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April 26, 2018
Dear Friend,
If trains are clogging your street or slowing down your commute, you’re not alone. For months, I’ve heard increasing numbers of complaints from frustrated Hoosiers, concerned with what seems to have become a daily occurrence of freight trains blocking neighborhood railroad crossings for long periods of time. In one case, the crossing was blocked for three hours. These unexplained, increasingly frequent delays have obstructed emergency services, impeded residents’ mobility, and compromised driver safety.
As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, I recently requested an oversight hearing to examine blocked railroad crossings in Indianapolis and throughout the country. I also asked the federal regulator to open an investigation into this problem. Blocked train crossings are a serious interruption of traffic and business operations, but most importantly, they are a serious safety concern.
As your representative, I will work to promote compliance that all federal safety and operational requirements are being met. I will also continue to partner with local and state stakeholders to report violations and hold those responsible accountable.
If you want to report an improperly blocked railroad crossing, you can call the federal Surface Transportation Board Rail Customer and Public Assistance Program at (866) 254-1792 or email them at rcpa@stb.dot.gov You can also submit a complaint on their website https://www.stb.gov/RailCustomerPublicAssistance.nsf/Request?OpenForm
Your friend,
André
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