Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015”.
Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015
A BILL
To improve highway-rail grade crossing safety, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Railway-Highway Crossing Program
In addition to amounts otherwise apportioned for the highway safety improvement program described in section 148 of title 23, United States Code, there are authorized to be appropriated, for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019, $50,000,000, which shall be set aside for the Railway-Highway Crossings Program authorized under section 130 of such title.
Sec. 3 Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Grants Safety Program
Chapter 225 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
in section 22501(1), by striking “to a maximum of 3 States per year for development” and inserting “for the development”;
in section 22504(b)—
in the subsection heading, by striking “under section 22501(2)”; and
by striking “$250,000” and inserting “$2,500,000”; and
by amending section 22505 to read as follows:
“22505. Authorization of appropriations
“(a) In general—There are authorized to be appropriated, for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2019, $100,000,000 for grants authorized under section 22501.
“(b) Availability of funds—Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended.”
Sec. 4 Rail Line Relocation and Improvement Capital Grant Program
Section 20154 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (b)(1), by striking “, motor vehicle traffic flow, community quality of life, or economic development”;
in subsection (c)(4), by striking “motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, safety, community quality of life, and area commerce” and inserting “safety”; and
in subsection (h)—
by striking paragraph (2); and
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
in subsection (i), by striking “$350,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009” and inserting “$25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2019”.
Sec. 5 Operation Lifesaver
Section 206(c) of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (division A of Public Law 110–432) is amended to read as follows:
“(c) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Railroad Administration, for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2019, $3,000,000 to carry out this section.”
Sec. 6 Highway-rail grade crossing safety personnel
Grade crossing safety managers— In addition to the personnel authorized to be employed by the Federal Railroad Administration on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administration shall hire 16 full-time grade crossing safety managers to work with State and local officials to identify safety improvements to highway-rail grade crossings.
Trespass prevention managers— In addition to the personnel authorized to be employed by the Federal Railroad Administration on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administration shall hire 8 trespass prevention managers to work with local governments, schools, businesses, and railroads to develop site-specific mitigation plans.
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Railroad Administration, for fiscal years 2016 through 2019, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
Sec. 7 Feasibility of using new technology to report highway-rail grade crossing problems
Section 20152 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(c) Feasibility study—The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of the feasibility of requiring railroads to provide additional means for the public to report problems at highway-rail grade crossings, including through a website and text messaging.”