CRITERIA USED BY STATE HIGHWAY AGENCIES TO DETERMINE WARRANTS AND PRIORITIES FOR WARNING DEVICES AT RAIL-HIGHWAY CROSSINGS

The purpose of this study is to determine the warrants and/or criteria currently used by the individual states for applying various levels of rail-highway crossing warning devices, and what procedures each state uses to determine crossing improvement priorities. The objectives of this research study are: Obtain current information from each state about rail-highway crossing warrants and priorities for warning devices construction or improvements. Examine individual methods used to determine rail-highway grade crossing improvement warrants and priorities. Compare and analyze vehicle-train (VT) exposure indexes that the states use to develop their crossing warning standards and warrants. And, prepare a summary of the survey information and analysis for distribution to participating states so that each state can become aware of the national trends in warrants and priorities for rail-highway crossing warning devices. The study concluded that vehicle train exposure factors and previous accident history are the most frequently used parameters in determining improvement priorities by state highway agencies. Rail-Highway advance warning devices provide a better return of improvement expenditures for accident reduction than do grade separation structures. Each state has unique highway improvement needs and different revenue resources.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Highway Traffic Safety Center, 418 Engineering Hall
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801
• Authors:
  • Sanford, J L
• Publication Date: 1977-4

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 115 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash analysis; Crashes; Government funding; Grade crossing protection systems; Hazard analysis; Highways; Railroad grade crossings; Revenues; State departments of transportation; State government; State highway departments; Strategic planning; Warning systems; Warrants (Traffic control devices)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Justification
• Old TRIS Terms: Grade crossing protection
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165511
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Res Rpt. No. 8
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1977 12:00AM