Congresswoman Pou Introduces Bipartisan Rail Safety Legislation

PATERSON, NJ – Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ–09), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, has introduced her new legislation, the SAFE TRACKS Act (State Actions For Employing Transportation Risk Assessments and Crossing Knowledge Strategies) to improve American rail safety and prevent suicides. The Act is cosponsored by Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL-12). 

“High risk railroad crossings remain a serious threat in communities across our country,” said Congresswoman Pou. “Despite obvious advances to protect Americans from harm, particularly in the landmark 2021 infrastructure law, it is necessary to remain vigilant and continuously update our laws to make improvements. My bipartisan SAFE TRACKS legislation will require states, railroads and other stakeholders to work more closely together to help reduce pedestrian deaths and suicides. These changes will save lives.”

FRA tracks safety data at the nation’s more than 200,000 railroad crossings. 2016 FRA data shows that Midland Avenue’s railroad crossing in Elmwood Park, New Jersey ranked the sixth most dangerous crossing in the United States, and the most dangerous on the East Coast. 

Between 2021 and the present, two of New Jersey’s ten deadliest rail crossings were in the Ninth District – located in the cities of Garfield and Paterson – where four incidents led to two deaths. During this period, FRA also reported that Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties had 57 pedestrian or suicide incidents along rail lines – resulting in over 40 deaths and over 20 injuries.

The SAFE TRACKS Act would strengthen federal oversight of highway-rail grade crossing safety by building on existing federal regulations which require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to review and approve State Action Plans that identify high-risk highway-rail grade crossings and deploy targeted safety fixes. 

The SAFE TRACKS Act would reaffirm those requirements while compelling states to outline how they will work with railroads and other stakeholders to reduce pedestrian deaths and suicides along railroad tracks, in consultation with mental health and law enforcement agencies. 

The bill would also direct the FRA to continue issuing updated reports on state progress every five years, ensuring that grade crossing safety initiatives and pedestrian risk reduction efforts remain ongoing, data-driven, and responsive to emerging safety challenges.

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