49 USC § 20159 - Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t49/s20159"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "49 USC § 20159 - Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings"
title_number: 49
title_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
section_number: "20159"
section_name: "Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings"
chapter_number: 201
chapter_name: "GENERAL"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "SAFETY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4869; amended Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11316(f), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1676.)"
---


# § 20159. Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Secretary of Transportation, after consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and States, shall develop and make available to States model legislation providing for improving safety by addressing sight obstructions, including vegetation growth, topographic features, structures, and standing railroad equipment, at highway-rail grade crossings that are equipped solely with passive warnings, as recommended by the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation in Report No. MH–2007–044.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4869; amended Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11316(f), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1676.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, referred to in text, is the date of enactment of div. A of , which was approved .

### Amendments

2015— substituted “the Secretary of Transportation” for “the Secretary”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under , Government Organization and Employees.