Grade Crossing Safety

This synthesis will be of interest to state and local highway personnel who are responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of road surfaces and to railroad personnel with similar responsibilities associated with highway-rail grade crossings. It will also be of interest to manufacturers and suppliers of pavement and track materials for crossings. It presents information on the current practices related to highway-rail grade crossing surfaces, including the design and selection of crossing surface materials. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes the various types of highway- rail crossing surfaces, and the issues related to design, operation, and maintenance. Design elements include intersection geometry; drainage; special users, such as bicyclists; and descriptions of failures and their causes. Information is presented on crossing material selection factors, including life-cycle costs and on state practices in selection. Funding issues are also discussed.

"The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (MUTCDC) is a flagship document for the Transportation Association of Canada, and is an essential tool for all professionals involved in traffic management and control. It provides optimum guidance and preferred methods in the design, dimensions and application of devices for the control of traffic and the provision of information to drivers and other road users. The MUTCDC provides information and diagrams on traffic signs, signals, pavement markings and temporary conditions, offering guidance on types, use, and placement for each. This guidance is applicable to the variety of road authorities and jurisidictions across the nation. These devices constitute a system for conveying messages to the road user which advise of traffic regulations in order to enable observance of the law, or warn of road characteristics, road hazards and temporary conditions. Meeting these objectives improves safety, serves the convenience of the road user, and promotes the efficient movement of persons and goods and the orderly flow of traffic."--Page [iii].

"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 755: Comprehensive Costs of Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Crashes describes a process for estimating the costs of highway-rail grade crossing crashes. A spreadsheet-based tool to facilitate use of the cost estimation process is available online." --Publisher description.

This handbook briefly describes how growth of railroads and highways resulted in a proliferation of grade crossings and then discusses the variety of methods developed to warn pedestrians and vehicles of approaching trains. It is aimed primarily at providing railroad, state and municipal personnel with information which can help in cooperative efforts to improve grade crossing safety and efficiency. The book describes conditions and requirements at crossing; facilitates understanding of the elements of crossing systems; provides a compendium of existing grade crossing technology; serves as a guideline to aid in implementing improvements to grade crossings; aids in understanding and applying new technology; and serves as a basic text for training programs.