State of Arizona Rail Safety & Security Resource Guide November 2007 Disclaimer This guide is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be an all-inclusive resource. The guide is a compilation of information from many sources and entities. The information contained herein is subject to amendment and change without notice and therefore the accuracy of the contents cannot be guaranteed. Readers are cautioned not to rely solely on the guide and should do further research to ensure accuracy of the information. Legal advice should be sought as appropriate. i Acknowledgement of Participants Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Arizona Operation Lifesaver (AZOL) BNSF Railway (BNSF) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA-USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA-USDOT) Federal Motors Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) METRO (Light Rail) Transportation Safety Administration (TSA-DHS) Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) ii Preface This plan will focus on targeted areas of railroad safety with emphasis on data driven, state specific needs identified by the “USDOT Highway-Rail Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Action Plan” developed by the United States Department of Transportation. Initially, the plan was developed to help guide efforts by federal and state governments, rail industry and public rail safety organizations to reduce train- vehicle collisions and trespass incidents. While the action plan does highlight specific programs and activities, it is intended to provide flexibility to the railroads, highways, public transit and communities in responding effectively to real world conditions. The action plan emphasizes a multi-modal approach for improving safety at the nation’s 277,722 highway-rail crossings, and preventing trespassing along more than 145,000 miles of track and right of way. Arizona currently has 1800 grade crossings and approximately 3,000 miles of railroad and rail transit track. This document will be made available to government agencies, police departments, fire departments, schools, developers and businesses in order to better assist in the coordination of all areas of transportation planning, development, safety and security in Arizona. iii Table of Contents Disclaimer....................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgement of Participants ............................................................................................. ii Federal Highway Administration (FHWA-USDOT) ................................................................. ii Federal Motors Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)........................................................ ii Preface..........................................................................................................................................iii Introduction: .................................................................................................................................. 1 Exhibit 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Exhibit 2 ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Exhibit 3 ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Exhibit 4 ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Mission........................................................................................................................................... 3 Vision.............................................................................................................................................. 3 Goal ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Roles of Federal, State, Local Agencies and Private Corporations:.................................... 3 Arizona Corporation Commission.......................................................................................... 3 Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)................................................................... 4 Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS)...................................................... 4 Arizona Operation Lifesaver (AZOL)..................................................................................... 4 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) ............................................................................ 4 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)...................................................... 5 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)................................................................................. 5 Federal Transit Administration (FTA).................................................................................... 6 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)................................................. 6 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ..................................................................... 6 Railroads within Arizona.............................................................................................................. 7 Exhibit 5 ..................................................................................................................................... 8 The Union Pacific Railroad (UP)............................................................................................ 9 BNSF Railway......................................................................................................................... 11 Federal/Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Program........................................................... 12 Community Education/Law Enforcement/Awareness ...................................................... 12 Grade Crossing Consolidation Programs........................................................................... 13 Track and Signal Inspection and Maintenance ................................................................. 13 Vegetation Control ................................................................................................................. 13 Crossing Safety Technology and Management Processes ............................................ 14 Operations Monitoring Programs......................................................................................... 14 BNSF Crossing Closure Procedures................................................................................... 14 BNSF Public Private Partnerships....................................................................................... 15 Stopping Safely at Farm-Rail Crossings: ............................................................................... 21 Track Facts.................................................................................................................................. 22 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA-USDOT) - www.fhwa.dot.gov ........................... 24 Federal Motors Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) - www.fmcsa.dot.gov ............... 24 Rail Agency Contacts: ............................................................................................................... 24 Rail Safety-Security Contacts: ................................................................................................. 25 Railroad Contacts:...................................................................................................................... 26 Short Line Railroads: ................................................................................................................. 26 Terminal / Industrial / Switching Railroads:............................................................................ 27 Passenger / Tourist Railroads / Rail Tours ............................................................................ 28 Rail Transit Contacts: ................................................................................................................ 29 Appendix I.................................................................................................................................... 30 Criminal Trespass and Burglary .............................................................................................. 30 Criminal Damage to Property................................................................................................... 30 Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings....................................................................................... 30 Special Stops Required............................................................................................................. 30 This guide is intended to provide resources, contacts and information regarding Arizona Rail Safety and Security. ii Introduction: Each year, across the nation, thousands of train/vehicle collisions and pedestrian trespass incidents occur at our nation’s highway-roadway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights-of-way that result in hundreds of deaths and injuries. These deaths and injuries are a serious concern for the state of Arizona that ranked 6th in the nation with 20 trespass fatalities and 25th