---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20159"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "20159"
heading: "Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20159"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part A — Safety"
  - "Chapter 201 — General"
  - "Subchapter II — Particular Aspects of Safety"
---

# §20159. Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings


Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) of Transportation, after consultation with the Federal [Railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and [States](/usc/49/26105.md?p=5), shall develop and make available to [States](/usc/49/26105.md?p=5) model legislation providing for improving safety by addressing sight obstructions, including vegetation growth, topographic features, structures, and standing [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) equipment, at highway-rail grade crossings that are equipped solely with passive warnings, as recommended by the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation in Report No. MH–2007–044.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4869; amended Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11316(f), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1676.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

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

### Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–94 substituted “the Secretary of Transportation” for “the Secretary”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.