clearance if it determines that the 23 20 foot clearance standard cannot be justified based on 21 engineering, operational, and economic conditions. 22 (Source: P.A. 89-699, eff. 1-16-97; 90-691, eff. 1-1-99.) 23 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 24 1, 1999.