Railroad crossings: permit applications: review.

Senator Laird's railroad crossing legislation establishes standardized application requirements and creates an expedited review process for qualifying projects under the Public Utilities Commission's jurisdiction. The bill requires all railroad crossing applications to include detailed location plans, vicinity maps, grade profiles, relevant permits, and documentation of safety measures.

For crossing proposals that demonstrate clear public benefit and face no formal objections, the Commission must implement a streamlined review pathway. This expedited process requires public notice and input from stakeholders including railroads, transit agencies, and local transportation authorities, while maintaining Commission oversight through a public voting process. The legislation explicitly exempts these qualifying applications from certain administrative procedures that typically apply to Commission proceedings.

The measure also updates existing regulations governing Commission operations, particularly regarding ex parte communications in various types of proceedings. It maintains requirements for documenting and disclosing communications between decision-makers and interested parties, with specific timelines for reporting and consequences for non-compliance. The Commission retains authority to delay votes until affected parties have reasonable opportunity to respond to any disclosed communications.