Gallegly calls for safety devices at railroad crossings in county

The House of Representatives has approved a request by U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Thousand Oaks) for $500,000 to install active warning devices at up to five rural crossings along Metrolink's Ventura County line.

The funding was included in the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies appropriations bill, which passed the House on a 406-22 vote.

The rural crossings experience heavy train and farm vehicle traffic. Eighteen Metrolink trains, eight Amtrak trains and six freight trains pass through the area every day. Thirty to 250 farm vehicles cross the tracks daily, depending on the agricultural cycle.

There have been several accidents at the crossings, some of which have been fatal. Gallegly secured another $500,000 for the project two years ago.

In addition to the Ventura County funding, the appropriations bill provides for:

+$900 million for Amtrak, which includes significant financial and management reforms

+$15.2 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

+$35.3 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

+$27 million for the Office of National Drug Control Policy

+$39.1 billion for highways

+$6.1 billion for the federal judiciary

The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.