fra’s grade crossing safety program

1

FRA’s Grade Crossing Safety Program

2012 Southeastern Rail Highway Safety Conference

Charlotte, NC

2

Why Is It Important?

3

Rail Fatalities in 2011

Total 741

Highway-Rail Fatalities Trends

Collisions, Fatalities and Exposure

Rail (million train miles) X Hwy Volume (trillion hwy miles)

Collisions X 10Collisions X 10

Fatalities

(= quadrillion)

FRA assists the railroads in working with states and local communities to:– close crossings– plan corridor safety programs– advance public education and awareness– promote law enforcement

Issue regulations– ENS– train horn– reflectors

Federal Railroad AdministrationHighway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety

Emergency Notification System (ENS)

MUTCD Example SHSM Example

12” x 9”1” white letteringblue background

ENS Compliance Dates

July 2015 – Railroads w/no existing system

July 2017 – Railroads w/current signs that are non-compliant

Quiet Zones at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

Train Horns & Quiet Zones

Continues to be a great deal of interest in establishing quiet zones.– News clip articles almost daily– Web/e-mail/correspondence inquiries almost

every day. 487 quiet zones in existence

– 288 – new quiet zones– 165 – pre-rule quiet zones – 70 new quiet zones established in CY 11– 34 new ones as of August 2012

Train Horns & Quiet Zones

FRA completed a study in Summer of 2011 that found no significant difference between the number of collisions before and after a quiet zone is established.

Preliminary analysis in 2012 shows the same result – no significant difference

Very few complaints about non-compliance with a quiet zone.

Some complaints about the high costs for railroad work (e.g., CWT & warning devices)

Blocked Crossings

2nd most source of complaint FRA has no regulations on the subject

– Part 234 – interference with operation Work with railroad to find resolution Usually successful

Private Crossings

No regulations on the matter “Railroad tore out my crossing”

– Enter into private crossing agreement– State laws on property access

Safety at Private Crossings Report – Feb. 2010

Need to decide on whether to take a policy or regulatory approach

National Crossing Inventory Form

Hot off the press!!!

As of October 18, 2012

Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking (NPRM)

issued.

Highlights of the NPRM

NPRM PROPOSES that:

Railroads to update every 3 years.

Applies to all public, private and pathway crossings.

Class 1’s required to submit electronically.

NPRM does not apply to States, RSIA did,

MAP-21 removed FHWA authority.

Noted proposed timelines in NPRM

3 months Certain change to the crossing (i.e. closure,

surface, added gates, sale/transfer new warning devices.)

6 months Crossings yet to be submitted Newly established crossings

3 years Existing crossings must be updated

NPRM Deadline Date

Comment period ends Dec. 17, 2012

Technical symposium

www.regulations.gov

Docket #FRA-2011-0007

Trespass Division

Workshop Seminar – St. Louis August 2012 www.fra.dot.gov/conference/trespass2012/

index.shtml

Trespasser Death Study Survey out to Medical Examiners Results to be plotted on a GIS map

Thank-you!

frank.frey@dot.gov

(202) 493-0130