N.Y. Railroad Law Section 53-A
Warning signs


Every municipality or political subdivision, or in case of state highways the department of transportation, which is charged with the duty of maintaining a highway at places where such highway crosses a railroad at grade, shall install and maintain an approach warning sign in each such highway on each side of each railroad grade crossing. In case of the failure or refusal of any such municipality or political subdivision or railroad company to install or furnish such signs as herein provided the commissioner of transportation shall take proceedings to compel obedience to the provisions of this section by the municipality or political subdivision or by the railroad company. The supreme court at a special term upon a special proceeding brought by the commissioner of transportation shall have the power in all cases to compel compliance with the provisions of this section subject to appeal to the appellate division of the supreme court and the court of appeals in the same manner and with like effect as is provided in case of appeals from a judgment of the supreme court. Where physical conditions at any grade crossing are such that the commissioner of transportation deems it impracticable to place such approach warning signs, such commissioner of transportation may by order release the municipality or other political subdivision or the department of transportation from the obligation of installing and maintaining such signs and may by order direct other suitable warning signs to be furnished by the railroad company and installed and maintained by the municipality. The erection and maintenance of any sign or signs other than said approach warning signs may be prohibited by any such municipality, political subdivision or department of transportation in any highway between any such approach warning sign and any such crossing, or in any location where the warning sign may be obscured from view by the presence of such other sign or signs. The design, location, and manner of installation of such signs shall conform to the manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic-control devices adopted by the department of transportation. It shall be the duty of the driver of any vehicle using such street or highway and crossing to reduce speed to a safe limit upon passing such sign and to proceed cautiously and carefully with the vehicle under complete control. The commissioner of transportation may require the railroad company or municipality or political subdivision which is charged with the duty of maintaining the highway wherever practicable to maintain its property at or near such grade crossing free of obstruction to vision. Provided, however, any approach warning sign, maintained pursuant to this section, installed prior to the time this act takes effect may continue as and shall be deemed a lawful approach warning sign for the purposes of applying the provisions of this section.

Source: Section 53-A — Warning signs, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RRD/53-A (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Apr. 20, 2024).

50
Liability of corporation to employees of contractor
51
Weight of rail
51‑A
Clearances
52
Fences, farm crossings and cattle-guards
52‑A
Fences along road operated by electric third rail
52‑B
Fences along right of way
52‑C
Fences in Queens county
52‑D
Debris to be cleared
52‑E
Penalties for littering
53
Sign boards, flagmen and gates at crossings
53‑A
Warning signs
53‑B
Ringing bells and blowing whistles at crossings
53‑C
Obstructing farm and highway crossings
53‑D
Unlawful propulsion of a missile at railroad trains
53‑E
Unlawful interference with a railroad train
53‑F
Joint inspection of traffic-control signals interconnected with highway-rail at-grade crossing warning systems
54
Notice of starting trains
54‑A
Communication
55
Accommodation of connecting roads
56
Locomotives must stop at grade crossings
57
Rates of fare
57‑A
A steam or electric railroad corporation having a franchise from this state, operating to and from stations within a city of over a milli...
58
Excess charge when fare paid on cars
59
Penalty for excessive fare
60
Issue and use of mileage books
61
Passenger refusing to pay fare may be ejected
61‑A
Sounding of certain signals on railroad cars by unauthorized persons
62
Sleeping and parlor cars
63
Persons employed as drivers, conductors, motormen or gripmen
63‑A
Minimum crew size
64
Injuries to employees
65
Conductors and employees must wear badges
66
Checks for baggage
67
Penalties for injuries to baggage
68
Unclaimed freight and baggage
69
Minimum standards for track inspection and maintenance
70
Rights and liabilities as common carriers
71
Duties imposed
71‑A
Reflective whistle signs
72
Inspection of locomotives
73
Inspectors of locomotives
74
Care of steam locomotives
75
commissioner of transportation may approve other safeguards
76
Use of stoves or furnaces prohibited
76‑A
Motor cars and equipment
76‑B
Equipment required on motor vehicles transporting railroad employees
77
Equipment of engines
77‑A
First-aid equipment on locomotives
77‑B
Speedometers on certain locomotives
77‑C
Sanitary conditions
78
Coal jimmies and caboose cars
78‑A
Electric or battery-powered markers
79
Air-brakes
80
Couplers
81
Violation of sections seventy-seven, seventy-seven-c, seventy-eight, seventy-nine, and eighty
82
Canada thistles to be cut
83
Riding on platform
83‑A
Operation of motor vehicles, snowmobiles, recreational vehicles, and riding of animals on railroad property
83‑B
Trespass upon railroad premises
84
Corporations may establish ferries
85
Certain railroads may cease operation in winter
86
Certain railroads need not be operated beyond June, July, August and September
87
Mails
88
When railroads may designate police officers
89
New railroads across streets
90
New streets across railroads
91
Alteration or rehabilitation of existing crossing
92
Acquisition of land, right or easement in crossing
93
Repair of bridges and subways at crossings
93‑A
Maintenance and removal of highway-railroad crossing at grade
93‑B
Maintenance and removal of highway-railroad separation structures
94
Performance of work
95
Proceedings by commissioner of transportation for alteration of existing crossings
96
Proceedings to enforce orders of commissioner of transportation
97
Intercity rail passenger service
97‑A
Commuter rail service
98
Intersection of railroads
99
Application of foregoing section
100
Temporary leave granted by court to a street surface railroad
101
Consent of commissioner of transportation in certain cases
102
Ventilation of tunnels
103
Lighting of tunnels
104
Compliance with orders of commissioner of transportation
105
Enforcement
106
Penalty for violation
107
Judgment-roll
108
Approval of appliances in cities having a population of one million inhabitants or over

Accessed:
Apr. 20, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 53-A’s source at nysenate​.gov

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