2008 Mid-States Highway Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference

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

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)

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

Extensive preemption section References ITE Recommended Practice, AREMA, MUTCD as well as other material TXDOT form is included in Appendix

Pre-Signal Ahead of CrossingPre-Signal Ahead on Cantilever Pre-Signal Beyond CrossingQueue Cutter Signal

Guidance for use also provided in Handbook: Use of YIELD is the default choice Use of STOP based upon engineering study

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

Describes use in the Quiet Zone Section Describes functionality in Warning Device Section MUTCD Part 8 and Part 10 applications described

Updated sight distance tables Clearing Sight Distance for pedestrians was added Application and clarification added

Updated Inventory Instructions Detailed Discussion of USDOT Accident Prediction Model

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

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

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

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

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)

Updated statistics Collisions Collisions vs. Type of Traffic Control Device Collisions vs. Vehicle Type / Pedestrian Example Private Crossings Policy (WV) included as appendix