The D-BLOC Act restricts railroad carriers from blocking highway-rail crossings for more than 10 minutes, with limited exceptions for emergencies, accidents, safety compliance, and other operational necessities. If a crossing is blocked excessively three or more times within 30 days, the Federal Railroad Administration will investigate the cause and can impose civil penalties on the railroad 60 days after notification, though penalties don't apply if no alternate route exists within half a mile or if a grade separation project is already funded and planned. The bill requires railroads to maintain records of blocked crossing incidents, publish links to a federal blocked crossing reporting portal on their websites within 60 days, designate a point of contact for blocked crossing complaints that must verify reports within 14 days, and respond to community reports promptly. The law does not apply to Amtrak or commuter rail services, and it establishes the current federal blocked crossing portal as a permanent reporting mechanism rather than a temporary initiative.
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