The statistics are staggering. A train hits someone nearly every 3 hours. In 2006, there were 2,897 highway rail incidents with 999 injuries and 352 deaths. Trespassing incidents are high too. For the same period there were 996 incidents with 530 deaths.

The good news is that the overall number of rail related accidents has been declining. 2006 statistics are 13% lower than 2005.

The bad news, from a safety standpoint, is that the nations railroads are experiencing record levels of freight traffic. Intermodal freight delivery is now the industry�s top revenue source. Freight demand on the nation�s 340,000 route-miles is expected to jump 67% by 2020. Passenger rail is rising in popularity too, with rider ship reaching all time highs. This means that there will be more trains on the rails for longer durations than ever before.

To keep up with this growth, rail infra-structure must be improved and a focus placed on safety. Reducing accidents is no small task. Our railway system has 1.7 highway-rail crossings per mile, for a total of 252,000 crossings. Improving safety is an enormous task that will take the com-bined efforts of the railroads, government, and the public.

What is being done?
Railroads, transportation agencies, and the design community are working hard to identify and install the most appropriate traffic control device at a given highway-railroad crossing. Recognizing the need for continued funding, SAFETEA-LU provides approximately $200 million annually for road-rail grade safety improvements. Here is what is being done to improve safety:

• Close grade crossings and divert traffic to grade-separated overpasses.


• Supplement crossbucks with flashers, gate warnings, pavement markings, and improved circuitry.


• Install highly reflective crossbucks, stop, yield, and emergency notification signs.


• Install digital video cameras to catch motorists and trespassers who disobey safety and highway laws.


• Use centerline guiderail or curbed islands to prevent people from driving around crossing gates.


• Improve sight distances for motorists at crossings.


• Initiate aggressive public safety campaigns.


• Reduce false gate activations. These reduce the credibility of the warning devices and entice people to drive around closed gates.


• Use pre-signals to prevent queuing onto or near a railroad crossing .

The figure below represents a design that can prevent a line of vehicles at a highway-highway intersection from backing up onto the railroad tracks. It uses many of the safety improvements cited above. Note the raised median to prevent motorists from bypassing a closed gate; the improved striping and stop bars; the crossbucks with supplemental flashing lights; and upgraded signs. With these improvements, drivers should not become confused as to where to safely stop when a train is approaching.

For more information, contact Chris Smith, P.E. He can be reached at csmith@fisherassoc.com or by phone at 585-334-1310.