§20161 Fostering introduction of new technology to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must encourage and help bring new safety technology to places where roads cross railroad tracks. Crashes at these crossings still cause deaths, serious injuries, and property damage. There are over 140,000 public crossings—about one for each route mile. Lights and gates often help, but most crossings do not have active warning systems. Since 1973, the federal government has spent over $4,200,000,000 on crossing safety. New technologies could give better and cheaper warnings, but using them will need highway officials and railroads to work closely together. The Federal Railroad Administration’s rules for processor-based signal systems and the Federal Highway Administration’s traffic control manual offer the technical guides to use. Railroads and suppliers can send new crossing safety technology to the Secretary for review and approval. The Secretary must approve tech that meets the FRA processor-based system standards and that takes into account how drivers and others will react to it. The Secretary will act in consultation with states and other public and private groups. If approved and installed under the approval’s conditions, the federal approval overrides any state law or rule about whether that technology gives adequate warning at that crossing.