The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking comments about reporting blocked highway-rail grade crossings. The purpose of the FRA is to create and enforce rail safety regulations.
The FRA is interested in gathering more information regarding the frequency, location, and impacts of highway-rail grade crossings blocked by slow or idling trains. There are no federal laws or regulations that currently address how long a train may occupy a crossing.
Over a recent two-year period, the FRA received 669 email complaints about blocked crossings via the FRA’s general “contact us” field on their website. The FRA proposes to simplify the reporting of blocked crossings and standardize the data received in the reports by adding the following collection methods:
- For the public, a new website link dedicated to reporting blocked crossings;
- For law enforcement personnel, a new website link dedicated to reporting blocked crossings; and
- A new link added to the FRA phone app to direct users to an app-based form to report a blocked crossing.
Comments on the FRA’s proposed changes to gather information about blocked railroad crossings can be submitted online, but must be received no later than August 13.