Secure Tracks Act

This bill, known as the "Secure Tracks Act," aims to significantly enhance railroad track safety by establishing new requirements for both visual and automated inspections. It mandates that all main line tracks designated for Class 3 speeds or higher must undergo visual inspection by a qualified inspector at least twice each week, with a minimum of one calendar day between inspections. Furthermore, any safety defect or unsafe condition discovered through any inspection method must be immediately corrected, protected, or the track removed from service. Qualified inspectors are granted the sole authority to initiate remedial action and authorize subsequent movements for repairs when deviations are found. The bill also explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from granting waivers, exemptions, or modifications to safety regulations if the proposed alternative inspection methods fail to identify all defined unsafe conditions, thereby ensuring no reduction in safety coverage. Within one year of enactment, the Secretary must update regulations to require specific frequencies for automated Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) inspections. These frequencies vary based on track class, gross tonnage, and cant deficiency, ranging from annual inspections for some Class 1 tracks to multiple inspections within a 30-day period for Class 9 tracks. The bill also requires that any deviation found by either visual or automated inspections be immediately remediated by qualified personnel.