Official Summary

5/21/2007--Introduced.Railroad Crossing and Hazardous Materials Transport Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the safety of all highway-rail grade crossings in the United States and to submit to Congress a priority list of highway-rail grade

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Official Summary

5/21/2007--Introduced.
Railroad Crossing and Hazardous Materials Transport Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the safety of all highway-rail grade crossings in the United States and to submit to Congress a priority list of highway-rail grade crossings most in need of safety improvements. Directs the Secretary to:
(1) maintain a national database of information on the safety of highway-rail grade crossings;
(2) investigate the cause of each fatal crossing accident; and
(3) prescribe regulations for improving crossing safety, maintenance, and surveillance. Establishes the position of Special Advisor for Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety in the office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy. Requires annual safety reviews by crossing inspectors. Increases civil penalties for crossing safety requirement violations. Authorizes grants for enforcement of crossing safety laws, rail infrastructure safety improvements, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Increases civil penalties for violations of hazardous materials transportation requirements. Requires revocation of any compliance order if a railroad carrier commits a gross violation of such order that results in a hazardous materials accident. Sets inspection requirements for tank cars carrying hazardous materials. Requires a rail carrier to provide comprehensive lists of all hazardous materials scheduled to be transported through a state to a state homeland security coordinator if requested. Directs the Secretary to double the number of hazardous materials inspectors employed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).


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