2008 Mid-States Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference

1. 2008 Mid-States Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference Guan Xu, P.E. Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety Design

2. FHWA Safety Activities • Implementing SAFETEA-LU • HSIP & SHSP • Section 130 Program • Highway Bill Reauthorization • Up and Coming Legislation & Rule Making • New & Upcoming HRGX Program Activities

3. New “core” Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) (Section 1401) HSIP funds nearly doubled from TEA-21 amounts SAFETEA-LU Key Safety Provisions • Set aside • Railway Highway Crossings - $220 Million/Year • 18% of total HSIP authorization • 42% increase over TEA-21 amount of $155 annually • Up to 2% can be used for data analysis and compilation

4. Strategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP) • A State SHSP is required for obligating HSIP funds • Identifies and analyzes safety problems and opportunities on all public roads • Improved crash data and analysis systems • Developed by DOT after consultation with prescribed safety stakeholders [148(a)(6)], including: • Persons responsible for administering Section 130 Program • Representatives conducting Operation Lifesaver • All 50 States’ + DC’s SHSPs in place as of October 1, 2007 • 28 States have HRGX safety as one of their safety emphasis areas

5. Implementing HRGX Program reporting requirements Submitted first HRGX biennial report to Congress in April 2006 49 States + DC submitted FY06&07 annual HRGX reports Second biennial report to Congress due April 1, 2008 “Noteworthy Practices and Examples" for section 130 reports HRGX Program in SAFETEA-LU

6. Section 130 Funding • Apportionment factor – number of public at-grade crossings • At least 50% of State’s apportionment must be used for installation of protective devices • The federal share is 90 percent, subject to the sliding scale adjustment • The federal share is 100% for certain safety improvements listed in 23 USC 120(c).

7. Other HRGX Funding • Railway-highway hazard elimination in high speed rail corridors [SAFETEA-LU section 1103 (f)] • Eligible Crossings: public and private crossings on designated HSR corridors • Jointly administered by FRA & FHWA • $10M (FY07), $12.5M (FY08), $15M (FY09) including a setaside for Midwest HSR • $10M FY07 HSR funds were awarded to 17 States • Operation Lifesaver [SAFETEA-LU section 1103(f)] • $560,000 per year from FY06 to FY09

8. Other Federal Funding • Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program (TCSP) (SAFETEA-LU section 1117) ($61.25M) • http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/pi_tcsp.htm • Highway Bridge Program (SAFETEA-LU section 1114, 23 USC section 144) • Under 23 U.S.C. 104(g), up to 40% of funds may be transferred to the HRGX program. (Must be approved by the Secretary as being in the public interest.)

9. 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 Number of Incidents 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 2000 1995 1985 1980 1975 1990 2005 Year Fatalities Injuries Section 130 Program Highlights Grade Crossing Fatality and Injury Trend, CY 75-06

10. Highway Bill Reauthorization • Address Safety Program Structure Needs • Focusing on Safety Performance • Streamlining Program Delivery • State-Level Flexibility in Application of Federal Funds • Addressing Rural / Local Challenges • Improving Data Quality • Maintaining a Strong Research and Technology Program • Funding for Improving Highway Safety

11. Final Rule on Sign Retroreflectivity2003 MUTCD Revision 2 • Publish date: December 21, 2007 • Effective Date: January 22, 2008 • 2003 MUTCD Revision 2 Requires the use of an assessment or management method (Standard statement) Provides a list of recommended assessment or management methods Provides minimum maintained retroreflectivity levels (Table 2A-3 Minimum Maintained Retroreflectivity Levels)

12. Final Rule on Sign Retroreflectivity2003 MUTCD Revision 2 • Compliance Date • 4 years: implementation and continued use of an assessment or management method • 7 years: replacement of regulatory, warning, and ground-mounted guide signs • 10 years: replacement of street name signs and overhead guide signs • For more information: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/retro/index.htm

13. NPA for 2009 MUTCD • Published in the Federal Register 1/2/08 • Comment period ends on July 31 2008 • More information MUTCD website: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov • Proposed Text - Showing Revisions from 2003 Edition • Clean Text • Proposed Figures • Proposed Tables • A "change list" of proposed revisions to tables • Questions: Contact Hari Kalla at hari.kalla@dot.gov 2009 EDITION

14. NPRM for 23 CFR Part 924 • Part 924 – Highway Safety Improvement Program • Provisions for development and implementation of HSIP in each State • Provisions on HSIP Policy, Structure, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Reporting • Comment period: 60 days • For more Info: erin.kenley@dot.gov

15. Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Handbook • Revised Second Edition, August 2007 • A reference document with best practices, adopted standards, regulations/policies, and more • Hard copies available to HGRX community through FHWA REPORT Center (Report.Center@fhwa.dot.gov) • Electronic version: • http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/xings/07010/index.htm

16. NHI HRGX Training Course • Needs analysis for the NHI HRGX course (NHI Course No. 380005) • Recommendations • Target audience • Delivery format • Marketing • Content • Course Goal and course outcomes • Next step

17. More information? FHWA Safety Web Page http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov or contact Guan Xu FHWA Office of Safety Design Washington, DC (202) 366-5892 or guan.xu@dot.gov