ALTERNATIVES TO THE WHISTLE: ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE ROLE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT IN PROMOTING HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE SAFETY IN METROPOLITAN CHICAGO

This study offers perspective on the role of public education and enforcement in promoting highway-rail grade-crossing safety and considers their potential relevance to the debate about the Federal Railroad Administration's Proposed Rule for the use of Locomotive Horns at highway-Rail Grade Crossings. It evaluates: (1) the probable social costs of the noise generated by locomotive horns at grade crossings in the Chicago area from the implementation of the rule; (2) the current status of enforcement activity at grade crossings in the region; and (3) the extent to which heightened enforcement and public education can lessen the number of motor vehicle violations at these crossings, thereby contributing to local efforts to meet the criteria for federally designated "quite zones". The results show that the region would experience significant losses in property value from the sounding of horns at grade crossings currently subject to whistle bans. If budget constraints prevent the creation of quiet zones in an appreciable number of communities, the losses would likely be in the range of $616 million to $1.0 billion. The study also shows that the existing approach to enforcement and public education has notable flaws. To help resolve this problem, it provides five recommendations built around the principle of intergovernment cooperation. These suggested actions include the creation of a dedicated state-managed enforcement unit, modifications to the state's fine structure, and the development of a regional strategy for the adoption of photo-enforcement technology.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Forum

  One Farragut Square South, Suite 500
  Washington, DC  United States  20006-4003
• Authors:
  • Schwieterman, Joseph P
  • Baden, Vrett
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Forum
  • Location: Annapolis, Maryland
  • Date: 2000-11-29 to 2000-12-1
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 253-282

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Education; Highways; Horns; Law enforcement; Locomotives; Motor vehicles; Photographs; Public relations; Railroad grade crossings
• Geographic Terms: Chicago (Illinois)
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00804778
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 10 2001 12:00AM