Hundreds of people are killed each year in collisions at highway-railroad crossings. In 2005, there were 66 such collisions in North Carolina resulting in 6 deaths and 33 injuries.
To reduce the chance of such accidents, the NCDOT Rail Division works with communities to study how how best to separate railroad and highway traffic. Engineers develop a comprehensive traffic separation study (TSS) to determine which public crossings need improvements and which need to be closed.
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| State-sponsored Piedmont (Train 73) passes crossing closure activities in China Grove. |
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| Crossing improvement underway. |
Before conducting a study, the NCDOT meets with the municipality or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to discuss the scope of the work, schedule and other concerns. During this preliminary planning phase all parties agree to make a best faith effort to implement the improvements identified in the TSS.
During the study phase, the engineering consultant collects traffic data for the public rail crossings in the study area. The consultants also take into account the economic impact of the potential closings. A draft of the consultant's recommendations is then submitted to the Rail Division and the public for review and comment. The recommendations are prioritized to include near-term, mid-term and long-term improvements. (See table below for examples of suggested improvements.)
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Near-term (0-2 years) Improvements
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Mid-term (2-5 years) Improvements
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Long-term (5-10 years) Improvements
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Install flashing lights
and gates |
Relocate existing crossings |
Grade-separate crossing |
| Close crossings |
Realign roadway |
Build connecting roadways |
| Enhanced devices |
Close crossings |
Close crossings |
Public hearings are scheduled in each community to give residents a chance to voice opinions about the proposed recommendations. The forums also allow NCDOT to discuss the benefits of enhanced crossing safety.
In the implementation phase, NCDOT officials identify funding for the proposed enhancements (typically 90% are federal funds with a 10% local match). The freight railroads sometimes provide additional resources.
As of December 2006, the NCDOT had closed 120 public rail crossings based on recommendations from various Traffic Separation Studies and corridor diagnostics.
In 2007, work is underway in Charlotte, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount and Clayton to implement TSS findings and close the most dangerous crossings.
Contact: Arthur Petteway, PE
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