1. STATE CROSSING SAFETY PROGRAMS & FEDERAL CROSSING SAFETY FUNDING CROSSINGS FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY SESSION AASHTO – SCORT MEETING March 14, 2011 – Washington, DC Paul C. Worley, CPM Director – Engineering & Safety NCDOT Rail Division

2. Section 130 Program Success Since 1974 Over 250K public and private crossings in US About $3B Obligated Historically Prevented 10,500+ Fatalities & 51,000+ Nonfatal Injuries Administered by FHWA Through States Supported by AASHTO-AAR

3. Section 130 Program AASHTO – Authorization Policy # VI. 7 Continue and expand funding for the Section 130 Grade Crossing Program and institute measures to expedite the process.

4. Section 130 Program Concerns Reauthorization – Eliminates Categories Competition with Highway Safety Needs – Based on Fatalities Alone Interest by Railroads to Use for Maintenance Timely Obligation of Funds

5. Section 130 Program Timely Obligation of Funds How Does S-130 Compare with Other Federal-Aid Safety Programs? State & Railroad Agreement; Design & Construction (12-18 Months) Process Spans Fiscal Year. Priority Lists or Corridor Plans Must Be Developed Based on Available Funding.

6. Section 130 Program Timely Obligation of Funds Depends State & Railroad Ability to Complete PE and Construction Acceptance by Local Road Authorities NEPA Clearances – Historic Issues Sometimes Railroad Final Billing is Slow to Close Due to Audit, etc.

7. State Crossing Safety Programs Not Always Found in DOT Rail Offices or Divisions Rather Found In:  Public Utility Commissions  Highway Divisions – Traffic Engineering/Safety

8. Opportunities for Coordination DOT Rail Improvement Programs  Freight & Passenger Crossing Safety Efforts  Signals  Inventory  Closures

9. Opportunities for Coordination Finding DOT Rail/Highway Win-Win’s Highway Preconstruction Scoping Transportation Planning Long-Range Rail Planning Rail Revitalization HSR & Passenger Improvements

10. Crossing Safety Projects – A Portal Into the Rail Project Process Master Preliminary Engineering Agreements Master Construction Agreements  Can be built upon and/or used to implement rail improvement projects

11. Importance of Federal Crossing Safety Funds to OLI OLI Set Aside from S-130  Grants to State Programs  National Programs/Strategies Saving Lives & Preventing Injuries 3 E’s  Education, Enforcement, Engineering

12. States Participating In: Regional Crossing Workshops NCUTCD Technical Committee AREMA Committee 36 – Signals Crossing Policy Development Opportunities

13. TRB Launches NCHRP 08-85 Different Approach to Program Benefits Provides $350,000 in Funding 18-Month Study Comprehensive Costs of Highway/Rail At-Grade Crossing Crashes

14. NCHRP 08-85 Study Objectives/Tasks  Review literature & survey practices.  Identify categories of collision costs.  Develop cost-forecasting model.  After webinar workshop, refine models.  Prepare final report & disseminate. Comprehensive Costs of Highway/Rail At-Grade Crossing Crashes

15. Documents Moving Through TRB Office of Contracts & Grants Kick-Off Teleconference with Panel in Early April Complete October 2012 Status of NCHRP 08-85

16. Know your crossing safety counterparts and collaborate. Look for synergies between rail planning, passenger, and rail safety programs. Funding and projects are often the foundation of railroad relationships. To Conclude