834 
(1) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘or subsection 
(d)(2)’’ after ‘‘subsection (b)’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d) through (f) 
as subsections (e) through (g), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) PERIODIC REVIEWS AND UPDATES.—Each rail-
road carrier that files an action plan under subsection (b) 
shall— 
‘‘(1) not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of the TRAIN Act, and annually thereafter, 
review such plan to ensure the effectiveness of ac-
tions taken to enable warning and enforcement of 
the maximum authorized speed for passenger trains 
at each location identified under subsection (b)(1); 
and 
‘‘(2) not later than 90 days prior to imple-
menting any operational or territorial operating 
change, including initiating a new service or route, 
submit to the Secretary a revised action plan that 
addresses such operational or territorial operating 
change.’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) PROHIBITION.—No new intercity rail passenger 
transportation or commuter rail passenger service may 
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begin operation unless the railroad carrier providing such 
service is in compliance with this section.’’. 
SEC. 9509. FREIGHT TRAIN CREW SIZE SAFETY STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 20169. Freight train crew size safety standards 
‘‘(a) MINIMUM CREW SIZE.—No freight train may be 
operated unless such train has a crew of at least 1 appro-
priately qualified and certified conductor and 1 appro-
priately qualified and certified engineer. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Except as provided in subsection 
(d), the prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply in 
the following circumstances: 
‘‘(1) Train operations within a rail yard or ter-
minal area or on auxiliary or industry tracks. 
‘‘(2) A train operated— 
‘‘(A) by a railroad carrier that has fewer 
than 400,000 total employee work hours annu-
ally and less than $20,000,000 annual revenue; 
‘‘(B) at a speed of not more than 25 miles 
per hour; and 
‘‘(C) on a track with an average track 
grade of less than 2 percent for any segment of 
track that is at least 2 continuous miles. 
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‘‘(3) Locomotives performing assistance to a 
train that has incurred mechanical failure or lacks 
the power to traverse difficult terrain, including 
traveling to or from the location where assistance is 
provided. 
‘‘(4) Locomotives that— 
‘‘(A) are not attached to any equipment or 
attached only to a caboose; and 
‘‘(B) do not travel farther than 30 miles 
from a rail yard. 
‘‘(5) Train operations staffed with fewer than a 
2-person crew at least 1 year prior to the date of en-
actment of this section, if the Secretary determines 
that the operation achieves an equivalent level of 
safety. 
‘‘(c) TRAINS INELIGIBLE FOR EXCEPTION.—The ex-
ceptions under subsection (b) may not be applied to— 
‘‘(1) a train transporting 1 or more loaded cars 
carrying material toxic by inhalation, as defined in 
section 171.8 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions; 
‘‘(2) a train carrying 20 or more loaded tank 
cars of a Class 2 material or a Class 3 flammable 
liquid in a continuous block or a single train car-
rying 35 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 2 ma-
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terial or a Class 3 flammable liquid throughout the 
train consist; and 
‘‘(3) a train with a total length of 7,500 feet or 
greater. 
‘‘(d) WAIVER.—A railroad carrier may seek a waiver 
of the requirements of this section pursuant to section 
20103(d).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘20169. Freight train crew size safety standards.’’. 
SEC. 9510. SAFE CROSS BORDER OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 416 title IV of division 
A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 
20107 note) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Mechanical and brake’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Mechanical and brake’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) WAIVER.—The Secretary may not grant any 
waiver or waiver modification that provides for the ability 
to perform mechanical or brake inspections of rail cars 
in Mexico in lieu of complying with the certification re-
quirements of this section.’’. 
(b) SAFETY
STANDARDS
FOR
CERTAIN
RAIL 
CREWS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Title IV of division A of the 
Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 
110–432) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 421. SAFETY STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN RAIL CREWS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may not permit covered rail employees to enter the United 
States to perform train or dispatching service unless the 
Secretary certifies that— 
‘‘(1) Mexico has adopted and is enforcing safety 
standards for covered rail employees that are equiva-
lent to, or greater than, those applicable to railroad 
employees whose primary reporting point is in the 
United States, including qualification and certifi-
cation requirements under parts 240 and 242 of title 
49, Code of Federal Regulations; 
‘‘(2) covered rail employees are subject to the 
alcohol and drug testing requirements in part 219 of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, including the 
requirements of subparts F, G, and H of such part, 
to the same extent as such requirements apply to 
railroad employees whose primary reporting point is 
in the United States and who are subject to such 
part; 
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‘‘(3) covered rail employees are subject to hours 
of service requirements under section 21103 of title 
49, United States Code, at all times any such em-
ployee is on duty, regardless of location; 
‘‘(4) covered rail employees are subject to the 
motor vehicle driving record evaluation requirements 
in section 240.115 of title 49, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, to the same extent as such requirements 
apply to railroad employees whose primary reporting 
point is in the United States and are subject to such 
section, and that such evaluation includes driving 
records from the same country as the employee’s 
primary reporting point; and 
‘‘(5) the Federal Railroad Administration is 
permitted to perform onsite inspections of rail facili-
ties in Mexico to ensure compliance with paragraphs 
(1) and (2). 
‘‘(b) NOTICE REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 days after 
the date on which the Secretary certifies each of the 
requirements under paragraphs (1) through (5) of 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall publish in the 
Federal Register— 
‘‘(A) notice of each such certification; and 
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‘‘(B) documentation supporting each such 
certification. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC COMMENT.—To ensure compliance 
with the requirements of this section and any other 
applicable safety requirements, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) allow for public comment on the no-
tice required under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) hold a public hearing on such notice. 
‘‘(3) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE.—On the date on 
which each publication required under paragraph (1) 
is published in the Federal Register, the Secretary 
shall notify the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate of such publication. 
‘‘(c) DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING.— 
‘‘(1) NONAPPLICATION
OF
EXEMPTION.—For 
purposes of compliance with subsection (a)(2), the 
exemption contained in part 219.3(d)(2) of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply. 
‘‘(2) AUDIT BY OFFICE OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL 
COMPLIANCE.—To ensure compliance with the drug 
and alcohol testing programs described in subsection 
(a)(2), the Office of Drug and Alcohol Compliance 
in the Department of Transportation shall conduct 
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an annual audit of such programs and recommend 
enforcement actions as needed. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION OF COVERED RAIL EMPLOYEE.— 
In this section, the term ‘covered rail employee’ means a 
railroad employee whose primary reporting point is in 
Mexico.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 1(b) of the Rail Safety Improvement 
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–432), is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 420 the 
following: 
‘‘Sec. 421. Safety standards for certain rail crews.’’. 
SEC. 9511. YARDMASTERS HOURS OF SERVICE. 
(a) LIMITATIONS ON DUTY HOURS OF YARDMASTER 
EMPLOYEES.—Section 21103 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in the section heading by inserting ‘‘AND 
YARDMASTER
EMPLOYEES’’ after ‘‘TRAIN
EM-
PLOYEES’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or yardmaster employee’’ after 
‘‘train employee’’ each place it appears; and 
(3) 
in 
subsection 
(e) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘or 
yardmaster employee’s’’ after ‘‘During a train em-
ployee’s’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 21101 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘a yardmaster 
employee,’’ after ‘‘dispatching service employee,’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) ‘yardmaster employee’ means an indi-
vidual responsible for supervising and coordi-
nating the control of trains and engines oper-
ating within a rail yard.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 211 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 21103 and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘21103. Limitations on duty hours of train employees and yardmaster employ-
ees.’’. 
SEC. 9512. LEAKING BRAKES. 
The Administrator of the Federal Railroad Adminis-
tration shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure 
that no DB–60 air brake control valve manufactured be-
fore January 1, 2006, is equipped on a rail car operating 
on— 
(1) a unit train north of the 37th parallel on 
or after August 1, 2022; or 
(2) a non-unit train north of the 37th parallel 
on or after August 1, 2024. 
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SEC. 9513. ANNUAL REPORT ON PTC SYSTEM FAILURES. 
Section 20157 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(m) ANNUAL REPORT OF SYSTEM FAILURES.—Not 
later than April 16 of each calendar year following the 
date of an implementation deadline under subsection 
(a)(1), each railroad shall submit to the Secretary a report 
containing the number of positive train control system fail-
ures, separated by each major hardware category, that oc-
curred during the previous calendar year.’’. 
SEC. 9514. FATIGUE REDUCTION PILOT PROJECTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) maintaining the highest level of safety 
across the nation’s railroad network is of critical im-
portance; 
(2) ensuring the safety of rail transportation re-
quires the full attention of all workers engaged in 
safety-critical functions; 
(3) fatigue degrades an individual’s ability to 
stay awake, alert, and attentive to the demands of 
safe job performance; 
(4) the cognitive impairments to railroad work-
ers that result from fatigue can cause dangerous sit-
uations that put workers and communities at risk; 
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(5) the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 
mandated that the Federal Railroad Administration 
conduct two pilot projects to analyze specific prac-
tices that may be used to reduce fatigue in employ-
ees and as of the date of enactment of this Act, nei-
ther pilot project has commenced; and 
(6) the Federal Railroad Administration should 
coordinate with the industry and the workforce to 
commence and complete the fatigue pilot projects 
mandated in 2008. 
(b) PILOT PROJECTS.—Section 21109(e) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improve-
ment Act of 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of the TRAIN 
Act’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The pilot projects re-
quired under subparagraph (1) shall be developed 
and evaluated in coordination with the labor organi-
zation representing the class or craft of employees 
impacted by the pilot projects.’’. 
(c) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation may reimburse railroads participating in the pilot 
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projects under 21109(e) of title 49, United States Code, 
a share of the costs associated with the pilot projects, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the pilot projects required 
under section 21109(e) of title 49, United States 
Code, have not commenced on the date that is 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall, not later than 1 year and 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, transmit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report describing— 
(A) the status of the pilot projects; 
(B) actions the Federal Railroad Adminis-
tration has taken to commence the pilot 
projects, including efforts to recruit participant 
railroads; 
(C) any challenges impacting the com-
mencement of the pilot projects; and 
(D) any other details associated with the 
development of the pilot projects that affect the 
progress toward meeting the mandate of such 
section. 
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SEC. 9515. ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PLANS. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this division, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 20170. Assault prevention and response plans 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of the TRAIN Act, any entity that 
provides regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail 
passenger transportation shall submit to the Secretary of 
Transportation for review and approval an assault preven-
tion and response plan (in this section referred to as the 
‘Plan’) to address transportation assaults. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—The Plan required under 
subsection (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) procedures that— 
‘‘(A) facilitate the reporting of a transpor-
tation assault, including the notification of on- 
site personnel, rail law enforcement, and local 
law enforcement; 
‘‘(B) personnel should follow up on the re-
porting of a transportation assault, including 
actions to protect affected individuals from con-
tinued assault; 
‘‘(C) may be taken to remove the pas-
senger or personnel who has committed a trans-
portation assault from the train or related area 
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or facility as soon as practicable when appro-
priate; 
‘‘(D) include protections and safe reporting 
practices for passengers who may have been as-
saulted by personnel; and 
‘‘(E) may limit or prohibit, to the extent 
practicable, future travel with the entity de-
scribed in subsection (a) by any passenger or 
personnel who commits a transportation assault 
against personnel or passengers; 
‘‘(2) a policy that ensures an employee who is 
a victim or witness of a transportation assault may 
participate in the prosecution of a criminal offense 
of such assault without any adverse effect on the vic-
tim’s or witnesses’ employment status; and 
‘‘(3) a process and timeline for conducting an 
annual review and update of the Plan. 
‘‘(c) NOTICE TO PASSENGERS.—An entity described 
under subsection (a) shall display onboard trains and in 
boarding areas, as appropriate, a notice stating the enti-
ty’s abilities to restrict future travel under subsection 
(b)(1)(E). 
‘‘(d) PERSONNEL TRAINING.—An entity described 
under subsection (a) shall provide initial and annual train-
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ing for all personnel on the contents of the Plan, including 
training regarding— 
‘‘(1) the procedures described in subsection (b); 
‘‘(2) methods for responding to hostile situa-
tions, including de-escalation training; and 
‘‘(3) rights and responsibilities of personnel 
with respect to a transportation assault on them-
selves, other personnel, or passengers. 
‘‘(e) PERSONNEL PARTICIPATION.—The Plan re-
quired under subsection (a) shall be developed and imple-
mented with the direct participation of personnel, and, as 
applicable, labor organizations representing personnel. 
‘‘(f) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) INCIDENT NOTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 10 
days after a transportation assault incident, the 
applicable entity described in subsection (a) 
shall notify personnel employed at the location 
in which the incident occurred. In the case of 
an incident on a vehicle, such entity shall notify 
personnel regularly scheduled to carry out em-
ployment activities on the service route on 
which the incident occurred. 
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Federal Railroad Administration the data collected 
under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4) DATA PROTECTION.—Data made available 
under this subsection shall be made available in a 
manner that protects the confidentiality of individ-
uals involved in transportation assault incidents. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITION OF TRANSPORTATION ASSAULT.— 
In this section, the term ‘transportation assault’ means 
the occurrence, or reasonably suspected occurrence, of an 
act that— 
‘‘(1) constitutes assault; 
‘‘(2) is committed by a passenger or member of 
personnel of an entity that provides regularly sched-
uled intercity or commuter rail passenger transpor-
tation against another passenger or member of per-
sonnel of such entity; and 
‘‘(3) takes place— 
‘‘(A) within a vehicle of such entity; or 
‘‘(B) in an area in which passengers are 
entering or exiting a vehicle described in sub-
paragraph (A); or 
‘‘(C) a station or facility where such entity 
operates, regardless of ownership of the station 
or facility.’’. 
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
subchapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States 
Code, as amended by this division, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘20170. Assault prevention and response plan.’’. 
SEC. 9516. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS PLANS. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall issue such reg-
ulations as are necessary to amend part 272 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations, to ensure that— 
(1) the coverage of a critical incident stress 
plan under section 272.7 of such part includes em-
ployees of commuter railroads and intercity pas-
senger railroads, as such terms are defined in sec-
tion 272.9 of such part, who directly interact with 
passengers; and 
(2) assault and the witnessing of an assault 
against an employee or train passenger is included 
in the definition of critical incident under section 
272.9 of such part. 
SEC. 9517. STUDY ON SAFETY CULTURE ASSESSMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Railroad Administration shall conduct a study on the fea-
sibility of expanding railroad safety culture assessments 
and training to include assessments and training for work-
ers employed by tourist railroads, passenger railroads, and 
commuter railroads. 
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(b) CONTENTS
OF STUDY.—The study required 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) an analysis on the need for the expansion; 
(2) the resources required to carry out the addi-
tional assessments and training; and 
(3) other potential safety challenges the initia-
tive could address. 
(c) REPORT.—The Federal Railroad Administration 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (a). 
Subtitle B—Grade Crossing Safety 
SEC. 9551. GRADE CROSSING SEPARATION GRANT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this division, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 20171. Grade crossing separation grants 
‘‘(a) GENERAL
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of 
Transportation shall make grants under this section to eli-
gible entities to assist in financing the cost of highway- 
rail grade separation projects. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligible 
for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall sub-
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mit to the Secretary an application in such form, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require, including— 
‘‘(1) an agreement between the entity that owns 
or controls the right-of-way and the applicant ad-
dressing access to right-of-way throughout the 
project; and 
‘‘(2) a cost-sharing agreement with the funding 
amounts that the entity that owns or controls the 
right-of-way shall contribute to the project, which 
shall be not less than 10 percent of the total project 
cost. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The following projects 
are eligible to receive a grant under this section: 
‘‘(1) Installation, repair, or improvement of 
grade crossing separations. 
‘‘(2) Grade crossing elimination incidental to el-
igible grade crossing separation projects. 
‘‘(3) Project planning, development, and envi-
ronmental work related to a project described in 
paragraph (1) or (2). 
‘‘(d) PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(1) LARGE
PROJECTS.—Of amounts made 
available to carry out this section, not more than 50 
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854 
percent shall be available for projects with total 
costs of $100,000,000 or greater. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In awarding grants 
under this section, the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall give priority to projects that 
maximize the safety benefits of Federal fund-
ing; and 
‘‘(B) may evaluate applications on the 
safety profile of the existing crossing, 10-year 
history of accidents at such crossing, inclusion 
of the proposed project on a grade crossing 
safety action plan, average automobile traffic, 
freight train traffic, average daily number of 
crossing closures, and proximity of community 
resources, including schools, hospitals, fire sta-
tions, police stations, and emergency medical 
service facilities. 
‘‘(e) FEDERAL SHARE OF TOTAL PROJECT COSTS.— 
‘‘(1) TOTAL
PROJECT
COSTS.—The Secretary 
shall estimate the total costs of a project under this 
section based on the best available information, in-
cluding any available engineering studies, studies of 
economic feasibility, environmental analysis, and in-
formation on the expected use of equipment or facili-
ties. 
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‘‘(2) METROPOLITAN
PLANNING
ORGANIZA-
TION.—The term ‘metropolitan planning organiza-
tion’ has the meaning given such term in section 
134(b) of title 23. 
‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State 
of the United States or the District of Columbia.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, 
as amended by this division, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘20171. Grade crossing separation grants.’’. 
SEC. 9552. RAIL SAFETY PUBLIC AWARENESS GRANT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this division, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 20172. Rail safety public awareness grants 
‘‘(a) GRANT.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Railroad Administration shall make grants to eligible enti-
ties to carry out public information and education pro-
grams to help prevent and reduce rail-related pedestrian, 
motor vehicle, and other accidents, incidents, injuries, and 
fatalities, and to improve awareness along railroad rights- 
of-way and at railway-highway grade crossings. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the 
Administrator an application in such form, in such man-
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ner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—Programs eligible for a grant 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) shall include, as appropriate— 
‘‘(A) development, placement, and dissemi-
nation of public service announcements in ap-
propriate media; 
‘‘(B) school presentations, driver safety 
education, materials, and public awareness cam-
paigns; and 
‘‘(C) disseminating information to the pub-
lic on how to identify and report to the appro-
priate authorities unsafe or malfunctioning 
highway-rail grade crossings; and 
‘‘(2) may include targeted and sustained out-
reach in communities at greatest risk to develop 
measures to reduce such risk. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—Eligible entities shall coordi-
nate program activities with local communities, law en-
forcement and emergency responders, and rail carriers, as 
appropriate, and ensure consistency with State highway- 
rail grade crossing action plans required under section 
11401(b) of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 22501 note) and 
the report titled ‘National Strategy to Prevent Tres-
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passing on Railroad Property’ issued by the Federal Rail-
road Administration in October 2018. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITIZATION.—In awarding grants under 
this section, the Administrator shall give priority to appli-
cations for programs that— 
‘‘(1) are nationally recognized; 
‘‘(2) are targeted at schools in close proximity 
to railroad rights-of-way; 
‘‘(3) partner with nearby railroad carriers; or 
‘‘(4) focus on communities with a recorded his-
tory of repeated grade crossing accidents. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—the term ‘eligible enti-
ty’ means— 
‘‘(A) a nonprofit organization; 
‘‘(B) a State; 
‘‘(C) a political subdivision of a State; and 
‘‘(D) a law enforcement agency or emer-
gency response organization. 
‘‘(2) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State 
of the United States or the District of Columbia.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, 
as amended by this division, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘20172. Rail safety public awareness grants.’’. 
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SEC. 9553. ESTABLISHMENT OF 10-MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR 
BLOCKING PUBLIC GRADE CROSSINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 201 of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by this division, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 20173. Time limit for blocking a rail crossing 
‘‘(a) TIME LIMIT.—A train, locomotive, railroad car, 
or other rail equipment is prohibited from blocking a 
crossing for more than 10 minutes, unless the train, loco-
motive, or other equipment is directly delayed by— 
‘‘(1) a casualty or serious injury; 
‘‘(2) an accident; 
‘‘(3) a track obstruction; 
‘‘(4) an act of God; or 
‘‘(5) a derailment or a major equipment failure 
that prevents the train from advancing. 
‘‘(b) CIVIL PENALTY.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation may issue civil penalties for violations of subsection 
(a) in accordance with section 21301. 
‘‘(c) DELEGATION.—The Secretary may delegate en-
forcement actions under subsection (b) to States either 
through a State inspector certified by the Federal Rail-
road Administration, or other law enforcement officials as 
designated by the States and approved by the Administra-
tion. The Secretary shall issue guidance or regulations not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment on the cri-
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teria and process for States to gain approval under this 
section. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION
TO AMTRAK
AND COMMUTER 
RAILROADS.—This section shall not apply to Amtrak or 
commuter authorities, including Amtrak and commuter 
authorities’ operations run or dispatched by a Class I rail-
road. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CROSSING.—The term ‘crossing’ means a 
location within a State in which a public highway, 
road, or street, including associated sidewalks and 
pathways, crosses 1 or more railroad tracks either at 
grade or grade-separated. 
‘‘(2) BLOCKED CROSSING.—The term ‘blocked 
crossing’ means a circumstance in which a train, lo-
comotive, railroad car, or other rail equipment is 
stopped or is standing in a manner that obstructs 
public travel at a crossing.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
chapter II of chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
item: 
‘‘20173. Time limit for blocking a rail crossing.’’. 
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861 
SEC. 9554. NATIONAL STRATEGY TO ADDRESS BLOCKED 
CROSSINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate, and make publicly available on the 
website of the Department of Transportation, a report 
containing a national strategy to address blocked cross-
ings. 
(b) PUBLIC LAW 116–94.—The strategy required 
under subsection (a) shall incorporate the recommenda-
tions and briefing described in the report accompanying 
the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 
2020 (Public Law 116–94) with respect to the amounts 
provided under the heading ‘‘Federal Railroad Adminis-
tration—Safety and Operations’’. 
(c) REPORT
CONTENTS.—The strategy required 
under subsection (a) shall include an analysis of the fol-
lowing topics, including any specific legislative or regu-
latory recommendations: 
(1) How best to engage the public, representa-
tives of labor organizations representing railroad em-
ployees, law enforcement officers, highway traffic of-
ficials, or other employees of a public agency acting 
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in an official capacity to identify and address 
blocked crossings. 
(2) How technology and positive train control 
system data can be used to identify and address in-
stances of blocked crossings. 
(3) How to identify and address instances of 
blocked crossings at crossings with passive or no 
warning devices. 
(4) How best to use the data collected under a 
webpage established by the Secretary for the public 
and law enforcement to report instances of blocked 
crossings, including whether such data should be 
verified by each rail carrier or incorporated into the 
national crossing inventory established under section 
20160 of title 49, United States Code. 
(d) UPDATING
STRATEGY.—The Secretary shall 
evaluate the strategy developed under this section not less 
than every 5 years, and update it as needed. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BLOCKED CROSSING.—The term ‘‘blocked 
crossing’’ means a circumstance in which a train, lo-
comotive, railroad car, or other rail equipment is 
stopped or is standing in a manner that obstructs 
public travel at a crossing. 
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(2) POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM.—The 
term ‘‘positive train control system’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 20157(i) of title 49, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 9555. RAILROAD POINT OF CONTACT FOR BLOCKED 
CROSSING MATTERS. 
Section 20152 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C) by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(D) as subparagraph (E); and 
(iii) by inserting the following after 
subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(D) blocked crossings; or’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)(C) or 
(D)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (C), 
(D), or (E) of paragraph (1)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in paragraph (5) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’ ; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
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864 
‘‘(6) promptly inform the Secretary if the num-
ber required to be established under subsection (a) 
has changed and report the new number to the Sec-
retary.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) PUBLICATION OF TELEPHONE NUMBERS.—The 
Secretary shall make any telephone number established 
under subsection (a) publicly available on the website of 
the Department of Transportation.’’. 
Æ 
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