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FRA’s Grade Crossing Safety Program

FRA’s Grade Crossing Safety Program. 2012 Southeastern Rail Highway Safety Conference Charlotte, NC. Why Is It Important?. Rail Fatalities in 2011. Total 741. Highway-Rail Fatalities Trends. Collisions, Fatalities and Exposure.

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FRA’s Grade Crossing Safety Program

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  1. FRA’s Grade Crossing Safety Program 2012 Southeastern Rail Highway Safety Conference Charlotte, NC

  2. Why Is It Important?

  3. Rail Fatalities in 2011 Total 741

  4. Highway-Rail Fatalities Trends

  5. Collisions, Fatalities and Exposure Rail (million train miles) X Hwy Volume (trillion hwy miles) (= quadrillion) Fatalities Collisions X 10

  6. Federal Railroad AdministrationHighway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety • FRA assists the railroads in working with states and local communities to: • close crossings • plan corridor safety programs • advance public education and awareness • promote law enforcement • Issue regulations • ENS • train horn • reflectors

  7. Emergency Notification System (ENS) SHSM Example MUTCD Example 12” x 9” 1” white lettering blue background

  8. ENS Compliance Dates • July 2015 – Railroads w/no existing system • July 2017 – Railroads w/current signs that are non-compliant

  9. Quiet Zones at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

  10. Train Horns & Quiet Zones • Continues to be a great deal of interest in establishing quiet zones. • News clip articles almost daily • Web/e-mail/correspondence inquiries almost every day. • 487 quiet zones in existence • 288 – new quiet zones • 165 – pre-rule quiet zones • 70 new quiet zones established in CY 11 • 34 new ones as of August 2012

  11. Train Horns & Quiet Zones • FRA completed a study in Summer of 2011 that found no significant difference between the number of collisions before and after a quiet zone is established. • Preliminary analysis in 2012 shows the same result – no significant difference • Very few complaints about non-compliance with a quiet zone. • Some complaints about the high costs for railroad work (e.g., CWT & warning devices)

  12. Blocked Crossings • 2nd most source of complaint • FRA has no regulations on the subject • Part 234 – interference with operation • Work with railroad to find resolution • Usually successful

  13. Private Crossings • No regulations on the matter • “Railroad tore out my crossing” • Enter into private crossing agreement • State laws on property access • Safety at Private Crossings Report – Feb. 2010 • Need to decide on whether to take a policy or regulatory approach

  14. National Crossing Inventory Form Hot off the press!!! As of October 18, 2012 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued.

  15. Highlights of the NPRM • NPRM PROPOSES that: • Railroads to update every 3 years. • Applies to all public, private and pathway crossings. • Class 1’s required to submit electronically. • NPRM does not apply to States, RSIA did, MAP-21 removed FHWA authority.

  16. Noted proposed timelines in NPRM • 3 months • Certain change to the crossing (i.e. closure, surface, added gates, sale/transfer new warning devices.) • 6 months • Crossings yet to be submitted • Newly established crossings • 3 years • Existing crossings must be updated

  17. NPRM Deadline Date • Comment period ends Dec. 17, 2012 • Technical symposium • www.regulations.gov Docket #FRA-2011-0007

  18. Trespass Division • Workshop Seminar – St. Louis • August 2012 • www.fra.dot.gov/conference/trespass2012/ index.shtml • Trespasser Death Study • Survey out to Medical Examiners • Results to be plotted on a GIS map

  19. Thank-you! frank.frey@dot.gov (202) 493-0130

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