It's a familiar frustration for Metro Detroit drivers: the flashing red lights and clanging bell of a railroad crossing about to close.

But in communities where complaints about blocked crossings are on the rise, the wait is more than an inconvenience. It's a potential safety hazard and a signal that laws are needed to regulate how long freight trains can block crossings, some local officials said.

The reports are most acute in Ferndale, Howell and Woodhaven this year, according to a Detroit News analysis of data from the Federal Railroad Administration, with crossings in Wixom notching the most reports since the data became available in 2019.

“It’s not just an annoyance. This is a life, health and safety issue,” said state Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, who introduced legislation pa

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