State Actions For Employing Transportation Risk Assessments and Crossing Knowledge Strategies Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5783
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-18: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-01T20:35:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The SAFE TRACKS Act (H.R. 5783) aims to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights-of-way by requiring states to submit ongoing reports on their safety strategies. It expands existing requirements to include measures for reducing pedestrian deaths, including suicides, while ensuring federal oversight through periodic updates.
Key Provisions
- State Safety Plans: States must include in their highway-rail grade crossing action plans details on how they will collaborate with stakeholders—such as railroads operating in the state—to reduce pedestrian fatalities along railroad tracks. This involves consulting mental health agencies and law enforcement.
- Periodic Reporting: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator must receive these state plans initially and then every five years thereafter, making the reporting requirement ongoing rather than one-time.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 20167 of Title 49, United States Code, which previously required initial state action plans on grade crossing safety.
- Adds a new requirement (paragraph 5 in subsection (a)) for states to address pedestrian safety strategies, including suicides, which was not explicitly covered before.
- Redesignates existing paragraphs for clarity and extends the reporting timeline in subsection (b) from a single submission to recurring every five years, ensuring sustained monitoring and updates.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The FRA will handle recurring reviews of state plans, potentially increasing administrative workload but enabling better long-term safety enforcement. States may need to allocate resources for plan development and stakeholder coordination.
- Citizens: Could lead to safer rail environments, reducing accidents at crossings and pedestrian incidents along tracks, including fewer suicides, benefiting communities near railroads.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. rail safety.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States: Responsible for creating and updating safety plans, involving coordination with local entities.
- Railroads: Must collaborate with states on reducing pedestrian risks.
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): Oversees and receives reports, influencing national rail safety standards.
- Public and Pedestrians: Primary beneficiaries through enhanced safety measures.
- Mental Health and Law Enforcement Agencies: Involved in consultations to address suicides and related incidents along rail lines.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal-state partnerships under existing rail safety laws without introducing new penalties or funding; relies on voluntary state compliance tied to federal reporting.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it operates within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and transportation safety (Commerce Clause).
- Political: Promotes bipartisan rail safety (introduced by representatives from both parties) by addressing both vehicular crossings and broader pedestrian issues like mental health, potentially influencing future infrastructure funding debates without mandating new expenditures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-18: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 2025-12-18: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-12-18: Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged
- 2025-12-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- 2025-10-17: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-10-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- State Actions For Employing Transportation Risk Assessments and Crossing Knowledge Strategies Act — issued 2025-10-17 — PDF (2 pages)