This bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish minimum safety and structural standards for railroad bridges within two years and creates new transparency and oversight mechanisms for rail bridge conditions. Railroad carriers must update their bridge inspection reports to indicate whether bridges meet safety standards and are in poor, fair, or good condition, with detailed timelines and cost estimates for bridges needing repairs. Within five years, the department must create a publicly accessible database of bridge inspection reports showing inspection dates, locations, bridge owners, and condition ratings, while eligible parties like members of Congress and state officials can request detailed inspection reports. The bill also establishes a Rail Bridge Safety Concern Reporting System allowing states, local governments, and tribes to report safety concerns, with the department empowered to investigate issues and impose civil penalties of $1,000 to $20,000 per week on railroads that fail to develop repair plans or address imminent hazards. Additionally, the department must conduct annual randomized inspections of railroad bridges, create visible ownership placards on bridges with contact information for reporting hazards, and hire additional bridge safety personnel funded by collected civil penalties.
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