Development of Railroad Highway Grade Crossing Consolidation Rating Formula

Development of Railroad Highway Grade Crossing Consolidation Rating Formula
Author: Zachary Hans
Publisher:
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2014
Genre: Highway-railroad grade crossings
ISBN:

The goal of this project was to provide an objective methodology to support public agencies and railroads in making decisions related to consolidation of at-grade rail-highway crossings. The project team developed a weighted-index method and accompanying Microsoft Excel spreadsheet based tool to help evaluate and prioritize all public highway-rail grade crossings systematically from a possible consolidation impact perspective. Factors identified by stakeholders as critical were traffic volume, heavy-truck traffic volume, proximity to emergency medical services, proximity to schools, road system, and out-of-distance travel. Given the inherent differences between urban and rural locations, factors were considered, and weighted, differently, based on crossing location. Application of a weighted-index method allowed for all factors of interest to be included and for these factors to be ranked independently, as well as weighted according to stakeholder priorities, to create a single index. If priorities change, this approach also allows for factors and weights to be adjusted. The prioritization generated by this approach may be used to convey the need and opportunity for crossing consolidation to decision makers and stakeholders. It may also be used to quickly investigate the feasibility of a possible consolidation. Independently computed crossing risk and relative impact of consolidation may be integrated and compared to develop the most appropriate treatment strategies or alternatives for a highway-rail grade crossing. A crossing with limited- or low-consolidation impact but a high safety risk may be a prime candidate for consolidation. Similarly, a crossing with potentially high-consolidation impact as well as high risk may be an excellent candidate for crossing improvements or grade separation. The results of the highway-rail grade crossing prioritization represent a consistent and quantitative, yet preliminary, assessment. The results may serve as the foundation for more rigorous or detailed analysis and feasibility studies. Other pertinent site-specific factors, such as safety, maintenance costs, economic impacts, and location-specific access and characteristics should be considered.

Highway-rail Grade Crossings

Highway-rail Grade Crossings
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 52
Release: 1998
Genre: Highway-railroad grade crossings
ISBN:

The booklet contains public safety information pertaining to highway-rail grade crossings and accident prevention.

Railroad - Highway Grade Crossing Handbook

Railroad - Highway Grade Crossing Handbook
Author: United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Engineering. Railroads and Utilities Branch
Publisher:
Total Pages: 260
Release: 1978
Genre: Railroad crossings
ISBN:

This handbook briefly describes how growth of railroads and highways resulted in a proliferation of grade crossings and then discusses the variety of methods developed to warn pedestrians and vehicles of approaching trains. It is aimed primarily at providing railroad, state and municipal personnel with information which can help in cooperative efforts to improve grade crossing safety and efficiency. The book describes conditions and requirements at crossing; facilitates understanding of the elements of crossing systems; provides a compendium of existing grade crossing technology; serves as a guideline to aid in implementing improvements to grade crossings; aids in understanding and applying new technology; and serves as a basic text for training programs.

Rail-highway Crossing Safety

Rail-highway Crossing Safety
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 64
Release: 1994
Genre: Railroad accidents
ISBN:

This Action Plan presents a multi-faceted, multi-modal approach for improving safety at our nation's highway-rail crossings and for the prevention of trespassing on the rights-of-way of our nation's railroads. It is multi-faceted in that it presents enforcement, engineering, education, research, promotional and legislative initiatives addressing crossings of both light and conventional rail rights-of-way by public and private streets and highways. The objectives were to reduce the number of highway-rail crossing accidents and casualties while not impeding, but facilitating, the contribution potential of the highway and rail infrastructure on the nation's economy.

Highway-rail Grade Crossing Surfaces

Highway-rail Grade Crossing Surfaces
Author: Hoy A. Richards
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 68
Release: 1998
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780309061063

This synthesis will be of interest to state and local highway personnel who are responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of road surfaces and to railroad personnel with similar responsibilities associated with highway-rail grade crossings. It will also be of interest to manufacturers and suppliers of pavement and track materials for crossings. It presents information on the current practices related to highway-rail grade crossing surfaces, including the design and selection of crossing surface materials. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes the various types of highway- rail crossing surfaces, and the issues related to design, operation, and maintenance. Design elements include intersection geometry; drainage; special users, such as bicyclists; and descriptions of failures and their causes. Information is presented on crossing material selection factors, including life-cycle costs and on state practices in selection. Funding issues are also discussed.

Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Issues

Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Issues
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Railroads
Publisher:
Total Pages: 236
Release: 2006
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: