Bill > HR6223

This bill, the Don't BLock Our Communities Act (D-BLOC Act), aims to address concerns related to blocked crossings. Key provisions of the bill include: 1. Requiring railroad carriers to collect data on blocked crossings and report this information to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for incorporation into the national highway-rail crossing inventory. This data must be reported monthly and be searchable by various factors. 2. Establishing a 10-minute time limit for trains, locomotives, railroad cars, or other railroad equipment to block a crossing, with specified exceptions for emergencies or equipment failures. The Secretary of Transportation can issue civil penalties for violations, with escalating penalties for longer blockages. 3. Directing the Secretary to issue regulations defining what constitutes "persistently" or "egregiously" blocking a crossing, taking into consideration factors like the length of blockage, frequency, safety impacts, and community disruption. The Secretary can then take additional enforcement actions like fines, operational changes, or other measures to address such chronic issues. 4. Requiring the Secretary to develop a national strategy for addressing blocked crossings, including recommendations on engaging the public, leveraging technology, and addressing crossings without active warning devices. 5. Requiring railroad carriers to establish a toll-free telephone service for the public to directly report blocked crossings. The provisions generally apply to freight rail operations, but exclude Amtrak and commuter rail services. The goal is to improve public safety and quality of life by reducing the impacts of blocked crossings in local communities.