Sponsors (4)
Official title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to limit railroad carriers from blocking railway-highway crossings, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Sylvia Garcia · Last progress December 17, 2025
The bill aims to reduce roadway blockages and improve reporting, transparency, and federal enforcement tools for highway-rail grade crossings—improving safety and local mobility—at the cost of new compliance, penalty exposure, administrative burdens, and potential uneven coverage for some passenger rail crossings.
Drivers, pedestrians, commuters, and local residents will face fewer and shorter roadway blockages because trains are limited from blocking public grade crossings (10-minute standard) and verified blocked-crossing reports are entered into the FRA portal to prompt action.
Emergency services and first responders will be less likely to be delayed because the Secretary must consider higher penalties when blocked crossings cause recurring delays to State or local emergency services.
Local governments, communities, and taxpayers gain stronger federal tools, clearer authority, and greater carrier accountability through required data collection, verification of reports, publication of carrier contact information, and clarified FRA oversight—improving the ability to investigate and pursue mitigation (e.g., grade separations or operational fixes).
Freight carriers face new compliance obligations (collecting/producing train-location and incident data, verifying reports, updating websites) that increase administrative costs and could be passed through to shippers, consumers, and taxpayers.
Disputes over applicability of exceptions (e.g., safety actions, no alternate route within 0.5 mile) and the 10-minute verification standard may produce contested reports and enforcement complexity, delaying relief for road users and local authorities.
Carriers face civil penalties for violations 60 days after notice, creating financial exposure that could increase freight costs, provoke litigation, or raise operating uncertainty for rail companies.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Sets a 10-minute cap on freight railroad blockages of public grade crossings, requires verification/reporting to the FRA portal, authorizes DOT investigations and penalties, and mandates portal links by Class I railroads.
Sets a firm 10-minute maximum for railroad blockages of public highway–rail grade crossings (with listed safety and operational exceptions) and creates reporting, data-retention, and enforcement requirements for freight rail carriers. It requires carriers to report verified incidents into the FRA’s blocked-crossing portal, gives the Secretary of Transportation authority to investigate recurring violations and to assess civil penalties after notice, and directs Class I railroads to post a direct link to the FRA portal on their homepages.