§20152 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

Within 18 months after the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 became law, the Secretary of Transportation must require every railroad that dispatches trains to set up and keep a toll-free phone line for the tracks it runs. People can call to report broken signals, crossing gates, or other safety devices; disabled vehicles blocking the tracks; things that block a driver’s or pedestrian’s view of an approaching train; or any other safety concerns at grade crossings. When a caller reports a broken device or a stuck vehicle, the railroad must immediately warn trains nearby and then, if needed, tell local police or emergency crews so they can direct traffic or help remove the vehicle. For blocked views or other safety reports, the railroad must check quickly and remove or fix the problem if possible. Each grade crossing the railroad owns must have a sign showing the toll-free number, what the number is for, and the crossing’s number from the National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory. The Secretary may waive the toll-free rule for Class II and Class III carriers if toll-free service would be too costly or not needed.

Title 49, §20152

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)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 railroad 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 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 either 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 crossing to provide them with the information necessary for them to direct traffic, assist in the removal of the disabled 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 circumstance; and

(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 Crossing Inventory established by the Department of Transportation.

(b)The Secretary may waive the requirement 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.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of div. A of Pub. L. 110–432, which was approved Oct. 16, 2008.

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–432 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, section related to a pilot program to demonstrate a system to provide emergency notification of grade crossing problems. 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted “

November 2, 1994” for “the date of enactment of this section” and “

November 2, 1994, an evaluation” for “that date an evaluation”.

§20152 Notification of Grade Crossing Problems