MDOT has regulatory authority over all public and private grade crossings. This responsibility is delegated to the Rail Safety Program Manager, who operates out of the Office of Rail and Intermodal Freight (ORIF) in the Secretary's Office.  MDOT reviews and approves changes made to existing crossings on state, local and private roadways. MDOT can also provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions and private entities.
The Program Manager implements projects using Section 130 funding and the ORIF team seeks and manages discretionary grants to improve grade crossing safety statewide.

The Section 130 Program provides funds for the elimination of hazards at public railway-highway crossings. The funds are apportioned to each State by a formula. The State Highway Administration (SHA) receives the funds from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the program is managed by the Rail Safey Program Manager. Projects are prioritized based on safety criteria and available funding. Please contact Rail Safety Program Manager Stacey Beckett at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this program.

Responsibilities related to grade crossings are tied to roadway ownership. At public crossings, the roadway owner is responsible for:

• The maintenance of the roadway approaches to the crossing, even if these approaches are within the railroad's right-of-way
• The installation and maintenance of all traffic control devices on the approaches to the crossing, including advanced pavement markings and advanced rail warning signs
• The design, construction, operation, and maintenance of highway traffic signals interconnected with grade crossing signals, and illumination

These responsibilities may differ should the roadway owner have an agreement with the railroad operator for a particular crossing(s).

Railroad operators retain responsibility for the construction, reconstruction and maintenance of the track structure and the riding surface at the highway-rail intersection, as well as traffic control devices integrated into the track structure or the wayside signal system. This could include railroad signals, gates, the crossbuck and emergency notification system (ENS) signs.
These responsibilities may differ should the railroad operator have an agreement with the roadway owner for a particular crossing(s).

Please contact the Rail Safety Program Manager Stacey Beckett at [email protected] to review the project for potential impacts to the grade crossing and to help facilitate rail coordination. 

MDOT maintains a grade crossing inventory web map, which can be used to obtain high-level crossing information. Additional data can be found using FRA's crossing inventory.

Please use the Maryland Rail Centerline Mapping Application, to identify rail ownership.

The Railroad Information Manual includes guidance regarding state-owned lines. If your need additional information please contact [email protected].