Evaluation of Alternative Detection Technologies for Trains and Highway Vehicles at Highway Rail Intersections

Evaluation of Alternative Detection Technologies for Trains and Highway Vehicles at Highway Rail Intersections
Author: U.s. Department of Transportation
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2013-12
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 9781494499730

Under sponsorship from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) and the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) evaluated five technologies for their ability to detect trains and/or highway vehicles approaching and occupying highway railroad intersections (HRI). TTCI conducted tests on the performance of these technologies during October and November 1999 at the FRA's Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado, USA.

Visibility; Work Zone Traffic Controls; Highway-rail Grade Crossings, 2014

Visibility; Work Zone Traffic Controls; Highway-rail Grade Crossings, 2014
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 117
Release: 2014
Genre: Lighting
ISBN: 9780309295499

"TRB's Transportation Research Record (TRR): Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2458 consists of 14 papers that evaluate the safety of illuminance transition at highway tunnel portals on the basis of visual load; human perceptions of vehicle turning intention; and visual behavior of unfamiliar drivers on horizontal curves. This issue also explores a method for road lighting audits and safety screenings at urban intersections; a drivers' smart assistance system based on radio frequency identification; the impact of design and construction on quality, consistency, and safety of traffic control plans; impact of work zone lighting on driver's detection of objects; evaluation of cost-effectiveness of steady-burn warning lights in work zones. This TRR also analyzes the expected crash reduction benefits and costs of truck-mounted attenuators in work zones; lane bias issues in work zone travel time measurement and reporting; a photometric evaluation of steady-burn warning lights in work zones; human factors issues of accidents at passively controlled rural level crossings; train warning times and gate violations; and a dual microwave radar vehicle detection system at a four-quadrant-gate railroad grade crossing."--TRB Blurb.

A Program to Reduce Crash Risk at Low-volume, Passive, Highway-rail Grade Crossings at Night

A Program to Reduce Crash Risk at Low-volume, Passive, Highway-rail Grade Crossings at Night
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 1997
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper covers a range of devices and reflective systems that are currently being studied, promoted or developed as low-cost devices at low-volume railroad-highway crossings at grade (grade crossings) that do not have automatic warning systems, i.e., passive grade crossings. Most are based on the concept of greater use and more effective placement of retroreflective materials that give drivers more awareness of the crossing. In Kansas, USA, six rural rail-highway grade crossings on state highways were selected to demonstrate five new, low-cost, passive warning systems. In Ohio, extensive studies using the Conrail Shield and highly retroreflective tape on four ideas of the crossbuck post was being conducted. In Virginia, a study of the best ways to reflectorize grade crossing posts have been conducted. These will be discussed. The authors have made studies of vehicle headlamp illumination patterns, retroreflective materials, and drivers' visual needs at night. These have been tied together and related to drivers' visual needs and to a series of recommendations for optimum use and placement of retroreflective devices at rail grade crossings to reduce drivers' risk, particularly at night. Based on several research studies and over 35 years of experience studying the safety problems of rail-highway crossings at grade, the authors present a proposed, low-cost program to reduce crash risk, particularly at night. For the covering abstract of this conference see IRRD number 872978.

Highway-rail Intersection GPS-based In-vehicle Warning Systems

Highway-rail Intersection GPS-based In-vehicle Warning Systems
Author: Steven M. Peck
Publisher:
Total Pages: 25
Release: 2012
Genre: Highway-railroad grade crossings
ISBN:

In 2008, there were 2,395 incidents at highway-rail intersections (level crossings) in the United States, resulting in 939 injuries and 287 fatalities. Crossing elimination, grade separation, and the implementation of traditional warning devices are not always economically feasible. The development of new intelligent transportation systems and the advancement of such technologies could potentially provide a solution to enhance safety at these intersections. / The concept of in-vehicle warning systems for level crossings is not new. Multiple systems have been developed and tested using proprietary equipment and technology in the 1990s as evidenced by the former Federal Highway Administration Joint Program Office (JPO). The Réeau Ferré France (French Rail Network) and the Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland) have independently initiated in-vehicle level crossing warning system development programs. The system architectures vary from previously U.S.-developed systems and use advanced and cost-effective technologies. At varying stages of development, the two in-vehicle warning system designs address many of the shortcomings of previous generation systems and show great promise at meeting the design goals of being a cost-effective, reliable warning system. They also have potential for additional capabilities and easy integration into other roadway vehicle intelligent transportation safety systems being developed in both the United States and internationally. The advancement of commercially available technology and equipment create the environment for the development and deployment of a viable global-positioning system-based in-vehicle warning system for highway-rail intersections.

Selection and Application of Warning Lights on Roadway Operations Equipment

Selection and Application of Warning Lights on Roadway Operations Equipment
Author: Ronald Bruce Gibbons
Publisher: Transportation Research Board National Research
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2008
Genre: Transportation
ISBN:

TRB¿s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 624: Selection and Application of Warning Lights on Roadway Operations Equipment explores recommended guidelines for the selection and application of warning lights on roadway operations equipment.