RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING HANDBOOK AUGUST 2007 REVISION

PRESENTED BYKURT ANDERSON

2008 Mid-States Highway Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference

Background

Previous Manual was 2nd Edition, 1986 Publication

Before Widespread Adoption of Light Rail Technology

Before FRA Quiet Zone Regulation Before New Web-Based Systems Significant New Guidance

Documents Pre-Fox River Grove, Illinois Metra Collision USDOT Technical Working Group ITE RP Preemption of Traffic Signals Near Railroad

Crossings

Top 10 List

Update on Federal Programs, Safety Initiatives & Court Cases

Preemption of Traffic Signals Near Railroad Crossings

Use of Pre-Signals & Exclusion Zone Striping Passive Devices – Use of Stop and Yield Signs at

Grade Crossings Summary of Quiet Zone Procedures Description of Use of Wayside Horns Update to Sight Distance Tables; clarification of

application & addition of Pedestrian Sight Distance Updates to FRA Grade Crossing Inventory

procedures and Accident Prediction Model MUTCD 2003 Light Rail Transit Safety Treatments (TCRP Reports

17 & 69)

Update on Federal Programs, Safety Initiatives & Court Cases Good summary of history of federal

grade crossing safety programs Includes information on ISTEA & SAFTEA-

LU Headlights & Auxiliary Lighting Reflectorization of Freight Rolling Stock FHWA guidance on use of STOP and

YIELD signs at passive crossings Train Horns & Quiet Zones Summary of Court Cases

CSX v. Easterwood Norfolk Southern v. Shanklin

Preemption of Traffic Signals Near Railroad Crossings Extensive preemption section References ITE Recommended

Practice, AREMA, MUTCD as well as other material

TXDOT form is included in Appendix

Use of Pre-Signals incl Queue CuttersPre-Signal Ahead of Crossing Pre-Signal Ahead on Cantilever

Pre-Signal Beyond Crossing Queue Cutter Signal

Queue Prevention Strategies

Passive Devices – Use of Stop and Yield Signs at Grade Crossings

Guidance for use also provided in Handbook: Use of YIELD

is the default choice

Use of STOP based upon engineering study

Summary of Quiet Zone Procedures

Overview Requirement to Sound the

Locomotive Horn Creation of Quiet Zones Maintenance of Pre-Rule Quiet

Zones Creation of New Quiet Zones Length of Quiet Zones Supplementary and Alternative

Safety Measures

Description of Use of Wayside Horns Describes use in the Quiet Zone

Section Describes functionality in

Warning Device Section MUTCD Part 8 and Part 10

applications described

Update to Sight Distance Tables

Updated sight distance tables Clearing Sight Distance for

pedestrians was added Application and clarification

added

FRA Grade Crossing Inventory Procedures and Ax Prediction Model

Updated Inventory Instructions Detailed Discussion of USDOT Accident Prediction Model

MUTCD 2003

Light Rail Transit Safety Treatments (TCRP Reports 17 & 69)

Light Rail

List of safety issues paired with possible solutions

Recommended motor vehicle treatments including use of active supplemental devices vs. gated or non-gated crossings: Traffic Signal Active NO LEFT/RIGHT TURN sign Train Icon

Examples of pedestrian treatments Z crossings & bedstead barriers Second train coming signs Swing gates Channelization Gate placement options

Active Devices

Use of LEDs Four quadrant gates Use of channelization with gates Barrier gates Wayside horn systems Second train coming signs

Escape Zone Curbing (IL DOT)

Pavement Markings

Standard treatment shown in MUTCD 2003

Example from TX DOT of alternative placement to avoid wheel wear

Example from IL DOT of keep clear diagonal striping placement

Enhanced Closure Section

Jurisdiction for crossing closure by state indicating whether state agency / commission or local jurisdiction is responsible

Information on closure programs including criteria for selecting closure candidates and other factors to consider when closing a crossing

Corridor approach including closure and safety improvements

Selection of Alternatives

Use of STOP and YIELD signs (FHWA Memo, 2006)

Incorporates recommendations from Guidance on Traffic Control Devices at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings (US DOT Technical Working Group, 2002)

Cost-effectiveness of evaluation of alternative countermeasures (Transport Canada, 2002)

GradeDec software & web reference (FRA, 2002)

Private Crossings

Updated statistics Collisions Collisions vs. Type of Traffic Control Device Collisions vs. Vehicle Type / Pedestrian

Example Private Crossings Policy (WV) included as appendix

To download your copy:http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/xings/07010/07010.pdf