Transcript The Effects of Pedestrian Treatments on Risky Behavior

2008 Mid-States Highway Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference
 Previous Manual was 2nd Edition, 1986
Publication
 Before Widespread Adoption of Light Rail
Technology
 Before FRA Quiet Zone Regulation
 Before New Web-Based Systems
 Significant New Guidance Documents
 Pre-Fox River Grove, Illinois Metra Collision
 USDOT Technical Working Group
 ITE RP Preemption of Traffic Signals Near Railroad
Crossings
Update on Federal Programs, Safety Initiatives & Court
Cases
 Preemption of Traffic Signals Near Railroad Crossings
 Use of Pre-Signals & Exclusion Zone Striping
 Passive Devices – Use of Stop and Yield Signs at Grade
Crossings
 Summary of Quiet Zone Procedures
 Description of Use of Wayside Horns
 Update to Sight Distance Tables; clarification of
application & addition of Pedestrian Sight Distance
 Updates to FRA Grade Crossing Inventory procedures and
Accident Prediction Model
 MUTCD 2003
 Light Rail Transit Safety Treatments (TCRP Reports 17 &
69)

Good summary of history of federal grade
crossing safety programs
 Includes information on ISTEA & SAFTEA-LU
 Headlights & Auxiliary Lighting
 Reflectorization of Freight Rolling Stock
 FHWA guidance on use of STOP and YIELD signs
at passive crossings
 Train Horns & Quiet Zones
 Summary of Court Cases
 CSX v. Easterwood
 Norfolk Southern v. Shanklin

 Extensive preemption section
 References ITE Recommended Practice,
AREMA, MUTCD as well as other material
 TXDOT form is included in Appendix
Pre-Signal Ahead of Crossing
Pre-Signal Ahead on Cantilever
Pre-Signal Beyond Crossing
Queue Cutter Signal

Guidance for use
also provided in
Handbook:
Use of YIELD is
the default
choice
 Use of STOP
based upon
engineering
study

 Overview
 Requirement to Sound the Locomotive
Horn
 Creation of Quiet Zones
 Maintenance of Pre-Rule Quiet Zones
 Creation of New Quiet Zones
 Length of Quiet Zones
 Supplementary and Alternative Safety
Measures
 Describes use in the Quiet Zone Section
 Describes functionality in Warning Device
Section
 MUTCD Part 8 and Part 10 applications
described
Updated sight distance tables
Clearing Sight Distance for pedestrians was
added
 Application and clarification added
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Updated Inventory Instructions
Detailed Discussion of USDOT Accident Prediction Model


List of safety issues paired with possible solutions
Recommended motor vehicle treatments
including use of active supplemental devices vs.
gated or non-gated crossings:
 Traffic Signal
 Active NO LEFT/RIGHT TURN sign
 Train Icon

Examples of pedestrian treatments

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Z crossings & bedstead barriers
Second train coming signs
Swing gates
Channelization
Gate placement options
 Use of LEDs
 Four quadrant gates
 Use of channelization with gates
 Barrier gates
 Wayside horn systems
 Second train coming signs
 Standard treatment shown in MUTCD 2003
 Example from TX DOT of alternative
placement to avoid wheel wear
 Example from IL DOT of keep clear diagonal
striping placement
 Jurisdiction for crossing closure by state
indicating whether state agency /
commission or local jurisdiction is
responsible
 Information on closure programs including
criteria for selecting closure candidates and
other factors to consider when closing a
crossing
 Corridor approach including closure and
safety improvements
Use of STOP and YIELD signs (FHWA Memo, 2006)
Incorporates recommendations from Guidance on
Traffic Control Devices at Highway-Rail Grade
Crossings (US DOT Technical Working Group, 2002)
 Cost-effectiveness of evaluation of alternative
countermeasures (Transport Canada, 2002)
 GradeDec software & web reference (FRA, 2002)
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Updated statistics
 Collisions
 Collisions vs. Type of Traffic Control Device
 Collisions vs. Vehicle Type / Pedestrian

Example Private Crossings Policy (WV) included as
appendix