Per Kentucky statute, KRS 277.200, railroads are prohibited from blocking any public highway or street by stopping and permitting trains, engines or cars to stand upon a public grade crossing for more than 5 minutes at any one time, unless it is caused by circumstances beyond the control of the railroad. Local law enforcement officers can cite violations with penalties prescribed in KRS 277.990 (6). The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) accepts reports of blocked crossings. These reports may be made directly to the FRA by selecting the link below:
https://www.fra.dot.gov/blockedcrossings/
Railroad Coordination Program
The purpose of the
Cabinet’s Railroad Coordination Program is to negotiate coordination efforts
with railroad companies directly affected by a Cabinet road construction
project. When a road project adjoins or encompasses a railroad
facility (such as a railroad track or railroad right of way), that facility
owner becomes an active partner in the project’s development. The
Cabinet is obligated to negotiate the terms of the project’s design as it
impacts that owner and to compensate the owner for their involvement in the
project as a whole.
The Cabinet’s railroad coordination process is
designed to be as flexible as possible to allow railroad companies to utilize
their own planning, design, inspection, and accounting procedures to the
greatest extent. The terms of the project’s coordination are
outlined in a term contract with the railroad owner, guaranteeing specific
items required by statute, regulation, or legal opinion are present.
Proactive railroad
coordination early in the project life cycle will minimize the amount of effort
needed later in the project or during the construction of a project, and helps
avoid costly and potentially time-consuming unexpected issues. The Utilities and
Rail Branch’s railroad coordinator focuses on early and proactive communication,
encouraging avoidance of rail facilities, but, most often, avoidance is not
feasible. For these situations, the staff will work to provide the
design team information and feedback from the railroad.
The process emphasizes
communication among all those whose work impacts the railroad coordination in
transportation projects including communication between the Utilities and Rail
Branch and the railroad owner to accurately identify and resolve issues.
The railroad coordinator provides information about future transportation
projects to the railroad companies as part of their long-term and short-term
planning.
In support of this
mission, the following documents are attached. These documents are as
identified in the Utilities and Rails Guidance Manual.
