Railroad crossings: permit applications: review.

Senator Laird's railroad crossing legislation establishes new application requirements and review procedures for proposed crossings under the Public Utilities Commission's jurisdiction. The measure outlines specific documentation that applicants must provide, including detailed site plans, scaled maps showing relationships to existing infrastructure, and profiles of affected roadways and rail lines.

The bill authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to implement an expedited review process for qualifying railroad crossing applications, allowing partial or complete exemption from standard adjudication procedures. However, this streamlined pathway remains unavailable when valid protests are filed against an application or when the commission determines that comprehensive review or evidentiary hearings are necessary. Applications must include safety specifications, relevant permits, and documentation of compliance with existing regulatory requirements.

Under the proposed framework, applicants would submit detailed technical information about crossing locations, including scaled drawings (1,000 to 3,000 feet per inch) depicting nearby structures, safety devices, and grade profiles for all affected transportation infrastructure. The commission retains authority to request additional documentation beyond these baseline requirements while maintaining oversight of safety standards and regulatory compliance through the modified review process.