Blocked crossing laws
How long can a train block a crossing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law limits a train to 5 minutes blocking a road crossing, under 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3713; see also 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 6907-6908. A court held a related Pennsylvania blocked crossing law preempted by federal law. We found no ruling on this time limit, and courts in other states have held similar limits preempted. Checked 16 October 2026.
The rule
Pennsylvania law says no person or government agency may run a train in a way that keeps vehicles from using a road for more than five minutes in a row, with some exceptions.
Exceptions and local rules
A train may block longer to obey train signals, to avoid hitting an object or person on the track, when the train is disabled, when the train is moving (unless it is switching), when no vehicles are waiting at the crossing, or to comply with a government regulation.
No person or government agency shall operate any train in such a manner as to prevent vehicular use of any roadway for a period of time in excess of five consecutive minutes except under any of the following circumstances:
Read the statute: 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3713; see also 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 6907-6908
Does federal law override it?
No federal law sets a time limit for a train blocking a crossing. Federal law does control how railroads run trains, and courts have used it to set aside state time limits.
When a court holds a state limit preempted, the state cannot enforce it against the railroad. A limit no court has ruled on is still on the books, but railroads may challenge it the same way.
Where to report a blocked crossing
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) takes blocked crossing reports from the public for every state.
Report to the FRA blocked crossing reporter
Pennsylvania has its own page about blocked crossings: the Pennsylvania PUC Blocked Railroad Crossings page.
If a train is blocking the crossing right now, call the railroad on the number shown on the blue sign at the crossing.
Crossings in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 3,616 public crossings in the FRA crossing inventory.