[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4630 Introduced in House (IH)]
103d CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4630
To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve safety at rail-
highway grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 22, 1994
Mr. Mineta (by request) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve safety at rail-
highway grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Safety
Act of 1994''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) there are approximately 170,000 public and 110,000
private at-grade rail-highway crossings in the United States;
(2) during 1993, there were nearly 4,900 accidents at these
crossings;
(3) it is necessary to improve safety at our Nation's rail-
highway crossings and along rail rights-of-way;
(4) there are insufficient public funds to provide for the
installation of warning systems that are automatically
activated by approaching trains at all public crossings;
(5) many of the Nation's public rail-highway crossings are
unnecessary and should be closed;
(6) rail-highway crossing consolidation will reduce the
potential for rail-highway crossing collisions and will allow
States to concentrate on improving safety at the remaining
crossings;
(7) incentives are needed to encourage State and local
governments to increase the consolidation of rail-highway
crossings; and
(8) increased funding must be provided to educate motorists
in their responsibilities at crossings in order to realize the
full benefits from the public investment in rail-highway
crossing warning systems.
SEC. 3. RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING CLOSING PROGRAM.
(a) Increased Federal Share.--Section 120(c) of title 23, United
States Code, is amended by inserting ``rail-highway crossing
closures,'' after ``vanpooling,''.
(b) Incentive Funds; Benefits and Costs Analyses.--Section 130 of
title 23, United States Code, is amended by redesignating subsection
(h) as subsection (j) and inserting after subsection (g) the following:
``(h) Incentive Funds for Closing Crossings.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), any State,
after adopting a policy requiring the review of the need for
all new public at-grade rail-highway crossings, may, in its
discretion, use the funds authorized under this section to
provide an incentive payment to a local jurisdiction upon the
permanent closing by the jurisdiction of a public at-grade
crossing.
``(2) Conditions.--The incentive payments authorized by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be in amounts of not to
exceed $7,500: Provided, That the funds are matched by an equal
payment from the railroad owning the tracks on which the
crossing is located.
``(3) Use of funds.--The local jurisdiction receiving funds
under this subsection shall use the Federal funds portion of
the incentive payment for transportation safety improvements
only.
``(i) Public Benefits and Costs Analyses.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall
establish guidelines to enable States to determine the public benefits
and costs resulting from any new rail-highway grade crossings.''.
SEC. 4. OPERATION LIFESAVER.
Section 104(d)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
``(1) Operation lifesaver.--Before making an apportionment
of funds under subsection (b)(3) for a fiscal year, the
Secretary shall set aside $500,000 of the funds authorized to
be appropriated for the surface transportation program for such
fiscal year for carrying out a public information and education
program to help prevent and reduce motor vehicle accidents,
injuries, and fatalities, to improve driver performance at
railway-highway crossings, and to help prevent trespassing on
rail rights-of-way and the resulting injuries and fatalities.
Expenditure of any funds in excess of $300,000 shall be
contingent upon receipt of matching funds from nonpublic
sources.''.
SEC. 5. GRADE CROSSING CORRIDOR SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
(a) Funding of Program.--Section 104(d) of title 23, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Grade crossing corridor safety incentive program.--
Before making an apportionment of funds under subsection (b)(3)
for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside $15,000,000 of
the funds authorized to be appropriated for the surface
transportation program for such fiscal year to carry out a
program to provide a financial incentive to States that review
and implement grade crossing safety improvements on a corridor
basis in accordance with section 130(k).''.
(b) Establishment of Program.--Section 130 of title 23, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Grade Crossing Corridor Safety Incentive Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program
to provide an additional financial incentive to States that
review and implement grade crossing safety improvements on a
corridor basis. Such financial incentive would be in addition
to those funds available in accordance with the preceding
subsections.
``(2) Project approval.--Funds authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this subsection shall be available
for obligation at the discretion of the Secretary. The
Secretary shall issue investment criteria for approving
projects under this section.
``(3) Applicability of other provisions.--All provisions of
this chapter, other than provisions relating to apportionment
formulas and Federal share, shall apply to funds made available
to carry out this subsection, except as determined by the
Secretary to be inconsistent with this subsection. Funds
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section shall
remain available until expended.''.
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