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RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING HANDBOOK August 2007 Revision Presented by KURT ANDERSON

2008 Mid-States Highway Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference. RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING HANDBOOK August 2007 Revision Presented by KURT ANDERSON. Background. Previous Manual was 2nd Edition, 1986 Publication Before Widespread Adoption of Light Rail Technology

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RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING HANDBOOK August 2007 Revision Presented by KURT ANDERSON

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  1. 2008 Mid-States Highway Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING HANDBOOK August 2007 RevisionPresented byKURT ANDERSON

  2. 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

  3. 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)

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Use of Pre-Signals incl Queue Cutters

  7. Queue Prevention Strategies

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Update to Sight Distance Tables • Updated sight distance tables • Clearing Sight Distance for pedestrians was added • Application and clarification added

  12. FRA Grade Crossing Inventory Procedures and Ax Prediction Model • Updated Inventory Instructions • Detailed Discussion of USDOT Accident Prediction Model

  13. MUTCD 2003

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

  15. 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

  16. Active Devices • Use of LEDs • Four quadrant gates • Use of channelization with gates • Barrier gates • Wayside horn systems • Second train coming signs

  17. Escape Zone Curbing (IL DOT)

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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)

  21. 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

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

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