Chapter 6. Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

Proven Practices

Proven Practices

50. Passive Traffic Control Devices
51. Lighting

50. Passive Traffic Control Devices

A. Post-Mounted Delineators

For rural passive grade crossings that are not illuminated, it is recommended that the approach be delineated with post-mounted delineators spaced 50 ft or closer together on the right shoulder, from the location of the Railroad Advance Warning sign (W10-1) to the crossbuck, and extending an equal distance beyond the crossbuck (as illustrated in Figure 68).

Figure 68. Recommended placement of post-mounted delineators

The rationale and supporting evidence for these treatments can be found beginning on page 332 of the Handbook.

51. Lighting

A. Luminaire Type/Alignment

Illumination at a crossing may be effective in reducing nighttime collisions. Illuminating most crossings is technically feasible because more than 90 percent of all crossings have commercial power available. Illumination may be effective under the following conditions:

• Nighttime train operations.
• Low train speeds.
• Blockage of crossings for long periods at night.
• Collision history indicating that motorists often fail to detect trains or traffic control devices at night.
• Horizontal and/or vertical alignment of highway approach such that vehicle headlight beam does not fall on the train until the vehicle has passed the safe stopping distance.
• Long dark trains, such as unit coal trains.
• Restricted sight or stopping distance in rural areas.
• Humped crossings where oncoming vehicle headlights are visible under trains.
• Low ambient light levels.
• A highly reliable source of power.

Luminaires may provide a low-cost alternative to active traffic control devices on industrial or mine tracks where switching operations are carried out at night.

Luminaire supports should be placed in accordance with the principles in the Roadside Design Guide and NCHRP Report 350. If they are placed in the clear zone on a high-speed road, they should be breakaway.

The rationale and supporting evidence for these treatments can be found beginning on page 343 of the Handbook.