RAILROAD-HIGHWAY SAFETY-PART 1: A COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

WITH THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN MOTOR VEHICLE MILES, SERIOUS CONGESTION ON URBAN STREETS, AND INCREASING INTEREST IN HIGH-SPEED RAIL SERVICE AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODE IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, THE PROBLEM OF RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS HAS TAKEN ON NEW IMPORTANCE. THIS ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM (PART I) IS IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RAILROAD SAFETY ACT OF 1970 AND THE HIGHWAY SAFETY ACT OF 1970. THE STATISTICAL MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM AND PAST AND PRESENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED IN DETAIL. THE PROBLEM IS CONSIDERED WITH RESPECT TO THE DRIVER, TYPE OF WARNING SYSTEM, AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY, AND THE PEDESTRIAN. THE QUESTIONS OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, DIVIDED JURISDICTION, HIGH COST OF IMPROVEMENTS, LEGAL LIABILITY, AND LIMITED SOURCES OF FUNDING ARE CONSIDERED. EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION OF THE GRADE CROSSING PROBLEM SHOULD CONSIDER BOTH INCREASED SAFETY AND MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THE HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD SYSTEMS.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 127 Pp, 7 FIG, 15 TAB, 10 REF, 1 APP
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Railroad Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1971-11

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: At grade intersections; Financial responsibility; Grade crossing protection systems; Legal responsibility; Pedestrian safety; Railroad grade crossings; Safety; Warning systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Programs
• Old TRIS Terms: Pedestrian protection
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226183
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 27 1972 12:00AM