Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015

To improve highway-rail grade crossing safety, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015 2. Railway-Highway Crossing Program In addition to amounts otherwise apportioned for the highway safety improvement program described in section 148 of title 23, United States Code, there are authorized to be appropriated, for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019, $50,000,000, which shall be set aside for the Railway-Highway Crossings Program authorized under section 130 of such title. 3. Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Grants Safety Program Chapter 225 (1) in section 22501(1), by striking to a maximum of 3 States per year for development for the development (2) in section 22504(b)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking under section 22501(2) (B) by striking $250,000 $2,500,000 (3) by amending section 22505 to read as follows: 22505. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There are authorized to be appropriated, for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2019, $100,000,000 for grants authorized under section 22501. (b) Availability of funds Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended. . 4. Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Capital Grant Program Section 20154 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking , motor vehicle traffic flow, community quality of life, or economic development (2) in subsection (c)(4), by striking motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, safety, community quality of life, and area commerce safety (3) in subsection (h)— (A) by striking paragraph (2); and (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and (4) in subsection (i), by striking $350,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009 $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2019 5. Operation Lifesaver Section 206(c) of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (division A of Public Law 110–432 (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Railroad Administration, for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2019, $3,000,000 to carry out this section. . 6. Highway-rail grade crossing safety personnel (a) Grade crossing safety managers In addition to the personnel authorized to be employed by the Federal Railroad Administration on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administration shall hire 16 full-time grade crossing safety managers to work with State and local officials to identify safety improvements to highway-rail grade crossings. (b) Trespass prevention managers In addition to the personnel authorized to be employed by the Federal Railroad Administration on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administration shall hire 8 trespass prevention managers to work with local governments, schools, businesses, and railroads to develop site-specific mitigation plans. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Railroad Administration, for fiscal years 2016 through 2019, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 7. Feasibility of using new technology to report highway-rail grade crossing problems Section 20152 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Feasibility study The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of the feasibility of requiring railroads to provide additional means for the public to report problems at highway-rail grade crossings, including through a website and text messaging. .

Summary: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015 This bill authorizes appropriations for FY2016-FY2019 for the highway safety improvement program, with $50 million set aside for each fiscal year for the Railway-Highway Crossings Program. The limitation to three states per year is eliminated, so all states now become eligible for the award of Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety improvement grants to develop or continue enhanced public education and awareness activities, in combination with targeted law enforcement, to reduce traffic law violations at highway-rail grade crossings, as well as to prevent and reduce injuries and fatalities along railroad rights-of-way. The limitation on grant amounts awarded to a state is increased from $250,000 to $2.5 million. Eligibility requirements are revised for the award of capital grants to states under the rail line relocation and improvement program. Increased appropriations under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 are authorized for FY2016-FY2019 for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to make grants to the Operation Lifesaver program. The FRA shall hire: 16 full-time grade crossing safety managers to work with state and local officials to identify safety improvements to highway-rail grade crossings; and 8 trespass prevention managers to work with local governments, schools, businesses, and railroads to develop site-specific mitigation plans. The Secretary of Transportation shall study the feasibility of requiring railroads to provide additional means for the public to report problems at highway-rail grade crossings, including via a website and text messaging.