U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
| Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Handbook - Revised Second Edition August 2007 | |
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Table of Contents
Technical Report Documentation - SI (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors
1. Introduction to Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
2. Safety and Operations at Highway-Rail Grade CrossingsB. Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Programs
C. Responsibilities at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1. Fundamental Issues
2. Government Agency Responsibility and Involvement
3. RailroadsD. Legal Considerations Regarding Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1. Background
2. Tort Liability and Standards
II. Components of a Highway-Rail Grade Crossing
1. Driver
2. Vehicle
3. Pedestrians
4. Roadway
5. Traffic Control Devices1. Train
QUIET ZONE RULE SUMMARY
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
Recognition of the Automated Wayside Horn
Special Circumstances
Other Provisions2. Track
3. Signaling
III. Assessment of Crossing Safety and Operation
A. Collection and Maintenance of Data
1. U.S. Department of Transportation Grade Crossing Inventory
2. Grade Crossing Collision DataB. Hazard Indices and Accident Prediction Formulae
1. Hazard Index
2. U.S. Department of Transportation Accident Prediction Model1. Diagnostic Team Study Method
2. Traffic Conflict Technique
3. Collision Study
4. Traffic Study
5. Near-Hit Reports
6. Enforcement Study
IV. Identification of Alternatives
A. Existing Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Policies
D. Highway and Railroad Relocation
1. Closure Programs
2. Crossing Consolidation and Safety ProgramsH. Passive Traffic Control Devices
1. Signs
2. Pavement MarkingsI. Active Traffic Control Devices
1. Flashing Light Signals
2. Cantilevered Flashing Light Signals
3. Supplemental Flashing Light Signals
4. Light-Emitting Diode Flashing Light Signals
5. Automatic Gates
6. Four-Quadrant Gates
7. Use of Channelization with Gates
8. Barrier Gate
9. Warning Bell
10. Wayside Horn System
11. Active Advance Warning Sign
12. “Second Train Coming” Active Warning Sign
13. Active Turn Restriction Signs
14. New Traffic Signals
15. Preemption of Traffic Signals
16. Train Detection
PREEMPTION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS NEAR RAILROAD CROSSINGS
17. Pre-Signals
18. Queue Prevention StrategiesJ. Pedestrian and Bicycle Considerations
L. Site and Operational Improvements
1. Removing Obstructions
2. Crossing Geometry
3. Illumination
4. Shielding Supports for Traffic Control Devices
A. Technical Working Group Guidance on Traffic Control Devices—Selection Criteria and Procedure
TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP GUIDANCE
1. Minimum Devices
2. Minimum Widths
3. Passive—Minimum Traffic Control Applications
4. Active
5. Closure
6. Grade Separation
7. New Crossings
8. Traffic Control Device Selection ProcedureB. Guidance on STOP and YIELD Signs
C. Canadian Research on Cost Effectiveness
D. Economic Analysis Procedures
1. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
2. Benefit-Cost Ratio
3. Net Annual BenefitE. Resource Allocation Procedure
VI. Implementation of Projects
1. Federal Sources
2. State Funding
3. Local Agency Funding
4. Railroad FundingE. Traffic Control During Construction
1. Traffic Control Zones
2. Traffic Control Devices
3. Typical Applications
B. Highway Authority Responsibility
1. Traffic Control Devices
2. Roadside Clear Zone
3. Roadside Approaches
4. Reassessment and Periodic Review
VIII. Evaluation of Projects and Programs
C. Light-Rail Lines and Issues
1. Motor Vehicle Turning Treatments
2. Use of Crossbuck Sign with LRT
3. Pedestrian Crossing Treatments
4. Solutions to Observed ProblemsE. Special Vehicles, Pedestrians, Motorcycles, and Bicycles
1. Trucks with Hazardous Material Cargo
2. Long and Heavily Laden Trucks
3. Buses
4. Motorcycles and Bicycles1. ITS National Architecture and User Service 30
2. Standard 1570
3. Survey of Recent ITS Initiatives
4. Proposed Demonstration Scenarios
A. Driver Education and Enforcement
Appendix C: Example Crash Reporting Form, State of Oklahoma
Appendix E: List of Selected Accident Investigations, National Transportation Safety Board
Appendix G: Diagnostic Team Crossing Evaluation Reports, Examples from States
Appendix H: State Crossing Consolidations and Closures
Appendix I: Preemption Calculation Procedures, Example From State Of Texas
Appendix J: Policy On Private Crossings, West Virginia Example
Appendix K: List of Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Studies
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of this document.
The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Office of Safety Design Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590
PUBLICATION NO. FHWA-SA-07-010
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