Railroad Grade Crossing Safety
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); request for comments.
The Hazardous Materials Transportation Authorization Act of 1994 requires the amendment of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to prohibit operators of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) from driving onto a railroad grade crossing unless there is sufficient space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping. The FHWA, therefore, proposes to make this amendment which is intended to reduce the incidence of collisions between trains and CMVs. Comments and information are requested about railroad grade crossings that lack sufficient clearance for some CMVs to be driven completely through the crossing before being required to stop by a stop sign, highway traffic signal, or similar traffic control device. The FHWA intends to have a public meeting in Washington, D.C. during the comment period to discuss this subject matter.