make our highways safer, more ….
make our highways safer, more efficient, and get people where they need to go a lot faster. That’s exactly what this bipartisan bill will do.”
In December 2019, the Federal Railroad Administration opened a Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter portal that the public and law enforcement could report blocked grade crossings to the agency. Tester’s bill would authorize this portal as a three year pilot program, and the FRA would be required to analyze submissions to the portal based on key criteria and provide an analysis to Congress. By authorizing the blocked crossing portal and examining the results, Congress can better understand the scope and severity of blocked crossings and develop targeted, effective policy to address them.
The bill also requires the Federal Highway Administration to evaluate the requirements of the Section 130 railway-highway grade crossing program to identify any additional flexibilities in the program that could support states’ efforts to make grade crossings safer.
Last month, Tester personally secured a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee on recent cuts to the Empire Builder service across Montana’s Hi-Line. He also helped secure $1 billion for Amtrak in the CARES Act to maintain long distance routes during the pandemic and led the charge to restore ticket agents in Amtrak stations in Havre and Shelby.
