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‘‘(A) report to the Secretary current information, 
including information about warning devices and sign-
age, as specified by the Secretary, concerning each cross-
ing through which it operates or with respect to the 
trackage over which it operates; or 
‘‘(B) ensure that the information has been reported 
to the Secretary by another railroad carrier that oper-
ates through the crossing. 
‘‘(2) A railroad carrier that sells a crossing or any part 
of a crossing on or after the date of enactment of the Rail 
Safety Improvement Act of 2008 shall, not later than the 
date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of that 
Act or 3 months after the sale, whichever occurs later, or as 
otherwise specified by the Secretary, report to the Secretary 
current information, as specified by the Secretary, concerning 
the change in ownership of the crossing or part of the cross-
ing. 
‘‘(c) RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall 
prescribe the regulations necessary to implement this section. 
The Secretary may enforce each provision of the Department 
of Transportation’s statement of the national highway-rail 
crossing inventory policy, procedures, and instruction for 
States and railroads that is in effect on the date of enact-
ment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, until such
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provision is superseded by a regulation issued under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CROSSING.—The term ‘crossing’ means a loca-
tion within a State, other than a location where one or 
more railroad tracks cross one or more railroad tracks 
either at grade or grade-separated, where— 
‘‘(A) a public highway, road, or street, or a pri-
vate roadway, including associated sidewalks and 
pathways, crosses one or more railroad tracks either 
at grade or grade-separated; or 
‘‘(B) a pathway explicitly authorized by a pub-
lic authority or a railroad carrier that is dedicated 
for the use of nonvehicular traffic, including pedes-
trians, bicyclists, and others, that is not associated 
with a public highway, road, or street, or a private 
roadway, crosses one or more railroad tracks either 
at grade or grade-separated. 
‘‘(2) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State of 
the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis 
for chapter 201, as amended by section 203 of this division, 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
20159 the following: 
‘‘20160. National crossing inventory.’’.
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(c) REPORTING AND UPDATING.—Section 130 of title 
23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(l) NATIONAL CROSSING INVENTORY.— 
‘‘(1) INITIAL REPORTING OF CROSSING INFORMA-
TION.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 or 
within 6 months of a new crossing becoming operational, 
whichever occurs later, each State shall report to the 
Secretary of Transportation current information, includ-
ing information about warning devices and signage, as 
specified by the Secretary, concerning each previously 
unreported public crossing located within its borders. 
‘‘(2) PERIODIC UPDATING OF CROSSING INFORMA-
TION.—On a periodic basis beginning not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Im-
provement Act of 2008 and on or before September 30 
of every year thereafter, or as otherwise specified by the 
Secretary, each State shall report to the Secretary cur-
rent information, including information about warning 
devices and signage, as specified by the Secretary, con-
cerning each public crossing located within its borders. 
‘‘(3) RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary 
shall prescribe the regulations necessary to implement 
this subsection. The Secretary may enforce each provi-
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sion of the Department of Transportation’s statement of 
the national highway-rail crossing inventory policy, pro-
cedures, and instructions for States and railroads that is 
in effect on the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Im-
provement Act of 2008, until such provision is super-
seded by a regulation issued under this subsection. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 
‘‘(A) ‘public crossing’ means a location within 
a State, other than a location where one or more 
railroad tracks cross one or more railroad tracks ei-
ther at grade or grade-separated, where— 
‘‘(i) a public highway, road, or street, in-
cluding associated sidewalks and pathways, 
crosses one or more railroad tracks either at 
grade or grade-separated; or 
‘‘(ii) a publicly owned pathway explicitly 
authorized by a public authority or a railroad 
carrier and dedicated for the use of non-vehic-
ular traffic, including pedestrians, bicyclists, 
and others, that is not associated with a public 
highway, road, or street, or a private roadway, 
crosses one or more railroad tracks either at 
grade or grade-separated; and 
‘‘(B) ‘State’ means a State of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.’’.
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(d) CIVIL PENALTIES.— 
(1) Section 21301(a)(1) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘with section 20160 or’’ after 
‘‘comply’’ in the first sentence; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘section 20160 of this title 
or’’ after ‘‘violating’’ in the second sentence. 
(2) Section 21301(a)(2) is amended by inserting 
‘‘The Secretary shall impose a civil penalty for a viola-
tion of section 20160 of this title.’’ after the first sen-
tence. 
SEC. 205. TELEPHONE NUMBER TO REPORT GRADE CROSSING 
PROBLEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 20152 is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘§ 20152. Notification of grade crossing problems 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 
2008, the Secretary of Transportation shall require each rail-
road carrier to— 
‘‘(1) establish and maintain a toll-free telephone 
service for rights-of-way over which it dispatches trains, 
to directly receive calls reporting— 
‘‘(A) malfunctions of signals, crossing gates, 
and other devices to promote safety at the grade
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crossing of railroad tracks on those rights-of-way 
and public or private roads; 
‘‘(B) disabled vehicles blocking railroad tracks 
at such grade crossings; 
‘‘(C) obstructions to the view of a pedestrian or 
a vehicle operator for a reasonable distance in ei-
ther direction of a train’s approach; or 
‘‘(D) other safety information involving such 
grade crossings; 
‘‘(2) upon receiving a report pursuant to paragraph 
(1)(A) or (B), immediately contact trains operating near 
the grade crossing to warn them of the malfunction or 
disabled vehicle; 
‘‘(3) upon receiving a report pursuant to paragraph 
(1)(A) or (B), and after contacting trains pursuant to 
paragraph (2), contact, as necessary, appropriate public 
safety officials having jurisdiction over the grade cross-
ing to provide them with the information necessary for 
them to direct traffic, assist in the removal of the dis-
abled vehicle, or carry out other activities as appropriate; 
‘‘(4) upon receiving a report pursuant to paragraph 
(1)(C) or (D), timely investigate the report, remove the 
obstruction if possible, or correct the unsafe cir-
cumstance; and
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‘‘(5) ensure the placement at each grade crossing 
on rights-of-way that it owns of appropriately located 
signs, on which shall appear, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) a toll-free telephone number to be used 
for placing calls described in paragraph (1) to the 
railroad carrier dispatching trains on that right-of- 
way; 
‘‘(B) an explanation of the purpose of that toll- 
free telephone number; and 
‘‘(C) the grade crossing number assigned for 
that crossing by the National Highway-Rail Cross-
ing Inventory established by the Department of 
Transportation. 
‘‘(b) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the require-
ment that the telephone service be toll-free for Class II and 
Class III rail carriers if the Secretary determines that toll- 
free service would be cost prohibitive or unnecessary.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis 
for chapter 201 is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 20152 and inserting the following: 
‘‘20152. Notification of grade crossing problems.’’. 
SEC. 206. OPERATION LIFESAVER. 
(a) GRANT.—The Federal Railroad Administration shall 
make a grant or grants to Operation Lifesaver to carry out 
a public information and education program to help prevent 
and reduce pedestrian, motor vehicle, and other accidents, in-
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cidents, injuries, and fatalities, and to improve awareness 
along railroad rights-of-way and at highway-rail grade cross-
ings. The program shall include, as appropriate, development, 
placement, and dissemination of Public Service Announce-
ments in newspaper, radio, television, and other media. The 
program shall also include, as appropriate, school presen-
tations, brochures and materials, support for public aware-
ness campaigns, and related support for the activities of Op-
eration Lifesaver’s member organizations. As part of an edu-
cational program funded by grants awarded under this sec-
tion, Operation Lifesaver shall provide information to the 
public on how to identify and report to the appropriate au-
thorities unsafe or malfunctioning highway-rail grade cross-
ings. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary may allow funds 
provided under subsection (a) also to be used by Operation 
Lifesaver to implement a pilot program, to be known as the 
Railroad Safety Public Awareness Program, that addresses 
the need for targeted and sustained community outreach on 
the subjects described in subsection (a). Such a pilot program 
shall be established in 1 or more States identified under sec-
tion 202 of this division. In carrying out such a pilot program 
Operation Lifesaver shall work with the State, community 
leaders, school districts, and public and private partners to 
identify the communities at greatest risk, to develop appro-
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priate measures to reduce such risks, and shall coordinate the 
pilot program with the State grade crossing action plan. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Railroad Admin-
istration for carrying out this section— 
(1) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 
2011; and 
(2) $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 and 
2013. 
SEC. 207. FEDERAL GRANTS TO STATES FOR HIGHWAY-RAIL 
GRADE CROSSING SAFETY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part B of subtitle V is amended by 
adding at the end thereof the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 
225—FEDERAL 
GRANTS 
TO 
STATES 
FOR 
HIGHWAY-RAIL 
GRADE 
CROSSING SAFETY 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘22501. Financial assistance to States for certain projects. 
‘‘22502. Distribution. 
‘‘22503. Standards for awarding grants. 
‘‘22504. Use of funds. 
‘‘22505. Authorization of appropriations. 
‘‘§ 22501. Financial assistance to States for certain 
projects 
‘‘The Secretary of Transportation shall make grants— 
‘‘(1) to a maximum of 3 States per year for devel-
opment or continuance of enhanced public education and 
awareness activities, in combination with targeted law
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enforcement, to significantly reduce violations of traffic 
laws at highway-rail grade crossings and to help prevent 
and reduce injuries and fatalities along railroad rights- 
of-way; and 
‘‘(2) to provide for priority highway-rail grade 
crossing safety improvements, including the installation, 
repair, or improvement of— 
‘‘(A) railroad crossing signals, gates, and re-
lated technologies, including median barriers and 
four quadrant gates; 
‘‘(B) highway traffic signalization, including 
highway signals tied to railroad signal systems; 
‘‘(C) highway lighting and crossing approach 
signage; 
‘‘(D) roadway improvements, including railroad 
crossing panels and surfaces; and 
‘‘(E) related work to mitigate dangerous condi-
tions. 
‘‘§ 22502. Distribution 
‘‘The Secretary shall provide the grants to the State 
agency or agencies responsible for highway-rail grade crossing 
safety. 
‘‘§ 22503. Standards for awarding grants 
‘‘(a) SECTION 22501(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall 
provide grants under section 22501(1) based upon the merits
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of the proposed program of activities provided by the State 
and upon a determination of where the grants will provide 
the greatest safety benefits. The Secretary may give priority 
to States that have developed and implemented a State grade 
crossing action plan, as described under section 202 of the 
Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. 
‘‘(b) SECTION 22501(2) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall 
provide grants to State and local governments under section 
22501(2) to provide priority grade crossing safety improve-
ments on an expedited basis at a location where there has 
been a highway-rail grade crossing collision within the pre-
vious two years involving major loss of life or multiple serious 
bodily injuries. 
‘‘§ 22504. Use of funds 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Any State receiving a grant under 
section 22501(1) shall use the funds to develop, implement, 
and continue to measure the effectiveness of a dedicated pro-
gram of public education and enforcement of highway-rail 
crossing safety laws and to prevent casualties along railroad 
rights-of-way. The Secretary may not make a grant under 
this chapter available to assist a State or political subdivision 
thereof in establishing or continuing a quiet zone pursuant to 
part 222 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.