Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2019

Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2019

This bill addresses highway-rail grade crossing safety.

The bill reauthorizes the highway safety improvement program through FY2024, with $50 million set aside in FY2020-FY2024 for the Railway-Highway Crossings Program.

Eligibility requirements are revised for the award of capital grants to states under the rail line relocation and improvement program.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) must hire

• 16 full-time grade crossing safety managers to work with state and local officials to identify safety improvements to highway-rail grade crossings; and
• 8 trespass prevention managers to work with local governments, schools, businesses, and railroads to develop site-specific mitigation plans.

The Department of Transportation must gather and publish information and statistics relating to highway-rail grade crossing problems, including from studies conducted by the FRA, rail carriers, and independent entities.