Presentation Transcript

1. Grade Crossing Safety

   National Transportation Public Affairs Workshop Des Moines, Iowa

2. Federal Railroad Administration

   Howard Gillespie Regional Manager Grade Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention Kansas City, Missouri
3. A Look at Data
4. Rail Fatalities in 2010
5. Collisions, Fatalities and Exposure Rail (million train miles) X Hwy Volume (trillion hwy miles) (= quadrillion) Fatalities Collisions X 10
6. Rail & Highway Miles Traveled
7. Highway-Rail Fatalities Trends
8. Where Collisions Occur
9. The following slides use data from collisions from 2009 at public crossings.
10. Who Hit Who? Train Hit Car – 1183 (78.7%) Car Hit Train – 320 (21.3%)
11. Train Speed 66% of collisions occur at less than 40 mph
12. Weather
13. Position on Crossing
14. Driver Action
15. Driver Age
16. Oct. thru May 2011Comparison
17. Private Crossings FRA completed a private crossing study in 2008. Findings were industrial and agricultural crossings were the heavy hitters. Very challenging as many different uses and ownership.
18. Emergency Notification system - nPRM
19. Emergency Notification SystemNotice of Proposed Rulemaking Published in Federal Register on March 3 Requires all railroads to implement ENS programs signs posted at ALL public, private, and pathway crossings call goes to dispatching railroad (even if different from railroad owner)
20. ENS NPRM Four unsafe conditions addressed Failure of active warning system Disabled vehicle or other obstruction to crossing Obstruction to view of highway/pathway user Or any other unsafe condition (catchall)
21. ENS NPRM Required remedies after unsafe report Warn approaching trains (Failure of warning devices / vehicle or obstruction ahead) Contact law enforcement to maintain safety at crossing (Failure of warning devices / vehicle or obstruction ahead) Investigate unsafe condition and take appropriate action to remedy when feasible
22. ENS NPRM Minimum size: 12 in x 9 in Lettering at least 1 in. Blue background with white lettering and border
23. Sight Distance Develop model state legislation addressing sight distance at passive crossings. Done – posted on Web site 1/7/11 http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/1730.shtml
24. National Crossing Inventory Require mandatory updating of crossing data into DOT national crossing database by States and railroads. Working group formed to develop rule NPRM – late in 2011 States and railroads should be submitting updates
25. Trespass Prevention and Crossing Safety Develop model state traffic laws to address crossing violations Drafted and under review by Counsel

26. Other Activities

27. Rail Car Reflectorization Must be on all rail cars by November 28, 2015. New cars built after January 26, 2006. New locomotives built after January 26, 2006. Existing locomotives by November 28, 2015.
28. Train Horn Rule April 2005 regulation requiring trains to sound horn approaching public grade crossings. Also allows for public authority to establish quiet zones. There are 480 quiet zones in the United States.
29. Distracted Driving Secretary of Transportation initiative against use of electronic devices while driving and championed with our agency as well. Some states have already passed laws prohibiting it.
30. ITS FRA is working on exploratory research using Positive Train Control (PTC) or other locomotive borne equipment to communicate with crossing signals and/or directly to motor vehicles

31. Web Site

32. We need your help Despite long-term improvements there is still much work to be done. The vast majority of highway-rail events are preventable. Partnerships are key to furthering shared goals i.e. targeted outreach to enlist support of others.

33. Questions?