RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING HANDBOOK AUGUST 2007 REVISION
PRESENTED BYKURT 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 CuttersPre-Signal Ahead of Crossing Pre-Signal Ahead on Cantilever
Pre-Signal Beyond Crossing Queue Cutter Signal
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
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
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