# Warren Cowles Grade Crossing Safety Act

This bill sets aside federal money to make railroad crossings safer, particularly in areas with busy commuter rail service. When a road crosses railroad tracks, it's called a grade crossing, and these are places where accidents can happen if cars and trains collide. The bill specifically focuses on improving safety at these crossings in high-traffic commuter rail corridors—the routes where lots of people ride trains daily.

The bill authorizes $250 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2022 to pay for safety improvements at these crossings. Starting in 2023 and continuing every year after, the same amount of money will be available, but it will be adjusted upward each year to account for inflation. This means if prices go up, the funding amount goes up too, so the money stays valuable over time. The bill essentially guarantees a dedicated stream of federal funding for these safety projects rather than leaving it to year-by-year budget decisions.

In practical terms, this money would go toward projects like installing better warning systems at crossings, upgrading gates and lights, improving road surfaces near tracks, or making other physical changes that reduce the risk of accidents. Communities with busy commuter rail lines—like those in major metropolitan areas—would be the primary beneficiaries. The bill is named after Warren Cowles, suggesting it may have been inspired by a specific incident or person connected to grade crossing safety.

Warren Cowles Grade Crossing Safety Act

Neal, Richard E.

Warren Cowles Grade Crossing Safety Act This bill authorizes appropriations for FY2022 to carry out highway-rail grade crossing improvement projects, specifically projects for commuter rail and operators in high-ridership corridors. The authorization level shall be adjusted for FY2023 and each subsequent fiscal year to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.