July 21, 1999

Memorandum To: James A. Smailes, P.E., Federal Railroad Administration

From: Mitch Eaton, Highway/Railroad Traffic Separation Engineer

Subject:Quarterly Report # 12, North Carolina Sealed CorridorProject: TIP Project No. P-3419; Next Generation High Speed Rail Grant

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has completed the following tasks as part of the Sealed Corridor project since our last report to you in April 1999:

• The plans for the long gate arm locations continue to be submitted to Norfolk Southern. Fifteen locations have been sent to the railroad to date. The plans include construction notes for the installation of the health monitoring system, and where appropriate the installation of constant warning time devices and lengthening of train detection circuits.
• Letters authorizing the design and engineering of health monitoring devices, constant warning time devices, and circuit lengthening for four median barrier locations have been sent to Norfolk Southern. Certain crossing locations were previously identified for revision of the train detection circuits to accommodate current and proposed higher rail traffic speeds.
• The "1-800" emergency phone number signs to be used in conjunction with the "Stop Here When Flashing" signs have been manufactured. To simplify the production of the signs, the sign has been produced without the information for each individual crossing, and the information for all the crossings has been printed on separate sheets with an adhesive backing. The information for the crossings is being placed on the signs, and the Rail Division plans to have the signs in place by early fall.
• The Rail Division has authorized the construction of four-quadrant gate systems at NC 109/Salem St. and Oakdale Mill Rd. A total of eight locations have now been authorized for construction, and three of the original fourteen locations selected are still under design. The engineering for the E. 36th Street location in Charlotte is approved, but the Municipal Agreement for the construction of the signals has not been returned to NCDOT from the City of Charlotte.
• The Ragsdale-Dillon Rd. is also under design for four-quadrant gate treatment, as opposed to longer gate arms as originally proposed. Because of the skew of the roadway and track, the Ragsdale-Dillon Rd. will need a short concrete island on both approaches for the quadrant gates to be effective. The Rail Division is forwarding a copy of the proposed design to the Highway Division 7 Engineer’s office for review and comment before sending the plan to the railroad.
• As part of the CLEAR Violations study, the University of North Carolina’s Highway Safety Research Center has submitted the draft version on their study of driver behavior at railroad crossings. The Rail Division and Norfolk Southern are reviewing the study and will return comments before including it as part of a comprehensive report on the video ticketing system later this year.

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