RHCP in 2022

In 2022, States 

allocated $514 

million to fund 

projects that eliminate 

hazards at railwayhighway crossings.

THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (HSIP) 2022

The Railway-Highway Crossings Program

Funding Rail Crossing Safety Improvements

Railway crossings create potential conflict points between road users 

and trains. In 2022, 179 people were killed in a total of 1,753 incidents 

at public railway-highway crossings in the United States.1

The Railway-Highway Crossings Program (RHCP) —also called Section 130—

helps improve safety by funding projects that eliminate hazards at railwayhighway crossings.2 From 2000 to 2019, crossings improved using RHCP funds 

saw fatalities decrease by 32%.3 RHCP is funded through a set-aside from 

the Highway Safety Improvement Program. The Infrastructure Investment 

and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), set 

aside $245 million annually from fiscal years 2022 to 2026 for the RHCP.4

Program funds are available for projects at all public crossings, including 

roadways, bike trails, pedestrian paths, and projects to eliminate the 

hazards of blocked crossings due to idling trains. BIL raised the Federal 

share for these funds to 100% and no longer requires a 10% match.5

For more information on eligibility and guidance, visit https://

highways.dot.gov/safety/hsip/xings/policy-and-guidance.

RHCP funded 100 projects 

that improved crossing 

approaches and 48 

projects that eliminated 

grade crossings, with total 

costs of $19 million and 

$223 million, respectively.

States obligated more than $514 

million in RHCP funds for 1,155 

projects that improved safety at 

railway-highway crossings.

Oregon used the most RHCP funds, 

with more than $232 million spent. 

The most common project type 

was installing or upgrading active 

grade-crossing equipment 

(869 projects, 75% of all projects).

68 HSIP-funded projects were 

either railway-highway crossing 

improvements or railroad crossing 

improvements.

Fatalities Total Incidents

What Types of Projects Did RHCP Fund?* 

*Includes only projects with reported classifications.

Active grade-crossing equipment 

installation or upgrade

Roadway geometry improvements

Visibility improvements

Crossing inventory update

Grade-crossing elimination

Crossing warning sign and pavement 

marking improvements

Crossing approach improvements

number of projects % of total projects average project cost

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Incidents Summary, accessed 1/18/24, https://railroads.dot.gov/accident-and-incident-reporting/highwayrail-gradecrossing-incidents/incidents-summary.

23 U.S.C. 130.

Federal Highway Administration, “Railway-Highway Crossings Program Overview” (July 2022), https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/xings/. 

Pub. L. 117-58 and 23 CFR Part 924.

23 U.S.C. 130(f)(3)

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Incidents Summary, accessed 1/18/24, https://railroads.dot.gov/accident-and-incident-reporting/highwayrail-gradecrossing-incidents/incidents-summary.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Incidents at Railway-Highway 

Crossings, 2020–20226

1

2

2 3

4

5

6

7

3

4

5 5

6 6

7 7 1

2

6

3

7
FHWA-SA-23-024

RHCP in Action

What Roadway Functional Classifications Were 

Projects On?

What Types of Crossings Were Improved?

10%

Principal Arterial

(other)

0.3%

Principal Arterial 

(other freeways and expressways)

2%

Not Specified

6%

Minor Collector

16% 

Minor Arterial

41%

Local Road

or Street

20%

Major

Collector

6%

Multiple or

varied

74% at-grade active 

warning devices

23% at-grade passive

warning devices

0.4% nonmotorized active

warning devices

0.3% nonmotorized passive

warning devices

0.2% grade-separated railroad

over or under road

Crossing Improvements from the Illinois 

Department of Transportation (IDOT)

Illinois has been a major railway hub since the mid-nineteenth century. Recognizing 

the importance of railways to Illinois and nearby States, IDOT operates a robust 

and successful program of railway-highway crossing safety improvements. The 

IDOT-administered Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Safety Program is funded using 

Section 130. The success of this program is built on strong working relationships 

with railroads, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), and local agencies.

The program implements many crossing improvements, including grade 

separation, pedestrian-only projects, roadway approach improvements, circuitry 

and warning device upgrades, traffic signal interconnects, and crossing closures. 

The department has seen particular success eliminating hazards by closing 

railway-highway crossings, with an average of five to six closed each year. These 

railway-highway closures are made possible by incentive payments from Section 

130 and additional contributions from ICC. Section 130 funds are matched to the 

railroad’s incentive contribution and capped at $100,000.7

In addition to the six voluntary closures in the 2022 program, IDOT used RHCP 

Section 130 program funds to support over 50 projects to install or upgrade 

active-grade crossing equipment with a total improvements cost of more than 

$30 million, most of which focused on installing and upgrading at-grade active 

warning devices to alert drivers of oncoming trains. Three of the 2022 projects 

installed warning devices specific for vulnerable road users.

48

Active or passive

warning device installations

Voluntary crossing 

6

closures

Vulnerable road user

3

safety projects

7 23 U.S.C. 130(i)

To find out how RHCP can help 

save lives in your community, 

contact your State DOT:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/

about/webstate.cfm

Except for the statutes and regulations cited, the contents of this document do not 

have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the States or the public in 

any way. This document is intended only to provide information regarding existing 

requirements under the law or agency policies.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or 

manufacturers’ names appear in this document only because they are considered 

essential to the objective of the document. They are included for informational 

purposes only and are not intended to reflect a preference, approval, or endorsement 

of any one product or entity.