[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 49, Volume 4] [Revised as of October 1, 2004] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 49CFR222.9] [Page 263-266] TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 222_USE OF LOCOMOTIVE HORNS AT PUBLIC HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSINGS --Table of Contents Subpart A_General Sec. 222.9 Definitions. As used in this part-- Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration or the Administrator's delegate. Alternative safety measures (ASM) means a safety system or procedure, other than an SSM, established in accordance with this part which is provided by the appropriate traffic control authority or law enforcement authority and which, after individual review and analysis by the Associate Administrator, is determined to be an effective substitute for the locomotive horn in the prevention of highway-rail casualties at specific highway-rail grade crossings. Appendix B to this part lists such measures. Associate Administrator means the Associate Administrator for Safety of the Federal Railroad Administration or the Associate Administrator's delegate. Channelization device means one of a series of highly visible vertical markers placed between opposing highway lanes designed to alert or guide traffic around an obstacle or to direct traffic in a particular direction. ``Tubular markers'' and ``vertical panels'' as described in sections 6F.57 and 6F.58, respectively, of the MUTCD, are acceptable channelization devices for purposes of this part. Additional design specifications are determined by the [[Page 264]] standard traffic design specifications used by the governmental entity constructing the channelization device. Crossing Corridor Risk Index means a number reflecting a measure of risk to the motoring public at public grade crossings along a rail corridor, calculated in accordance with the procedures in appendix D of this part, representing the average risk at each public crossing within the corridor. This risk level is determined by averaging among all public crossings within the corridor, the product of the number of predicted collisions per year and the predicted likelihood and severity of casualties resulting from those collisions at each public crossing within the corridor. Diagnostic team as used in this part, means a group of knowledgeable representatives of parties of interest in a highway-rail grade crossing, organized by the public authority responsible for that crossing, who, using crossing safety management principles, evaluate conditions at a grade crossing to make determinations or recommendations for the public authority concerning safety needs at that crossing. Effectiveness rate means a number between zero and one which represents the reduction of the likelihood of a collision at a public highway-rail grade crossing as a result of the installation of an SSM or ASM when compared to the same crossing equipped with conventional active warning systems of flashing lights and gates. Zero effectiveness means that the SSM or ASM provides no reduction in the probability of a collision, while an effectiveness rating of one means that the SSM or ASM is totally effective in reducing collisions. Measurements between zero and one reflect the percentage by which the SSM or ASM reduces the probability of a collision. FRA means the Federal Railroad Administration. Grade Crossing Inventory Form means the U.S. DOT National Highway- Rail Grade Crossing Inventory Form, FRA Form F6180.71. This form is available through the FRA's Office of Safety, or on FRA's Web site at http://www.fra.dot.gov. Locomotive means a piece of on-track equipment other than hi-rail, specialized maintenance, or other similar equipment-- (1) With one or more propelling motors designed for moving other equipment; (2) With one or more propelling motors designed to carry freight or passenger traffic or both; or (3) Without propelling motors but with one or more control stands. Locomotive horn means a locomotive air horn, steam whistle, or similar audible warning device (see 49 CFR 229.129) mounted on a locomotive or control cab car. The terms ``locomotive horn'', ``train whistle'', ``locomotive whistle'', and ``train horn'' are used interchangeably in the railroad industry. Median means the portion of a divided highway separating the travel ways for traffic in opposite directions. MUTCD means the Manual on Traffic Control Devices published by the Federal Highway Administration. Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold means a number reflecting a measure of risk, calculated on a nationwide basis, which reflects the average level of risk to the motoring public at public highway-rail grade crossings equipped with flashing lights and gates and at which locomotive horns are sounded. For purposes of this rule, a risk level above the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold represents a significant risk with respect to loss of life or serious personal injury. The Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold is calculated in accordance with the procedures in Appendix D of this part. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this part to the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold reflect its level as last published by FRA. New Quiet Zone means a segment of a rail line within which is situated one or a number of consecutive public highway-rail crossings at which routine sounding of locomotive horns is restricted pursuant to this part and which does not qualify as a Pre-Rule Quiet Zone. Non-traversable curb means a highway curb designed to discourage a motor vehicle from leaving the roadway. Such curb used where highway speeds do not exceed 40 miles per hour, is more than six inches but not more than nine [[Page 265]] inches high. If not equipped with reboundable, reflectorized vertical markers, paint and reflective beads should be applied to the curb for night visibility. Additional design specifications are determined by the standard traffic design specifications used by the governmental entity constructing the curb. Power-out indicator means a device which is capable of indicating to trains approaching a grade crossing equipped with an active warning system whether commercial electric power is activating the warning system at that crossing. This term includes remote health monitoring of grade crossing warning systems if such monitoring system is equipped to indicate power status. Pre-Rule Quiet Zone means a segment of a rail line within which is situated one or a number of consecutive public highway-rail crossings at which State statutes or local ordinances restricted the routine sounding of locomotive horns, or at which locomotive horns did not sound due to formal or informal agreements between the community and the railroad or railroads, and at which such statutes, ordinances or agreements were in place and enforced or observed as of October 9, 1996 and on December 18, 2003. Private highway-rail crossing means, for purposes of this part, a highway-rail at grade crossing which is not a public highway-rail grade crossing. Public authority means the public entity responsible for safety and maintenance of the roadway crossing the railroad tracks at a public highway-rail grade crossing. This term includes the traffic control authority or law enforcement authority, or the governmental jurisdiction having responsibility for motor vehicle safety at the crossing. Public highway-rail grade crossing means, for purposes of this part, a location where a public highway, road, or street, including associated sidewalks or pathways, crosses one or more railroad tracks at grade. In the event a public authority maintains the roadway on at least one side of the crossing, the crossing is considered a public crossing for purposes of this part. Quiet zone means a segment of a rail line, within which is situated one or a number of consecutive public highway-rail crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded. Quiet Zone Risk Index means a measure of risk to the motoring public which reflects the Crossing Corridor Risk Index for a quiet zone, after adjustment to account for increased risk due to lack of locomotive horn use at the crossings within the quiet zone (if horns are presently sounded at the crossings), and reduced risk due to implementation, if any, of SSMs and ASMs within the quiet zone. The Quiet Zone Risk Index is calculated in accordance with the procedures in Appendix D of this part. Railroad means any form of non-highway ground transportation that runs on rails or electromagnetic guideways and any entity providing such transportation, including: (1) Commuter or other short-haul railroad passenger service in a metropolitan or suburban area and commuter railroad service that was operated by the Consolidated Rail Corporation on January 1, 1979; and (2) High speed ground transportation systems that connect metropolitan areas, without regard to whether those systems use new technologies not associated with traditional railroads; but does not include rapid transit operations in an urban area that are not connected to the general railroad system of transportation. Relevant collision means a collision at a highway-rail grade crossing between a train and a motor vehicle, excluding the following: a collision resulting from an activation failure of an active grade crossing warning system; a collision in which there is no driver in the motor vehicle; or a collision in which the highway vehicle struck the side of the train beyond the fourth locomotive unit or rail car. Supplementary safety measure (SSM) means a safety system or procedure established in accordance with this part which is provided by the appropriate traffic control authority or law enforcement authority responsible for safety at the highway-rail grade crossing, that is determined by the Associate Administrator to be an effective [[Page 266]] substitute for the locomotive horn in the prevention of highway-rail casualties. Appendix A to this part lists such SSMs. Waiver means a temporary or permanent modification of some or all of the requirements of this part as they apply to a specific party under a specific set of facts. Waiver does not refer to the process of establishing quiet zones or approval of quiet zones in accordance with the provisions of this part. Wayside horn means a stationary horn located at a highway rail grade crossing, designed to provide, upon the approach of a locomotive or train, audible warning to oncoming motorists of the approach of a train.