H.R. 6064: Protecting Homes from Trains Act of 2025

The Protecting Homes from Trains Act of 2025 aims to enhance safety and mitigate the negative impacts of rail activity on residential areas. The bill establishes a grant program overseen by the Secretary of Transportation to support the construction of barriers near rail lines that are close to homes.

Key Provisions

1. Grant Program Establishment

The Secretary of Transportation is required to set up a grant program within 180 days of the bill's enactment. This program will provide financial assistance to eligible recipients for the following purposes:

• Mitigating damage from potential train derailments.
• Reducing noise caused by trains.
• Minimizing vibrations generated by train operations.

2. Use of Grant Funds

Funds received through the grant program can be used to design or construct barriers that will be:

• Located adjacent to a rail line.
• Positioned between the rail line and residential areas that contain structures and that are directly affected, or may be affected, by rail activities.

3. Eligible Recipients

The grants will be available to a variety of entities, including:

• Individual States.
• Groups of States.
• Interstate Compacts.
• Public agencies or authorities established by States.
• Political subdivisions of a State.
• Amtrak and other rail carriers providing intercity passenger rail services.
• Class II or Class III railroads and their holding companies or associations.
• Any rail carrier collaborating with the aforementioned entities.

4. Application Process

To qualify for the grants, eligible recipients must submit an application to the Secretary of Transportation that meets specific criteria determined by the Secretary.

5. Definition of State

In this context, the term "State" encompasses all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and any territories or possessions of the United States.

6. Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes a total of $100 million per fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to implement the grant program.

Relevant Companies

• AMTK - Amtrak: As the primary intercity rail passenger provider, Amtrak may be directly impacted by the need for barriers due to increased safety regulations and funding opportunities for noise reduction and infrastructure improvement.
• CSX - CSX Corporation: This Class I railroad company might have to invest in infrastructure changes or collaborate with local governments and agencies to adapt to the new requirements for barriers, affecting their operational costs and community relations.
• UNP - Union Pacific Corporation: Similar to CSX, Union Pacific, another major freight railroad, may face impacts regarding compliance with the legislation and the financial implications of building barriers to shield residential areas from rail disturbances.