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Module 17: Utility Occupations. Objectives. Public Safety Parallel Occupation Perpendicular Occupation Overhead Underground Permit Requirements. Utility Occupations. Overhead Power Lines. Fiber Optic Line. Gas Pipeline. Safety.
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Objectives • Public Safety • Parallel Occupation • Perpendicular Occupation • Overhead • Underground • Permit Requirements
Utility Occupations Overhead Power Lines Fiber Optic Line Gas Pipeline
Safety The safety of the public and railroad personnel and property can be affected by improper installation of utilities: • Wires can sag, • Pipes can break, • Precautions must be taken so that if these events occur, the results are manageable, not catastrophic.
What is a Utility Occupation? • Use of railroad property by the provider of the means of transmitting fluids, gasses, electricity or communications. • Utilities can be privately or publicly owned. • Railroads prefer to keep their rights of way unencumbered but sometimes this is impossible. In these cases, utility occupations are permitted.
Types of Occupations • Utilities can occupy the railroad in two ways: • Parallel Occupations – occupying the railroad right of way longitudinally either at, above or below grade. • Crossing Occupations – either under the railroad right of way or overhead • For right of way purposes, railroads consider utilities to be of two types: • Pipe – typically carrying fluid or gaseous products • Wire – typically electric or communications
Parallel Occupancy Overhead Installations • Minimum clearance to RR signal and communication lines • Minimum clearance from pole line to track centerline • Towers carrying high voltage will likely be required to be placed off RR property • Inductive interference study for electric lines may be required
Parallel Occupancy Underground Installations • Placement within prescribed distance from RR property line • Encasement required within prescribed distance • Placement at or beyond prescribed minimum distance to track centerline • Minimum cover requirement • Warning tape for electric and fiber optic lines
Parallel Occupancy Attachment to Bridges and Other Structures • Most RR’s do not allow attachment to their bridges or other structures • May require modification of structure
Crossings General: • Preferred to be perpendicular to the RR alignment and at not less than forty-five (45) degrees to the centerline of the track. • Not placed within culverts or under railroad bridges, buildings or other structures.
Crossings Overhead Installations: • Minimum vertical and horizontal clearances required. • Crossings are not allowed in close proximity to bridges, culverts and switches. • Requires signs showing owner of utility and emergency phone contact at poles or towers closest to RR right of way. • Flammable or hazardous overhead crossings should be avoided. • Inductive interference study for electric lines may be required.
Crossings • Underground Installations: • Designed to carry Coopers E-80 Railroad loading with impact. • Minimum depth of cover AND depth below base of rail. • Depending on depth and pipe size, geotechnical study may be required • Open trench installation method may be used up to a minimum distance from track centerline. • Within this minimum distance, common methods of installation are: • Tunnel, • Auger, • Jack & Bore, • Directional Bore. • Manholes are required to be a minimum distance from the track and are cannot be located in the shoulder, slope, ditch or backslope. • Jacking pits are required to be a minimum distance from the track centerline, commonly 30’.
Pipeline with Casing • Pipeline Installations • Must comply to established standards. • Must be encased. • Casings are oversized load bearing conduits: • Typically required from right of way line to right of way line. • Protect the RR from damage in case of failure of the carrier pipe. • Enable repair to carrier pipe without disrupting rail traffic. • Protect the carrier pipe from railroad loads or shocks. • Route leaking products away from track. • Sealed casing pipe must be vented. • Casing can be omitted for some gas products under certain conditions.
Utility Crossing Requirements • Most railroads have extensive information available for download directly from their websites. This includes: • Application forms and instructions including samples of written application and associated drawings • Design and construction standards • Insurance requirements • Contacts
Sources • American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Codes, 1430 Broadway, NY, NY 10018. • American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) Specifications. • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications. • American Water Works Association Standards and Specifications, AWWA, 2 Park Avenue, NY, NY 10016. • Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices - with revisions, US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. • National Electrical Safety Code, US Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards. • Pipeline Safety Regulations - Code of Federal Regulations, Tile 49 - Transportation, Parts 191-192-Natural Gas; Part 195-Liquid Petroleum Gas. • Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems - latest edition, State Health Departments. • Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Hazardous Materials Regulation Board of the US Department of Transportation, Statutory Provisions, 23 U.S.C. 109 and 111.
Application Requirements • Processing and license fee • Proof of insurance • Legal name of applicant • Location (footage and direction) relative to nearest RR milepost • Right-of-Entry Permit • Drawing prepared in accordance with RR requirements showing: • Plan and profile of the proposed occupation • Details of the crossing including clearances to RR features • RR right of way, tracks, bridges and other features
Review Process • Review by the RR or its representative • Acceptance by the utility of RR estimate of its costs for involvement and agreement to pay these costs, typically: • Flagman • Inspection • Force account work by RR forces if required • Signed agreement returned to RR for execution • Usually within 30 days if no problems are encountered with the application • Once the agreement is executed, arrangements can be made with the designated RR contact to perform the work. • NO WORK CAN BE PERFORMED WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION BY THE RAILROAD!
