f>w RABLROADmMIIGHWAlf U S Depaflment ofTransportation GRikDE CROSSING F&era! ~Ighway AdmlnlWr*!on HAIMDBOOK –SEC4DND EDITION FHWA-TS-86”275 SEPTEMBER1986 FOREWORO This handbook provides general infer.nationon railroad-highway crossings, including Cilaracteristicsof the crossing environl~~nta~~ US~rs, and the physical and operational improveinentsfor safe and efficient use by both highway and rail traffic. The handbook wil1 be of interest to Federal, State and local ilighwayagency personnel, railroad officials, consulting engineers and educators involved witilrailroad–highway grade crossi:lgsafety and oper3ti9n. The late William J. Hedley contributed generously of his 5ackground and experience tu,wardthe colnpletionof this handbook. This is the second printing of the second edition of the handbook. The only change from the first pri,ltingis a revision of Figure 24, page 103, to reflect the guidance for placement of the railroad crossing pavements marking synbol in relation tu the location ,ofthe advance wa,-rringsign. A standard distribution of the handbook was made to the FHdA Region and Division offices, the State highway agencies and the T~ Centers in ?986. Copies of the handbook were also pr>vided to the Federal Railroad Ad~:)inistrationand the Association of A;nericanRailroads for “their ~se. A limited n(~mberof copies are available from the Railroads, IJtilitiesand Programs Branch, HNG-?2, Federal liigl~wayAdministration, Washington, D.C. 205% and the RD&T Report Center, HRD-11, Federal Highway Administration, 6300 Georgetown Pike, ~~cLean,Virginia 22101-23Y6. Copies may be pur~tlasedfroin the N~tional Technical Infer.lationService, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161. .&&f s~~ Stanley R. 3y(ngton Director, Office of Implementation Federd? IiighwayAdministration NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Trans})ortationin the interest [jfinformation exchange. The United States Govern!nentassumes no 1iai)i1ity for its contents or use thereof. The contents of this report reflect the views of the author, who is responsible for the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Departinentof Transportation]. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. “TheUnited States Govern;nentdoes not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein only because they are considered essential to the object of tilisdoc(~ment. T(@chnicolkepotiDocumentationpeg, 1. R.P.t, No. FHWA TS-86-215 4.1;,1.andS.b+itl. ~2G0”*’”m*”’Ace*’s’O”M” ~= Se?tember 1986 Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Handbook-2nd Edition ~,~.,,Q,m,n*~,gen,,o,,on~odo — — 8 P.r{o,m,.s O,g.n,,.,i.nR.p.,, N.. 7.A.?ho,,,) 2- B.H. Tustin, H. Richards, H. i!cG(:e,and R. Patterson — 9. P.,l.,mi.o0,9m,,.,;onNom. md Add,.,, /10.W..ku.,tN..(TRAISI Tustin Enterprises FCP Category 12 (A) — 2903 Maple Lane 11.Con,,..,o,G,..,N.. Fairfax; Virginia 22031 13.Typ..1R.per,andP.r,.dCev.r.d 12,S9..,.,;.$A9...YNom. o.dAdd,.,, Office of Implementation Federal Highway Administration c 6300 Georg;to~ Pike 14.Sp..,.,,.g Ag..cyCod. McLean, Virginia 22101-2296 r— - , — 15.$.ppl.m.n,o,yN.,., FHWA Contract Manager (COTR): Eric ltinley(HRT-20) FHWA Office of Engineering Cont:~ct: Jim Overton (KNG-12] FRA Office of Safety Analysis: Tom P. Well [RRS-Z:[) Rail-Highway grade crossing safety and operational problems involve two component$-- the highway and the railroad. The!highway component involves drivers, pedestrians, vehicles and roadway segments in the vicinity of the crossing. The railroad component involves the trains and the tracks at the crossing. The element of risk present at a given location is a function of the ch~lracteristicsof the two components and their corresponding;elements. Sever:llformulas are described which seek to quantify the degree of risk, identify the locations most urgently in need of improvement, and prioritize the!hazardous locations which have been isolated. Various types of at-grade crossin~;improvements described include active warning devices, passive warning devices, sight distance improvements, operational improve- ments, and crossing surface improvements. Grade sel)arations,or crossing closures are suggested as improvement solutions where either extremely high or low demmd for the crossing exists. The ultimate choice for a crossing improvement is determined by balancing the benefits in accident reduction and reduced user costs against costs for the improvement. Procedures, models and computer programs whick~ will assist making these selectior~sare described. — 17.K,YWo,d, 18.Distrtb.?oon$?.~.m.nl No restriction. This document is Grade Crossing, Railroad, availablt!to the public through the Traffic Control, Crossing Surfaces National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161. 19,$.e.rityClo.sil.(.Ithisr.p.rt) m. S,,.vr; ty Clo,,, t. (ef,h,,pag.) ~classified Unclassified I ‘~z’ ““* - 1 t i — :ormDOT F 17N.7 (6-72] R.p,od..?ionof..mpl.?edpg. ..lho,i=ed I GZ 22 12 IOZ 61 81 ,1 ,1 S1 bl El Z1 11 0T68L, s , s, ,~, 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111I 11111111I 11111111I 111111111111111111111lll’1!!11111111111111111111’1111111111I 11111111I 11!1II11111111111111111111I ,,,!,O!s!!,,!,,!,$!,!,,!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill 1]1 Ill Ill Ill Ill 1]1 Ill Ill Ill 1[1 9 8 17 16 Is 14 3 2 1 ‘..,., RAILROAD-llIG~AY GRADE CROSSING WNDBOOK Chapter Pa{;e List of Figures ............................. .......................... v List of Tables .......................................................... <LX A. Backgromd .......................................................... 1 1. Introduction to Railro/id-HighwayGrade Crossings ................. 2. Safety and Operations :itRailroad-Highw%y Grade Crossings ........ : B. Railroad-Highway Grade Cr~>ssingPrograms ........................... 8 C. Responsibilities at Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings ................ “1& D. Some General Lagal Considerations - Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings .......................................).................. ;23 E. References ............................................................ 27 II. COWONENTS OF A RAILROAD-HIG~AY GRADE CROSSING A. The Highway Component ................................................ :29 1. Driver ............................................................. :29 2. Vehicle ........................................................... 33 3. Roadway .....................................................<...... 36 4. Pedestrian ..................................................t..... Lo B. Railroad Components ................................................. Lo 1. Train ........................................................... 41 2. Track ............................................................. 45 C. References ............................................................ 49 III. ASSESS~NT OF CROSSING SAFETY AND OPERATION A. Collection and Maintenance of Data ................................... 51 B. Identification of CrOssinigsfor Further Analysis .................... ’63 1. Peabody Dimmick Formula .......................................... 63 2. New Hampshire Index ............................................... 56 3. NCHRP 50 .......................................................... 66 4. U.S. DOT Accident Pred,ction~uations ........................... 70 5. Florida DOT Accident Prediction Model ............................ 76 C. Engineering Study .................................................... ’79 1. Diagnostic Study Team Method ...................................... 79 2. Other Engineering Studies ........................................ 84 D. The Systems Approach ................................................ 85 E. References .......................................................... 87 iii -. tihapter Fage IV. IDENTIFICATION OF ALTERNATI~S A. Elimination .......................................................... 1. Grade Separation .................................................. ;: 2. Highway and Railroad Relocation ................................... 91 3. Closure ........................................................... 92 4. Abandoned Crossings ............................................... 94 B. Passive Traffic Control Devices ..................................... 96 1. Signs ................o............................................ 96 2. Pavement Markings ................................................. 102 C. Active Traffic Control Devices ....................................... 103 1. Flashing Light Signals ............................................ 104 2. Automatic Gates ................................................... 108 3. Warning Bell ...................................................... 110 4. Active Advance Warning Sign ....................................... 114 5. Traffic Si~als ................................................... 115 6. Train Detection ................................................... 125 D. Site and Operational Improvements .................................... 131 1. Sight Distance .................................................... 131 2. Geometries ........................................................ 135 3. Illumination ...................................................... 140 4. Shielding Supports for Traffic Control Devices .................... 141 5. Flagging .........................................................