MDOT has regulatory responsibilities to assess the physical condition and safety needs of the approximately 4800 public crossings in the state as well as to ensure railroad worker safety related to clearances; sanitation; and shelter.

Railroads and road authorities should notify MDOT of any crossing safety concerns; when there is a planned project in the vicinity of an existing railroad crossing; or when a planned project would create a new crossing. Motorists should report crossing incidents, including cars stalled on tracks and malfunctioning warning devices, directly to the railroads, using the contact information provided on the blue USDOT national inventory tag posted at crossings.

Note that there are no current restrictions on the amount of time a train can occupy a crossing.