MODEL OF THE EFFECTS OF RAIL-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSINGS ON EMERGENCY ACCESS

The purpose of this research was to develop a simple model describing the impacts of rail-highway grade crossings (RHGCs) on emergency access. Linear cities and two-dimensional cities with square grid roadway networks are considered. For the purposes of the model, maximum response time from the emergency services base stations to the most distant point in the service area was minimized. The model indicates that the introduction of an RHGC into an optimized condition requires each base station to be relocated toward the RHGC, to again achieve optimal conditions. It also reveals that the impacts of a rail line through a city vary greatly with the orientation of the rail line relative to the roadway grid. Suggestions for further model extension are presented.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1254/1254-010.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MODEL+OF+THE+EFFECTS+OF+RAIL-HIGHWAY+GRADE+CROSSINGS+ON+EMERGENCY+ACCESS&author=T.+Ryan&author=E.+Carter&publication_year=1990
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309050065
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1254, Traffic Control Devices for Highways, Work Zones, and Railroad Grade Crossings 1990. 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
  • Carter, Everett C
• Publication Date: 1990

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 85-90
• Monograph Title: Traffic control devices for highways, work zones, and railroad grade crossings 1990
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1254
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Access; Disasters and emergency operations; Emergency response time; Hazards and emergency operations; Mathematical models; Railroad grade crossings; Reaction time
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497398
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309050065
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM