[Federal Register: January 22, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 14)]
[Notices]
[Page 3784-3785]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ja10-106]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Safety Advisory 2009-03
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory; Identification and Handling of
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings with Vertical Profile Conditions.
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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2009-03 to address Safety
Recommendations H-96-01, H-96-02, and H-96-04, issued by the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that relate to vertical roadway
profile conditions at highway-rail grade crossings. This safety
advisory reminds States of their responsibility to identify and
document in the U.S. DOT National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Inventory
(``DOT Crossing Inventory'') highway-rail crossings where ``Low Ground
Clearance'' signs have been installed. This safety advisory also
recommends that States implement policies and procedures to identify
public highway-rail grade crossings that do not satisfy the standard
for vertical profile conditions set forth in the American Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Policy on Geometric
Design of Highways and Streets (``AASHTO Green Book'') and recommends
that corrective action be taken to bring them into compliance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Ries, Staff Director, Highway-Rail
Grade Crossing & Trespasser Prevention Division, FRA, RRS-23, Mail Stop
25, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202)
493-6299), or Kathryn Shelton,
[[Page 3785]]
Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, RCC-11, Mail Stop 10, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6038).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In Safety Recommendation H-96-01, the NTSB recommended that DOT
expand its DOT Crossing Inventory to include vertical profile
information on all highway-rail grade crossings in the United States.
The NTSB advised that this additional data, which could be obtained in
a cost-effective manner by simply training the survey teams that
currently collect State grade crossing data to make vertical profile
measurements, would facilitate the identification of existing crossings
that do not meet the AASHTO Green Book standard for vertical profile
conditions.\1\
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\1\ AASHTO's Green Book standard for vertical profile conditions
states that the crossing surface should be at the same plane as the
top of the rails for a distance of two feet outside the rails.
Additionally, the surface of the highway should not be more than
three inches higher or lower than the top of the nearest rail at a
point 30 feet from the rail (except where track superelevation makes
a different level necessary). A copy of AASHTO's Green Book standard
for vertical profile conditions may be obtained from AASHTO at the
following address: 444 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 249,
Washington, DC 20001. A copy of AASHTO's Green Book standard for
vertical profile conditions is also available at the Federal
Railroad Administration, Docket Office, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
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FRA determined, however, that requiring States to take vertical
profile measurements of each highway-rail grade crossing could be very
burdensome and costly on State highway transportation departments who
would likely bear the brunt of additional costs associated with
required training and/or employment of additional personnel. Therefore,
FRA modified the DOT Crossing Inventory Form in March 1999 to include a
data field that would identify crossings equipped with Low Ground
Clearance signs (W10-5 in the Federal Highway Administration's Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices). However, based on a recent review
of DOT Crossing Inventory records, it appears that States have not been
submitting this information, even though use of this relatively new
sign is understood to be increasing.
FRA has been statutorily mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement
Act of 2008 (RSIA08) to prescribe regulations that would require States
and railroads to submit current information and periodic updates for
public, private, and pedestrian crossings. Rail Safety Improvement Act
of 2008, 49 U.S.C. 20160, 23 U.S.C. 130 (2008). Therefore, given the
lack of current data on the prevalence of crossings with substandard
vertical profiles, FRA intends to address this issue during the course
of the upcoming rulemaking. In addition, FRA is currently funding a
pilot demonstration project that utilizes LIDAR (light detection and
ranging) mounted on a track inspection vehicle to determine if this
technology is an economical and efficient way to collect vertical
profile data at crossings. A successful project could lead to an
automated method to collect the data, thus reducing the potential
burden on State highway transportation departments who would likely be
required to provide this information for public highway-rail grade
crossings.
In Safety Recommendation H-96-02, the NTSB recommended that DOT
encourage and coordinate efforts between the railroad industry and
State and local highway transportation officials to identify crossings
with substandard vertical profiles and close or take appropriate
corrective action to eliminate them. FRA believes that the rulemaking
mandated by RSIA08 will play an important role in facilitating joint
efforts by the railroad industry and State and local highway officials
to identify crossings with substandard vertical profile conditions and
take appropriate corrective action to eliminate them. As stated above,
FRA intends to address the absence of current data on the prevalence of
crossings with substandard vertical profiles in this upcoming
rulemaking.
In Safety Recommendation H-96-04, the NTSB recommended that DOT
develop procedures and processes that will facilitate improved
communication and coordination between the railroad industry and State
and local highway transportation officials regarding crossing
maintenance activities so as to prevent the creation of crossings with
substandard vertical profile conditions. FRA intends to comply with
this Safety Recommendation by participating in a joint effort with the
Federal Highway Administration to develop and propose guidance for
inclusion in the next revision of the AASHTO Green Book that would
require prior communication and coordination of any changes in highway
approach elevation or roadway width with appropriate railroad
personnel. FRA has been informed that similar revisions have been
proposed by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way
Association (AREMA) for the railroad industry. FRA believes that
revision of these AASHTO and AREMA standards will facilitate improved
communication and coordination between the railroad industry and State
and local highway transportation officials regarding crossing
maintenance activities, so as to reduce and/or eliminate the creation
of new crossings with substandard vertical profile conditions.
Recommended Action: Based on the foregoing discussion and to
promote the safety of highway-rail grade crossings on the Nation's
railroads, FRA recommends that each State:
(1) Identify public highway-rail grade crossings where Low Ground
Clearance signs have been installed and submit updated data on these
crossings to the DOT Crossing Inventory; and
(2) implement policies and procedures to identify public highway-
rail grade crossings that do not satisfy the AASHTO Green Book standard
for vertical profile conditions and take corrective action to bring
them into compliance.
States are encouraged to take action consistent with the preceding
recommendations and to take other actions to help ensure the safety of
highway-rail grade crossings on the Nation's railroads. FRA may modify
this Safety Advisory 2009-03, issue additional safety advisories, or
take other appropriate action necessary to ensure the highest level of
safety on the Nation's railroads.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 31, 2009.
Jo Strang,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-1118 Filed 1-21-10; 8:45 am]
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