SD48 - Railroad Grade Crossings
Executive Summary: This study was make in response to Senate Joint Resolution 321(SJR321) which requested that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) examine traffic congestion and safety-related problems at railroad grade crossings. The legislation requests that particular emphasis be given to cities and towns in Virginia's coastal plain and notes the desirability of grade separations as a means to eliminate the conflict between the rail and highway modes. In performing the study, the entire inventory of 2,255 public grade crossings in the Commonwealth was analyzed using a benefit-cost approach to identify potential locations for grade separation projects. Sixteen potential projects in the state were identified as feasible at a total project cost of $73,700,000. Eleven of the projects were in the coastal plain. The total project cost for the 11 projects was $47,700,000. A number of additional locations were eliminated from consideration due to impacts on local businesses and residences as well as other factors. In urban areas, it is very difficult to construct grade separations without significantly altering adjacent neighborhoods and at a cost that is not prohibitive. The funding set-aside to specifically eliminate grade crossings is small compared to the overall cost. A minimum of $1.4 million annually is specifically designated for grade separation improvements. A competitive selection process determines which projects are funded as part of this safety program. A recent change in the allocation process makes these funds available for grade separation projects as an addition to the regular primary, secondary or urban allocation rather than as part of these allocations. Allocating funds in this manner will tend to encourage the advancement of grade separation projects while having a minimal impact on the overall TTF. Grade separation projects can also be funded with primary and secondary allocations through VDOT's Six-Year Improvement Programs in competition with other highway construction and transit projects. In some instances, the problem associated with a grade crossing can be relieved through actions that involve a less-than-grade separation project. In particular, accidents can be greatly reduced or eliminated through a targeted program of safety improvements involving warning devices. VDOT's safety improvement program has been successful in reducing the number of grade crossing accidents in the coastal plain as well the rest of the state. During the past five years, accidents have been reduced by 29 percent in the coastal plain while the reduction in the rest of the state was 45 percent. No ready solution to traffic delay problems exists short of grade separation. With the limited availability of funds to eliminate grade crossings and the inability to construct grade separations in downtown areas, local solutions to traffic delay problems must be found. Potential actions include minimizing the impact of grade crossings through traffic circulation changes and by working with local businesses and railroads to minimize train traffic during rush hours. To determine the relative severity of the grade crossing related problems in the coastal plain, the coastal plain was compared with the rest of the state. The grade crossing factors analyzed included the number of grade crossings, the number of accidents, the volume of trains and vehicle counts at grade crossings, and the expected accident rate (EAR) index. Because of the relatively high vehicle (car, truck, other) traffic volumes in the coastal plain, a greater potential for accidents exists at grade crossings in this area compared with the rest of the state. The higher traffic volumes in the coastal plain tend to result in more traffic delays at these crossings as well. There is also a slightly greater concentration of rail grade crossings in the area south of the James River and west of Virginia Beach compared with the rest of the state. |
Menu
Published Documents
