Federal Railroad Administration Office Of

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Federal Railroad Administration Office Of FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF RAILROAD SAFETY HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING and TRESPASS PREVENTION: COMPLIANCE, PROCEDURES, AND POLICIES PROGRAMS MANUAL October 2019 This page intentionally left blank Contents Chapter 1 – General ....................................................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 6 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Program Goals ............................................................................................................................ 7 Personal Safety ........................................................................................................................... 7 On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program .......................................................................................... 8 Railroad Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Resources .................................................. 9 Chapter 2 – Personnel ................................................................................ 10 HRGX&TP Headquarters (HQ) Division Staff (RRS-23) ....................................................... 10 HRGX&TP Staff Director .................................................................................................... 10 HRGX&TP HQ Transportation Analyst (Railroad Trespassing) ......................................... 11 HRGX&TP HQ Transportation Analyst (Train Horn) ......................................................... 12 HRGX&TP HQ Transportation Analyst (State Action Plans and Train Horn) .................... 13 HRGX&TP HQ Program Analyst (Correspondence) ........................................................... 14 HRGX&TP HQ General Engineer (Grade Crossing Safety Engineer) ................................ 16 HRGX&TP HQ General Engineer (High Speed Rail) ......................................................... 17 HRGX&TP HQ Transportation Specialist (Inventory and ENS) ......................................... 18 HRGX&TP HQ Program Support Specialist ........................................................................ 20 HRGX&TP HQ Program Analyst ........................................................................................ 21 HRGX&TP HQ Transportation Analyst (Outreach) ............................................................ 23 HRGX&TP Regional Staff ....................................................................................................... 24 HRGX&TP Regional Specialist ........................................................................................... 24 HRGX&TP Grade Crossing Inspector (GXI) ........................................................................... 28 HRGX&TP Crossing and Trespassing Regional Manager (GS-13) ..................................... 30 HRGX&TP Crossing and Trespassing Regional Manager (GS-12) ..................................... 33 Chapter 3 – Regulations ........................................................................... 35 Basis for Regulation and Inspection ......................................................................................... 35 Statutory Authority ............................................................................................................... 35 HRGX&TP Regulations ........................................................................................................... 35 CFR Part 222—Use of Locomotive Train Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings— Overview ............................................................................................................................... 36 Title 49 CFR Section 234.11—State Action Plans—Overview ........................................... 36 Title 49 CFR Part 234, Subpart E—Emergency Notification Systems for Telephonic Reporting of Unsafe Conditions at Highway-Rail and Pathway Grade Crossings—Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 37 Title 49 CFR Part 234, Subpart F—Highway-Rail and Pathway Crossing Inventory Reporting—Overview ........................................................................................................... 37 Chapter 4 – Railroad Trespassing ....................................................... 39 National Strategy to Prevent Trespassing on Railroad Property—Overview ........................... 39 Procedures for Conducting Railroad Trespassing Assessments ............................................... 39 Step 1. Identify the Problem ................................................................................................ 40 Step 2. Identify Resources and Stakeholders ....................................................................... 40 Step 3. Analyze the Cause ................................................................................................... 41 Step 4. Develop and Implement Trespass Mitigation Measures.......................................... 42 Step 5. Evaluate the Results ................................................................................................. 43 Step 6. Report and Document .............................................................................................. 44 FRA Headquarters is Responsible For:................................................................................. 44 FRA Regional Teams are Responsible For:.......................................................................... 44 Chapter 5 – Outreach ................................................................................. 45 Chapter 6 – Inspection and Investigation Procedures .......... 46 Inventory of Inspection Territory (Regional Inspection Points) ............................................... 46 Inspection Priorities .................................................................................................................. 46 Discipline Inspection Guidance ................................................................................................ 46 Using Data Analysis to Determine Appropriate Focus ............................................................ 47 Purpose:................................................................................................................................. 47 Inventory Inspections: ........................................................................................................... 47 Use of Locomotive Train Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings ........................................ 47 State Action Plans ..................................................................................................................... 48 Emergency Notification System Inspection: ............................................................................ 49 Section 1 – Frequency of Inspections ................................................................................... 49 Section 2 – ENS Components ............................................................................................... 50 Section 3 – Inspecting ENS Signs ........................................................................................ 50 Section 4 – The Method that the Railroad Uses to Receive and Process a Telephone Call Reporting the Unsafe Condition ........................................................................................... 53 Section 5 – The Remedial Actions that a Railroad Takes to Address the Report of the Unsafe Condition and Recordkeeping .................................................................................. 53 Notice and Time of Inspections and Investigations .................................................................. 54 Time of Inspections and Investigations .................................................................................... 54 Refusal to Permit an Inspection or Investigation ...................................................................... 55 Waiver of Responsibility .......................................................................................................... 55 Unusual Problems or Incidents ................................................................................................. 55 Cooperation of Personnel with Industry and other Governmental Agencies ........................... 56 Chapter 7 – Gaining Compliance ......................................................... 57 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................... 57 Regular Inspections ................................................................................................................... 57 Conference During and After an Inspection or Investigation ................................................... 57 Special Inspections and/or Assessments ................................................................................... 58 Accident Investigation .............................................................................................................. 58 Complaint Investigation ............................................................................................................ 59 Conducting Interviews .............................................................................................................. 60 Determining
Recommended publications
  • Rulebook for Link Light Rail
    RULEBOOK FOR LINK LIGHT RAIL EFFECTIVE MARCH 31 2018 RULEBOOK FOR LINK LIGHT RAIL Link Light Rail Rulebook Effective March 31, 2018 CONTENTS SAFETY ................................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 2 ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................................. 3 DEFINITIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 5 SECTION 1 ............................................................................................................................20 OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT GENERAL RULES ...............................................................20 1.1 APPLICABILITY OF RULEBOOK ............................................................................20 1.2 POSSESSION OF OPERATING RULEBOOK .........................................................20 1.3 RUN CARDS ...........................................................................................................20 1.4 REQUIRED ITEMS ..................................................................................................20 1.5 KNOWLEDGE OF RULES, PROCEDURES, TRAIN ORDERS, SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, DIRECTIVES, AND NOTICES .....................................................20
    [Show full text]
  • Railroad Horn Systems Research RR997/R9069 6
    REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE & DATES blank) January 1999 COVERED Final Report January 1992 - December 1995 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Railroad Horn Systems Research RR997/R9069 6. AUTHOR(S) Amanda S. Rapoza, Thomas G. Raslear,* and Edward J. Rickley 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION U.S Department of Transportation REPORT NUMBER Research and Special Programs Administrations DOT-VNTSC-FRA-98-2 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING OR MONITORING *U.S. Department of Transportation AGENCY REPORT NUMBER Federal Railroad Administration Office of Research and Development DOT/FRA/ORD-99/10 Equipment and Operating Practices Research Division Washington, DC 20590 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Safety of Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings Series 12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words) The U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Railroad Operational Safety
    TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH Number E-C085 January 2006 Railroad Operational Safety Status and Research Needs TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2005 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS Chair: John R. Njord, Executive Director, Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake City Vice Chair: Michael D. Meyer, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Division Chair for NRC Oversight: C. Michael Walton, Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering, University of Texas, Austin Executive Director: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2005 TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES COUNCIL Chair: Neil J. Pedersen, State Highway Administrator, Maryland State Highway Administration, Baltimore Technical Activities Director: Mark R. Norman, Transportation Research Board Christopher P. L. Barkan, Associate Professor and Director, Railroad Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Rail Group Chair Christina S. Casgar, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Office of Intermodalism, Washington, D.C., Freight Systems Group Chair Larry L. Daggett, Vice President/Engineer, Waterway Simulation Technology, Inc., Vicksburg, Mississippi, Marine Group Chair Brelend C. Gowan, Deputy Chief Counsel, California Department of Transportation, Sacramento, Legal Resources Group Chair Robert C. Johns, Director, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Policy and Organization Group Chair Patricia V. McLaughlin, Principal, Moore Iacofano Golstman, Inc., Pasadena, California, Public Transportation Group Chair Marcy S. Schwartz, Senior Vice President, CH2M HILL, Portland, Oregon, Planning and Environment Group Chair Agam N. Sinha, Vice President, MITRE Corporation, McLean, Virginia, Aviation Group Chair Leland D. Smithson, AASHTO SICOP Coordinator, Iowa Department of Transportation, Ames, Operations and Maintenance Group Chair L. David Suits, Albany, New York, Design and Construction Group Chair Barry M.
    [Show full text]
  • WSK Commuter Rail Study
    Oregon Department of Transportation – Rail Division Oregon Rail Study Appendix I Wilsonville to Salem Commuter Rail Assessment Prepared by: Parsons Brinckerhoff Team Parsons Brinckerhoff Simpson Consulting Sorin Garber Consulting Group Tangent Services Wilbur Smith and Associates April 2010 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 3 WHAT IS COMMUTER RAIL? ................................................................................................... 3 GLOSSARY OF TERMS............................................................................................................ 3 STUDY AREA....................................................................................................................... 4 WES COMMUTER RAIL.......................................................................................................... 6 OTHER PASSENGER RAIL SERVICES IN THE CORRIDOR .................................................................. 6 OUTREACH WITH RAILROADS: PNWR AND BNSF .................................................................. 7 PORTLAND & WESTERN RAILROAD........................................................................................... 7 BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY ..................................................................................................... 7 ROUTE CHARACTERISTICS..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • WES Commuter Rail Tour Fact Sheet / July 2016
    L ar b om d SMITH AND BYBEE M WETLANDS NATURAL AREA arine Newberry PIER C COLUMBIA RIVER ol tland Expo Center PARK um b or ia P PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL Marine RACEWAY Delta Park/ F essenden Vanport Portland hns International Airport t Jo S idge Kenton/ MLK town Br German N Denver Lombar d N Lombard Transit Center Ai C r WILLAMETTE RIVER olum por bia Mt Hood Ave t Basin Rosa Parks Cascades Kaiser FOREST PARK West Union N Killingsworth Laidlaw Killingsworth COLUMBIA RIVER Cornelius Pass Parkrose/Sumner d Transit Center Evergreen th Yeon Ai N Prescott 82n rpor Marine 85 S ky t 1 BLUE LAKE l i NE PORTLAND Thompson n WESSt Helens COMMUTER RAILS REGIONAL PARK an e dy ncoe Evergreen Overlook MLK BIG FOUR CORNERS Gle e t Park NATURAL AREA hu th S any 5 d 1 r 24th Albina/ d t Beth 223 Cornell Mississippi 33r Sandy J o 1s Sandy C Orenco/NW 231st Ave orne Broadway rd ld ll a Interstate/ n H tfie NW PORTLAND NE 82nd FAIRVIEW is Hawthorn ornell Rose Quarter Halsey to Ha C Halsey 7th r Quatama/ i GovernmentHillsboro Center Central/ Farm 25 GLENN c SE 3rd Transit Center Fair Complex/ NW 205th Ave OTTO C TROUTDALE o Ba Gateway/NE 99th t WOOD seline s Main Hillsboro Airport l Rose Quarter u AUDUBON Transit Center 1 m SANCUTARIES NE 60th 8 VILLAGE / Transit Center Glisan 1 e b Oak 158th id d s tal T rn i u a r o B E 102nd Ave Glisan E 122nd Ave o d ngton/ o R es E 148th Ave E 162nd Ave E 181st Ave u w th Ave n t i r an v 2th d ashi 2 W 1th k a ty Hospi al r e 1 Murray B 1 li W k Stark a r o e G Rockwood/E 188th Ave Willow Creek/ r SE 1 l H ua o HILLSBORO
    [Show full text]
  • Field Evaluation of a Wayside Horn at a Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing R8026/RR897
    Form Approved REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspects of this collection of information , including suggestions for reducing this burden to Washington Headquarters Service, Directorate for information Operations and Reports. 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA. 222202- 4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (LEAVE BLANK) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED June 1998 Final Report April 1994 - May 1997 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Field Evaluation of a Wayside Horn at a Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing R8026/RR897 6. AUTHOR(S) Jordan Multer and Amanda Rapoza 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION U.S. Department of Transportation DOT-VNTSC-FRA-97-1 Research and Special Programs Administration John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Canbridge, MA 02142-1093 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration DOT/FRA/ORD-98/04 Office of Research and Development, Mail Stop 20 Washington, DC. 20590 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 13.
    [Show full text]
  • Wisconsin Railroad Enforcement Guide
    Wisconsin Railroad Enforcement Guide Railroad Emergency Phone Numbers Amtrak Mid-Continent Railroad (800) 331-0008 (800) 930-1385 or (608) 522-4261 (emergency) Burlington Northern Santa Fe (800) 832-5452 Progressive Rail Wisconsin Northern Division Canadian National (715) 382-3257 (Pat Siverling) or (800) 465-9239 (715) 379-4686 (signal problems) Canadian Pacific Railway Tomahawk Railway (800) 716-9132 or (715) 453-2303 or (800) 766-4357 (715) 966-0500 (Susie Klinger) or (715) 966-0675 East Troy Railroad (414) 534-7175 (Ryan Jonnes) or Union Pacific Railroad (262) 642-3263 (800) 848-8715 (signal problems) (888) 877-7267 (emergency) Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad Wisconsin and (906) 280-2513 (Bob Anderson) or Southern Railroad (906) 774-9684 (after hours) or (414) 434-0376 (emergency) (906) 542-3214 Wisconsin Great Iowa Chicago and Northern Railroad Eastern Railroad (715) 635-3200 (Canadian Pacific Railway) (715) 635-7237 (after hours) (800) 339-1080 1 Table of Contents 3: Operation Lifesaver and the purpose of this guide 4: Applicable Wisconsin Statute 11: Wisconsin Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Statute 19: Disqualifying Offenses for CD Drivers on Highway-Rail Intersection 20: Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Accident Report: Car/Train Crashes 25: Stopping of Trains 26: Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Signal Malfunctions 27: Examples of Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Signs 28: Laws Governing Railroad Employees in Railroad Incidents 30: FRA Post-Accident Alcohol and Drug Test 32: What To Do If A Crossing Collision Occurs 32: Grade Crossing Collision Investigation Checklist 33: Enforcement Programs for Law Enforcement Personnel 35: Key Safety Points 2 Operation Lifesaver and The purpose of this guide Operation Lifesaver is an active, continuing public education and awareness program dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway railroad grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way.
    [Show full text]
  • Handbook for Railroad Noise Measurement and Analysis 6
    U.S. Department of Transportation Handbook for Railroad Noise Federal Railroad Measurement and Analysis Administration October 2009 Prepared for Prepared by U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Office of Safety Environmental Measurement and Modeling Division 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 55 Broadway Washington, D.C. 20590 Cambridge, MA 02142 REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED (Leave blank) October 2009 September 2001 thru Oct. 2009 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Handbook for Railroad Noise Measurement and Analysis 6. AUTHOR(S) RR93B1 FG399 Eric R. Boeker, Gregg Fleming, Amanda S. Rapoza, Gina Barberio 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAMES AND ADDRESSES 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION U.S. Department of Transportation REPORT NUMBER Research and Innovative Technology Administration John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Acoustics Facility, RVT-41 DOT-VNTSC-FRA-10-01 Kendall Square Cambridge, MA 02142-1093 9.
    [Show full text]
  • May 20162016
    WCRA NEWS MAYMAY 20162016 THOMAS COMING MAY 21 ISLAND EXPLORER TRAIN CREATES EXCITEMENT WCRA News, Page 2 GENERAL MEETING The General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at 1930 hours at Rainbow Creek Station, corner of Willingdon and Penzance in Burnaby. Entertainment will be announced at the meeting. ON THE COVER West Coast Railway sent a vintage train consist to Vancouver Island, where it operated four trips on Friday, April 8 from Nanaimo as the Island Explorer. In our cover photo WCRA’s ex CPR FP7A #4069 gleams at the classic E & N Nanaimo railway station, ready for a day of operations on the Island railway. (Bob Hunter photo) MAY CALENDAR • West Coast Railway Heritage Park open daily 1000 through 1700k . • April 27 to April 30—Pioneer Express (school classes) at the Heritage Park • Tuesday, May 3—WCRT Haida Gwaii tour departs • Friday, May 13 —Deadline for items for the June 2016 WCRA News • May 21, 22 and 23—Day Out With Thomas at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, the Park is closed for regular visitation during these dates. (Page 8) • Sunday, May 22—129th Anniversary Celebration of the arrival of Locomotive 374 into Vancouver, Locomotive 374 Pavilion, Vancouver, 11AM to 3PM (page 12) • May 28 and 29—Day Out With Thomas at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park • Tuesday, May 31 —WCRA General Meeting, Rainbow Creek Station, 1930 hours • Tuesday, May 31—WCRT Haida Gwaii tour departs The West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of British Columbia railway history.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Oregon State Rail Plan
    OREGON STATE RAIL PLAN An Element of the Oregon Transportation Plan Adopted September 18, 2014 Revised August 13, 2020 THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Plan development was supported by five Technical Memorandums that served as background for the document. A copy of the 2020 Oregon State Rail Plan and the Technical Memorandums, which reflect the latest information at the time of their development, can also be accessed at ODOT’s Statewide Policy Plans website and include: • Freight and Passenger System Inventory • Needs Assessment: Oregon’s Economy • Needs Assessment: Passenger Rail • Needs Assessment: Freight Rail • Investment Program Technical Report Oregon Statewide Policy Plans: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Planning/Pages/Plans.aspx#OSRP. To obtain additional copies of this document contact: Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Transportation Development Division, Planning Section 555 13th Street NE, Suite 2 Salem, OR 97301-4178 (503) 986-4121 Copyright 2020 by the Oregon Department of Transportation Permission is given to quote and reproduce parts of this document if credit is given to the source. A copy of the draft as the Oregon Transportation Commission adopted is on file at the Oregon Department of Transportation. Limited editorial changes for consistency and formatting have been made in this document. Oregon Transportation Commission Catherine Mater, Chair Tammy Baney David Lohman Susan Morgan Alando Simpson* *Current OTC Members: Bob Van Brocklin, Chair, Julie Brown, Martin Callery, Sharon Smith, Alando Simpson Other Elements of the State Transportation Plan • Aviation System Plan • Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan • Freight Plan • Highway Plan • Public Transportation Plan • Oregon Statewide Transportation Strategy • Transportation Options Plan • Transportation Safety Action Plan OREGON STATE RAIL PLAN Development of the Oregon State Rail Plan was a joint effort between Oregon Department of Transportation Rail and Public Transit Division and the Transportation Development Division.* Produced by: RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSIT DIVISION H.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Railway Activity and Train Noise Exposure
    ASSESSMENT OF RAILWAY ACTIVITY AND TRAIN NOISE EXPOSURE: A TEANECK, NEW JERSEY, CASE STUDY By Craig B. Anderson A thesis submitted to the Graduate School-New Brunswick Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science written under the direction of Dr. Barbara J. Turpin and approved by ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ New Brunswick, New Jersey October 2009 ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS Assessment of Railway Activity and Train Noise Exposure: A Teaneck, New Jersey, Case Study by CRAIG B. ANDERSON Thesis Director: Dr. Barbara J. Turpin Three train tracks run through Teaneck, NJ, a suburban city, unimpeded by road crossings; the tracks are as close as 7 meters to residential properties. In 2000, trains began idling in Teaneck for extended periods of time (up to 54 hours), exposing residents to persistent, elevated sound levels, as well as diesel emissions, and generating complaints. The goals of this study were to characterize the time-activity patterns of passby and idling trains; idling locations; and the sound emission levels of passbys, idling locomotives, and train horns over a one-year period. From October 2006 through November 2007, source sound levels were measured continuously with a Norsonic 121 sound-level meter and WAV files of actual sounds were recorded during train events. Concurrently, research staff visually noted train activities 24 hours/day, every third day, for three consecutive weeks each season, including train direction, track, idle location, locomotive-to-meter distance (idles), and other identifying information. Specific source characterization measurements of individual locomotives were made at measured distances with a hand-held Quest 2900 sound-level meter.
    [Show full text]
  • St. Albans Commuter Rail Service Feasibility Study (Study) Examines the Feasibility of Implementing a Commuter Rail Service Between Montpelier and Burlington and St
    Feasibility Study Montpelier - St. Albans Commuter Rail Service February 2017 Acknowledgements Study Advisory Committee David Armstrong – Green Mountain Transit Charles Hunter – Genesee & Wyomong Railroad Services, Inc. Seldon Houghton / Mary Anne Michaels (Alternate) – Vermont Rail Systems Bethany Remmers – Northwest Regional Planning Commisssion Charles Baker – Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Bonnie Waninger – Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission Lisamarie Charlesworth – Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce Cathy Davis – Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce James Stewart – Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation Bill Moore – Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce Tim Smith – Franklin County Industrial Development Corportation Curt Carter – Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation Vermont Agency of Transportation Internal Working Group Joe Segale Costa Pappis Barbara Donovan Daniel Delabruere Michele Boomhower Study Management Team Scott Bascom – Vermont Agency of Transportation David Pelletier – Vermont Agency of Transportation Ronald O’Blenis – HDR, Inc. Matthew Moran – HDR, Inc. Alexander Tang – HDR, Inc. Katie Rougeot – HDR, Inc. Thanks to the many Vermont citizens who participated in the public meetings that helped shape this study. 1 Feasibility Study: Montpelier – St. Albans Commuter Rail Service Executive Summary The Montpelier to St. Albans Commuter Rail Service Feasibility Study (Study) examines the feasibility of implementing a commuter rail service between Montpelier and Burlington and St. Albans and Burlington (Corridor). The goal of the study was to evaluate the capital costs, operating costs, and necessary conditions for operating a conceptual commuter rail system in Northwest Vermont. The study began as directive from the Vermont General Assembly, which stated that the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) shall “conduct a commuter rail feasibility study for the corridor between St.
    [Show full text]