PRIORITY PROGRAMMING METHODOLOGY FOR RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS

The objective was to develop a comprehensive methodology to assist in setting priorities for improvements to rail-highway grade crossings (RHGCs). The objectives of the methodology were as follows: to compute all existing costs at a RHGC, changes in costs that would result from each of a number of improvements for that crossing, and costs of implementing those improvements; to select the set of projects that would maximize expected net benefits, subject to a budget constraint; and to be of practical instead of theoretical use to decision makers. The methodology developed and presented fulfills these objectives, subject to the constraints of existing data bases. Accident costs, delay costs, diversion costs, and costs of delay to emergency vehicles are considered, and up to five improvement projects per crossing are evaluated. The benefit and cost computations are made in a Fortran computer program developed in the research. The methodology was applied succesfully to 1985 conditions at all RHGCs in a particular jurisdiction. The results of the application indicate that, for the same total budget, expected net benefits could have been approximately $7 million higher if the methodology's projects had been implemented.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1991/1327/1327-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PRIORITY+PROGRAMMING+METHODOLOGY+FOR+RAIL-HIGHWAY+GRADE+CROSSINGS&author=T.+Ryan&publication_year=1991
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309051673
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1327, Visibility, Rail-Highway Grade Crossings, and Highway Improvement Evaluation 1991. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Ryan, Timothy A
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 21-26
• Monograph Title: Visibility, rail-highway grade crossings, and highway improvement evaluation, 1991
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1327
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Budgeting; Computer programs; Costs; Decision making; Improvements; Methodology; Railroad grade crossings; Ratings; Strategic planning
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I73: Traffic Control; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00622228
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309051673
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1992 12:00AM