Section 350.137. Uniform snowmobile rail crossing standards.

 

(1)  The department, after having consulted with each rail authority, as defined in s. 350.138 (1) (b) , in this state, that has furnished the department with the information required under s. 350.138 (2m) , an established snowmobile association that represents snowmobile clubs, as defined in s. 350.138 (1) (e) , in this state, and the office of the commissioner of railroads, shall promulgate rules to establish uniform maintenance standards and uniform design and construction standards for snowmobile rail crossings under ss. 350.138 and 350.139 .

(2)  The maintenance standards shall include requirements for the marking of snowmobile rail crossings and for the maintenance of adequate drainage of railroad rights-of-way. The design and construction standards shall include a list and a description of the frequency and speed of railroad trains and railroad track equipment and the types of railroad tracks, embankments, ditches, snowmobile trail alignments and other configurations that do any of the following:

(a) Preclude the use of a proposed site for a snowmobile rail crossing because the site would be unsafe due to poor visibility of an approaching railroad train or railroad track equipment from the position of a snowmobile operator who is stopped on the approach to the proposed crossing.

(b) Make it difficult to construct a snowmobile rail crossing at a proposed site because of steep embankments or irregular terrain near the railroad track.

1993 a. 120 ; 2001 a. 14 ; 2011 a. 101 . Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 6.40 , 6.41 , 6.42 , 6.43 , 6.44 , 6.45 , and 6.46 , Wis. adm. code.