Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 700
117th Congress(2021-2022)
A bill to establish a portal and database to receive and maintain information regarding blocked railroad-highway grade crossings and to require the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate the requirements of the railway-highway crossings program.
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Mar 11, 2021
Overview
Text
Introduced
Mar 11, 2021
Latest Action
Mar 11, 2021
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
700
Congress
117
Policy Area
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation and Public Works
Primary focus of measure is all aspects of transportation modes and conveyances, including funding and safety matters; Coast Guard; infrastructure development; travel and tourism. Measures concerning water resources and navigation projects may fall under Water Resources Development policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Nebraska
Democrat
Michigan
Democrat
Minnesota
Democrat
Montana
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

This bill provides statutory authority for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to establish and maintain a portal and corresponding database through which it shall receive information on blocked railroad-highway grade crossings as a three-year pilot program.

The FRA must use information from the database (1) to assist in identifying the locations and potential impacts of frequent and long-duration blocked railroad-highway grade crossings; (2) as a basis for outreach to communities, emergency responders, and railroads; and (3) to support collaboration in the prevention of incidents at railroad-highway grade crossings.

Additionally, the Department of Transportation must evaluate the requirements of its railway-highway crossing program to determine whether

  • the program provides states sufficient flexibility to adequately address current and emerging grade-crossing safety issues,
  • the structure of the program provides sufficient incentive and resources to states and local agencies to make changes at grade crossings that are most effective at reducing deaths and injuries,
  • there are appropriate tools and resources to support states in using data-driven programs to determine the most cost-effective use of program funds, and
  • any statutory changes are necessary to improve the effectiveness of the program.
Text (1)
March 11, 2021
Actions (2)
03/11/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
03/11/2021
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:47:44 PM