RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING HANDBOOK AUGUST 2007 REVISION PRESENTED BY KURT 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 Cutters Pre-Signal Ahead of CrossingPre-Signal Ahead on Cantilever Pre-Signal Beyond CrossingQueue 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: