Transcript NCDOT Rail Progam

STATE CROSSING SAFETY
PROGRAMS & FEDERAL
CROSSING SAFETY FUNDING
CROSSINGS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY SESSION
AASHTO – SCORT MEETING
March 14, 2011 – Washington, DC
Paul C. Worley, CPM
Director – Engineering & Safety
NCDOT Rail Division
Section 130 Program
Success Since 1974
• Over 250K public and private crossings in
US
• About $3B Obligated Historically
• Prevented 10,500+ Fatalities &
51,000+ Nonfatal Injuries
• Administered by FHWA Through States
• Supported by AASHTO-AAR
Section 130 Program
AASHTO – Authorization Policy # VI. 7
• Continue and expand funding for the
Section 130 Grade Crossing
Program and institute measures to
expedite the process.
Section 130 Program
Concerns
• Reauthorization – Eliminates
Categories
• Competition with Highway Safety
Needs – Based on Fatalities Alone
• Interest by Railroads to Use for
Maintenance
• Timely Obligation of Funds
Section 130 Program
Timely Obligation of Funds
• How Does S-130 Compare with Other
Federal-Aid Safety Programs?
• State & Railroad Agreement; Design &
Construction (12-18 Months) Process
Spans Fiscal Year.
• Priority Lists or Corridor Plans Must Be
Developed Based on Available Funding.
Section 130 Program
Timely Obligation of Funds Depends
• State & Railroad Ability to Complete
PE and Construction
• Acceptance by Local Road Authorities
• NEPA Clearances – Historic Issues
• Sometimes Railroad Final Billing is
Slow to Close Due to Audit, etc.
State Crossing Safety Programs
• Not Always Found in DOT Rail Offices or
Divisions
• Rather Found In:
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Public Utility Commissions
Highway Divisions – Traffic Engineering/Safety
Opportunities for Coordination
• DOT Rail Improvement
Programs
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Freight & Passenger
• Crossing Safety Efforts
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Signals
Inventory
Closures
Opportunities for Coordination
Finding DOT Rail/Highway Win-Win’s
• Highway Preconstruction Scoping
• Transportation Planning
• Long-Range Rail Planning
• Rail Revitalization
• HSR & Passenger Improvements
Crossing Safety Projects – A Portal
Into the Rail Project Process
• Master Preliminary Engineering Agreements
• Master Construction Agreements
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Can be built upon and/or used to implement
rail improvement projects
Importance of Federal
Crossing Safety Funds to OLI
• OLI Set Aside from S-130
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Grants to State Programs
National Programs/Strategies
• Saving Lives & Preventing Injuries
• 3 E’s
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Education, Enforcement, Engineering
Crossing Policy
Development Opportunities
States Participating In:
• Regional Crossing Workshops
• NCUTCD Technical Committee
• AREMA Committee 36 – Signals
Comprehensive Costs of Highway/Rail
At-Grade Crossing Crashes
• TRB Launches NCHRP 08-85
• Different Approach to Program
Benefits
• Provides $350,000 in
Funding
• 18-Month Study
Comprehensive Costs of Highway/Rail
At-Grade Crossing Crashes
• NCHRP 08-85 Study Objectives/Tasks
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Review literature & survey practices.
Identify categories of collision costs.
Develop cost-forecasting model.
After webinar workshop, refine models.
Prepare final report & disseminate.
Status of NCHRP 08-85
• Documents Moving Through TRB Office of
Contracts & Grants
• Kick-Off Teleconference with Panel in
Early April
• Complete October 2012
To Conclude
• Know your crossing safety counterparts and
collaborate.
• Look for synergies between rail planning,
passenger, and rail
safety programs.
• Funding and projects are
often the foundation
of railroad relationships.