D-BLOC Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would set a strict 10-minute limit on blocked public highway-rail grade crossings and treat repeat blockages as a public safety and infrastructure coordination problem. It would create reporting, investigation, recordkeeping, and penalty rules aimed at reducing frequent or long delays.
Show full summary
- Drivers and local communities would face fewer long waits at crossings because a train may not block a public crossing for more than 10 minutes except in eight listed situations.
- Local governments and emergency responders could see faster access and priority in enforcement since the Secretary must investigate repeat problem crossings and may raise penalties when delays hinder emergency services.
- Railroad carriers would have to keep train-location records and detailed incident logs, enter a 60-day consultation after notice, and stop data collection for a crossing after 365 days with no reports. The bill allows civil penalties for violations but exempts Amtrak and commuter authorities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New 10-minute rule for crossings
This bill would prohibit a railroad carrier from causing a public road crossing to be blocked for more than 10 minutes, with eight listed exceptions. The exceptions include accidents, serious injury, track obstructions, required safety actions, trains inside yards or sidings, acts of God, derailments, and safety-equipment failures. The bill would define what counts as a blocked crossing and what locations are public highway-rail grade crossings. The bill would exempt Amtrak and commuter rail authorities, including their operations run or dispatched by Class I railroads.
Reporting and fines for blocked crossings
This bill would require the Secretary to act when a crossing has 3 or more blockages over 10 minutes on at least 3 days in a 30-day period, if those incidents are reported to the national blocked crossing portal. The Secretary would notify the railroad that owns the crossing, investigate causes, and look for fixes. Upon notice, the railroad would have to keep train location and incident records and would get a 60-day consultation with the Secretary. Carriers would have 14 days to verify reports and add verified reports to the portal, and Class I railroads would have to post a portal link on their home page within 60 days of enactment. The Secretary could impose civil penalties for rule violations that occur 60 days after the notice, but penalties would not apply where no alternate separated route exists within a half mile by road or where a funded grade-separation project has written local agreement. The bill would also let FRA officials request carrier records and would change the portal statute to preserve the Secretary's authority over blocked crossings.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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