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Southeastern Transportation Center |
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Research |
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Improving Safety at Rail-Highway
Grade Crossings
STC COORDINATOR:
Dr. Stephen H. Richards, Associate Professor and Director, Transportation Center, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
PROBLEM STATEMENT
After 20 years of steady decline, the number of grade crossing accidents and casualties are again on the increase, especially in the southeast where vehicle traffic and train volumes are also increasing. The safety deficiencies at grade crossings are numerous and very diverse, involving issues ranging from crossing design elements to traffic control devices to driver behavior and performance. Also, as demonstrated by the recent school bus accident in Illinois, better techniques and policies for interconnecting crossing signals with nearby highway intersection signals need to be developed. The effectiveness of recently adopted programs/policies (such as the use of Stop/Yield signs at passive crossings and the FRA initiative to eliminate one-fourth of the nation's grade crossings) also need to be evaluated, and guidelines for the implementation of these programs/policies need to be refined.
Related to the grade crossing issue,
there is also a rising problem with trespasser casualties. In
fact, almost as many pedestrians and individuals on foot are killed
each year on railroad right-of-way as motorist who die in grade
crossing accidents. This additional problem also needs to be
addressed through a multidisciplinary approach including legal
and enforcement issues, improved signage and/or on-train warning
devices, right-of-way control and access design, and training
and awareness programs.
RESEARCH PROPOSED
The research designed to explore these problems and to evaluate possible solutions will be multidisciplinary and multimodal in scope. It will address problems at all types of grade crossings and among all affected groups. Special attention will be devoted to the emerging problems of light rail and high-speed rail crossings and for school and transit bus operations.
The objectives of this research
include developing for grade crossings improved and low-cost passive
and active warning devices, guidelines for the use of Stop/Yield
signs, recommended geometric design and sight distance requirements,
and guidelines for crossing consolidation and closures. Additionally,
the research will investigate education and training needs for
vehicle drivers and the general public, examine deterrents to
railroad trespassing and identify related issues, and assess the
feasibility of ITS technologies for improving crossing safety.
BUDGET
$300,000-$500,000
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