U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
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The Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook, 3rd Edition (Handbook) has been prepared to disseminate current practices and requirements for developing engineering treatments for highway-rail grade crossings (referred to herein as "crossings"). The Handbook is intended to provide practitioners of all levels of knowledge and experience with critical background information and "noteworthy practices" consistent with the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) and more recent guidance developed by recognized subject matter experts. This edition constitutes a substantial update to and revision of the 2007 Handbook and efforts have been made to reorganize the contents. This edition includes "hotlinks" to facilitate navigation and access external information available on the web.
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 the information contained in this document. This document does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation and the contents of this document do not necessarily reflect official policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
This document contains images that are shown for illustration purposes only. For specific requirements, please refer to the 2009 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.
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 the document.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) provide 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. The FHWA and FRA periodically review quality issues and adjusts their programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
| 1. Report No. FHWA-SA-18-040/FRA-RRS-18-001 | 2. Government Accession No. | 3. Recipient's Catalog No. | |
| 4. Title and Subtitle Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook, 3rd Edition |
5. Report Date July 2019 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code | |||
| 7. Author(s) Brent D. Ogden, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Chelsey Cooper, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. |
8. Performing Organization Report No. | ||
| 9. Performing Organization Name and Address Institute of Transportation Engineers 1617 Eye Street NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006 |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) | ||
| 11. Contract or Grant No. TFH61-13-D-00026 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Office of Safety Design Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Federal Railroad Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered | ||
| 14. Sponsoring Agency Code | |||
| 15. Supplementary Notes: FHWA Contracting Officer's Task Order Manager: Kelly Morton; FRA Task Order Manager: Debra Chappell; ITE Project Manager: Lisa Fontana Tierney; ITE Technical Publications Manager: Deborah Rouse. |
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| 16. Abstract The purpose of the Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook, 3rd Edition is an information resource developed to provide a unified reference document on prevalent and best practices as well as adopted standards relative to highway-rail grade crossings. The handbook provides general information on highway-rail crossings; characteristics of the crossing environment and users; and physical and operational changes that can be made at crossings to enhance the safety and operation of both highway and rail traffic over such intersections. The guidelines identified and potential alternative improvements presented in this handbook reflect current best practices nationwide. This handbook supersedes the Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Handbook–Revised Second Edition published in August 2007. This version includes a compendium of materials that were included in the previous one, supplemented with new information and applicable regulations in force that were available at the time of the update. |
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| 17. Key Words Grade Crossing, Railroad, Traffic Control, Crossing Safety |
18. Distribution Statement Grade Crossing, Railroad, Traffic Control, Crossing Safety |
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| 19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified |
20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages 250 |
22. Price |
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS
CHAPTER 2. ENGINEERED TREATMENTS
EXISTING LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES
CROSSING CONSOLIDATION AND SAFETY PROGRAMS
Local Program Example–San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG)
INACTIVE OR ABANDONED CROSSINGS
REMOVAL OF GRADE SEPARATION STRUCTURES
Train Detection and Device Activation
USE OF CHANNELIZATION WITH GATES
Excerpts from ITE Recommended Practice on Preemption of Traffic Signals Near Railroad Crossings
Pre-Signal and Queue Cutter Design Considerations
PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES, AND ACCESSIBILITY
Recommended Practices for Stop Lines and Detectable Warnings
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF PEDESTRIAN TREATMENTS
Pathway Crossing Signing and Markings for Bicyclists and Skater
CHAPTER 3. TREATMENT SELECTION GUIDANCE
TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP GUIDANCE
ECONOMIC BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS
MUTCD Interpretations, Experimentation, Changes, and Interim Approvals
CHAPTER 4. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
TRAFFIC CONTROL DURING CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 5. MAINTENANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND OPERATIONS
Requirement to Sound the Locomotive Horn
Establishment of New Quiet Zones
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Highway-Rail Crossing Cross Section
Figure 2. Fitting Three Vertical Curves to an Approach to a Railroad Crossing Profile
Figure 3. Low Ground Clearance Warning Signs
Figure 4. Treatment for Low Ground Clearance
Figure 5. Approach Regions with Passive Traffic Control Devices
Figure 6. Pole and Luminaire Locations Where a Railroad ROW Crosses a Public Roadway
Figure 7. Regulatory Signs and Plaques for Crossings
Figure 8. Warning Signs and Plaques for Crossings
Figure 9. Crossing Sign (Crossbuck)
Figure 10. Typical Sign System with STOP or YIELD
Figure 11. Highway-Rail Crossing (Crossbuck) Sign and STOP or YIELD Sign on Same Post
Figure 12. Highway-Rail Crossing (Crossbuck) Sign and STOP Sign on Separate Posts
Figure 13. Example of Emergency Notification Sign (ENS)
Figure 14. Placement of Advance Warning Signs with Parallel Roadway
Figure 15. Substandard Clear Storage Distance
Figure 16. Example of Placement of Warning Signs and Pavement Markings at Highway-Rail Crossings
Figure 17. Use of Diagonal Exclusion Zone Striping Shown at Pre-Signal Location
Figure 19. Example of Dynamic Envelopment Pavement Markings at Grade Crossings
Figure 21. Illustrative Example Showing Cantilever with Flashing-Light Devices
Figure 25. Use of Sidelights for Frontage Roads
Figure 26. Automated Wayside Horn
Figure 27. Typical Location of Signal Devices
Figure 28. Typical Crossing Gate Placement at 2-Lane Orthogonal Crossing
Figure 29. Typical Crossing Gate Placement at Obtuse Angled Crossing
Figure 30. Typical Crossing Gate Placement at Acute Angled Crossing
Figure 31. Alternate Crossing Gate Placement at Acute Angled Crossing (Shown with Exit Gates)
Figure 34. Example of Location Plan for Flashing-Light Signals and Four-Quadrant Gates
Figure 35. Example of a Resistance Barrier
Figure 37. Example of a Traffic Separator
Figure 38. Clear Storage and Minimum Track Clearance Distanc
Figure 44. Queue Prevention Strategies
Figure 45. Illustrative Example of Stop Sign Placement
Figure 46. No Turns Internally Illuminated Signs
Figure 48. Example of Signing and Markings for a Pathway Crossing
Figure 51. Diagram Depicting Use of Pedestrian Barriers
Figure 54. Illustrative Example of a Z-Crossing (Portland TriMet, Burnside Avenue, Portland, OR)
Figure 55. Diagrammatic Plan of a Swing Gate
Figure 56. Illustrative Example of Pedestrian Automatic Gate with Swing Gate
Figure 57. Flashing-Light Signal Placement Options
Figure 58. Examples of Placement of Pedestrian Gates
Figure 59. Diagrammatic Example of Pedestrian Gate with Skirt
Figure 61. Resource Allocation Procedure Field Verification Worksheet
Figure 62. Work in the Vicinity of a Crossing (TA-46)
Figure 63. Crossing Work Activities, Closure of Side Road Crossing
Figure 64. Train Speed Warning Sign
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Federal Requirements for High-Speed Rail Crossings
Table 3. Clearing Sight Distance Criteria by Mode
Table 5. Comparison of Queue Management Devices and Techniques
Table 6. Use of Active Internally Illuminated Signs for Parallel Traffic Turning Across LRT Tracks
Table 8. Collision Prediction and Resource Allocation Procedure Normalizing Constants
Table 9. Recommended Advance Warning Sign Minimum Spacing
Table 10. Possible Solutions to Observed Problems at LRT Crossings
Table 11. Potential Tier Structure for Passenger Systems at Highway-Rail Crossings
APPENDICES:
Fundamental Issues of Highway-Rail Crossings
B. APPENDIX–COMPONENTS OF A HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING
C. APPENDIX–ASSESSMENT OF CROSSING SAFETY AND OPERATION
COLLECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF DATA
HAZARD INDICES AND ACCIDENT PREDICTION FORMULAE
D. APPENDIX–DIAGNOSTIC TEAM CROSSING EVALUATION REPORTING EXAMPLES FROM STATES
E. APPENDIX–PREEMPTION CALCULATION PROCEDURES, EXAMPLE FROM STATE OF TEXAS
APPENDICES: LIST OF FIGURES
Figure A-1. Railroad Crossing Deaths, Injuries, and Incidents from 2008-2017
Figure B-1. Reflectorization Example–Standards Applicable to Boxcars
Figure C-1. Rail Equipment Accident/Incident Report Form
Figure C-2. Sample Questionnaire for Diagnostic Team Evaluation
Figure C-3. Study Positions for Diagnostic Team
Figure C-4. Sight Distance for Moving Vehicle
Figure C-5. Sight Distance for Stopped Vehicle
Figure C-6. Pedestrian Sight Distance Triangle (Double Track Crossing)
Figure D-1. State of Texas Department of Transportation Diagnostic Review Form
APPENDICES: LIST OF TABLES
Table A-1. Class 1 Railroad Line Miles and Track Miles
Table A-2. Public At-Grade Crossings by Functional Classifications, 2017
Table A-3. Public At-Grade Crossing by Highway System, 2017
Table A-4. Fatalities at Public Crossings, 1920-2017
Table A-5. Collisions, Fatalities, and Injuries at Public Crossings, 1975-2017
Table A-6. Collisions at Public Crossings Involving Motor Vehicles by Type of Train, 2004
Table B-1. Public Crossings by Warning Device, 2017
Table B-2. Motor Vehicle Collisions and Casualties at Public Crossings by Vehicle Type, 2017
Table B-3. U.S. Customary Lengths for Design Vehicles
Table B-4. Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Collision Fatalities versus Trespasser Fatalities, 2008-2017
Table B-5. Maximum Train Speeds by Class of Track
Table B-6. Public At-Grade Crossings by Type of Track, 2017
Table C-1. Sight Distances for Combinations of Highway Vehicle and Train Speeds
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
AADT = annual average daily traffic
AAR = Association of American Railroads
AASHTO = American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AAWS = active advance warning sign
ADA = Americans with Disabilities Act
AREMA = American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association
ASLRRA = American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
BRT = Bus Rapid Transit
C&M = construction and maintenance
CFR = Code of Federal Regulations
Crossing(s) = At-Grade Highway-Rail Crossing(s)
CSD = Clear Storage Distance
DOT = Department of Transportation
DSRC = Dedicated Short-Range Communications
FAPG = Federal-Aid Policy Guide
FARS = Fatal Accident Reporting System
FAST Act = Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act
FHWA = Federal Highway Administration
FMCSA = Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
FRA = Federal Railroad Administration
FTA = Federal Transit Administration
GPS = Global Positioning System
HSIP = Highway Safety Improvement
ICC = Interstate Commerce Commission
IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
ISTEA = Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
ITE = Institute of Transportation Engineers
ITS = Intelligent Transportation Systems
LED = light emitting diode
LRT = light-rail transit
LRV = light-rail vehicles
MAP-21 = Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act
MCSAP = Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
MPH or mph = miles per hour
MTB = Materials Transportation Bureau
MTCD = Minimum Track Clearance Distance
MUTCD = Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
NCDOT = North Carolina Department of Transportation
NCHRP = National Cooperative Highway Research Program
NCUTCD = National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
NHS = National Highway System
NHTSA = National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NSRT = Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold
NTD = National Transit Database
NTSB = National Transportation Safety Board
O&M = Operations and Maintenance
OLI = Operation Lifesaver Incorporated
PHMSA = Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
PL = Public Law
PROWAG = [Draft] Proposed Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines
QZRI = Quiet Zone Risk Index
ROW = right-of-way
SAFETEA-LU = Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
SHSP = Strategic Highway Safety Plan
SMIS = Safety Management Information System
STAA = Surface Transportation Assistance Act
STB = Surface Transportation Board
STP = Surface Transportation Program
TEA-21 = Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
TCRP = Transit Cooperative Research Program
TMS = Traffic Management System
TRB = Transportation Research Board
TTC = Temporary Traffic Control
TTCI = Transportation Technology Center, Inc.
TWG = Technical Working Group
U.S.C. = United States Code
USDOT = United States Department of Transportation
UVC = Uniform Vehicle Code
WBAPS = Web Based Accident Prediction System
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