RAILROAD AND BRIDGE CROSSINGS

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 9, ch. 9-28

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-28-010 Railroad grade crossing - Obedience to signal.

9-28-010 Railroad grade crossing - Obedience to signal. (a) The driver of a vehicle approaching a railroad grade crossing shall stop not less than ten feet from the nearest rail of such railroad, and shall not proceed until he can do so safely whenever: (1) A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device gives warning of the immediate approach of a train; (2) A crossing gate is lowered or a human flagman gives or continues to give a signal of the approach or passage of a train; (3) A train approaching within approximately 1,500 feet of the street or highway crossing emits a signal audible from such a distance and such train, by reason of its speed or nearness to such crossing, is an immediate hazard; or (4) An approaching train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to the crossing. (b) No person shall drive any vehicle through, around, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed. (c) The provisions of this section shall also be applicable to elevated railroad grade crossings where elevated railroad trains operate at ground level. (d) Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be fined $250, or made to perform 25 hours of community service, for the first violation, and shall be fined $500 for a second or subsequent violation. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 3-29-06, p. 73701, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-28-020 Obedience to bridge signals.

9-28-020 Obedience to bridge signals. (a) No operator of a vehicle shall drive onto or allow the vehicle to remain upon a bridge or the approach thereto beyond the bridge signal, gate or barrier after a bridge operation signal indication has been given. (b) Whenever the operator of a vehicle stops for a bridge operation signal indication, he shall stop the vehicle so as not to impede traffic movement within any intersection adjacent to or near the bridge. (Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-28-030 Railroad grade crossing - Reporting of obstructions.

9-28-030 Railroad grade crossing - Reporting of obstructions. (A) The Chicago Transportation Coordinating Office shall immediately notify the city's 9-1-1 emergency telephone system any time a moving or stationary train obstructs a railroad-highway crossing at grade within city limits for more than five minutes and shall notify the same when the opening is cleared. Failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $200.00, nor more than $500.00, for each offense. (B) The executive director of the city's office of emergency management and communications, or his designees, shall immediately transmit to the Chicago Department of Police and to the Chicago Fire Department any information received from the Chicago Transportation Coordinating Office relative to the obstruction of railroad-highway crossings at grade so that the information can be taken into account by those departments when dispatching units in response to calls for emergency service. The executive director shall establish a telephone number to receive information from the Chicago Transportation Coordinating Office relative to the obstruction of railroad-highway crossings at grade. (Added Coun. J. 9-5-01, p. 66444, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 8.8)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2645428Fetched: 10/24/2026