2774                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [Ch. 831

shall take effect [[January 1, 1975]] June 1, 1974.
Approved May 31, 1974.

CHAPTER 832
{House Bill 1608)
AN ACT concerning
Department of Transportation — Railroad Grade Crossings

FOR the purpose of providing for the centralized and
uniform control by the Secretary of Transportation
of the construction, reconstruction or certain other
modifications of railroad grade crossings and of
changes in crossing protection equipment; requiring
that railroads and certain public authorities, after
a hearing, make application to, and receive approval
by, the Secretary of Transportation prior to
undertaking certain such projects; providing for the
approval or disapproval by the Secretary of
Transportation of a proposed project; providing for
the imposition of certain requirements by him to
insure public safety; providing that the authority
of the Secretary of Transportation shall be
exclusive; and relating generally to the
construction, reconstruction or other modification
of railroad grade crossings and of changes in
crossing protection equipment and to the uniform
control thereof by the Secretary of Transportation.

BY adding to

Article 41 — Governor-Executive and Administrative

Departments
Section 208E

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Public safety at railroad grade crossings
is a major national and State safety problem; and

WHEREAS, In the State of Maryland there are
approximately 1,059 public grade crossings, of which only
304 have active protection, and numerous private grade
crossings have no protection whatsoever; and