TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION
     EXISTING LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES

HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING PERSPECTIVE

Motor Vehicle Driver Needs on the Approach - Page 4
Advanced Notice-Stopping Sight Distance - Page 4
Traffic Control Device Comprehension - Page 4
Deciding to Proceed - Page 5
Approach (Corner) Sight Distance - Page 5
Clearing Sight Distance - Page 6
Systems Operating Requirements and Objectives - Page 9
Highway Systems Objectives - Page 10
Levels of Service - Page 11
Safe Approach Speed - Page 12
Railroad Systems - Functional Classification - Page 13
Function, Geometric Design and Traffic Control - Page 14

TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

General Discussion - Page 15
Passive Devices - Page 15
Highway-Rail Grade Crossing (Crossbuck) Signs - Page 18
Stop and Yield signs - 19
Active Devices - 20
Standard Active Devices - Page 20
Flashing-Light Signal - Page 20
Cantilever Flashing-Light Signal - Page 21
Automatic Gate - Page 21
Additional Flashing-Light Signals - Page 21
Supplemental Active Devices - Page 21
Active Advance Warning Signs with Flashers - Page 21
Active Turn Restriction Signs - Page 22
Median Separation - Page 22
Barrier Wall Systems - Page 23
Wide Raised Medians - Page 23
Non-Mountable Curb Islands - Page 23
Mountable Raised Curb Systems - Page 24
Other Barrier Devices - Page 24
Four-Quadrant Traffic Gate Systems - Page 24
Vehicle Arresting Barrier System - Barrier Gate - Page 25
Train Detection Systems - Page 26
Warning Time and System Credibility - Page 26
Interference / Integrity of Active Traffic Control Device Systems - Page 27
Types of Detection - Page 27
DC, AC-DC or AF0 - Page Grade Crossing Island and Approach Circuits - Page 27
Motion Sensing Devices (MS) - Page 27
Constant Warning Time (CWT) Systems - Page 28
Railroad Train Detection Time and Approach Length
    Calculations - Page 28
Preemption/Interconnection - Page 28
When to Interconnect - Page 28
Factors to Consider - Page 29
Joint Agency Coordination - Page 29
Extended Advance Warning Times - Page 29
Second Train Circuitry at Multiple Track Crossings - Page 29
Diagonal Railroad Crossing Both Highway Approaches to the
    Intersection - Page 30
Pre-Signals - Page 30
Long Distance between the Highway-Rail Crossing and the Highway
    Intersection - Page 32
Queue Cutter Flashing-light Beacon - Page 32
Other Special Conditions - Page 33
Potential Queuing across Tracks - Page 33
Train and LRT Activated Highway Traffic Signals - Page 33
2nd Train Coming Active Warning Sign - Page 34
Pedestrian and Bicyclists Considerations - Page 34

ALTERNATIVES TO MAINTAINING THE CROSSING

Crossing Closure - Page 35
Grade Separation - Page 35
Traffic Separation Study Approach to Crossing
Consolidation - Page 36

NEW CROSSINGS/GUIDANCE

Minimum Devices - Page 38
Minimal Widths - Page 38
Passive - Minimum Traffic Control Applications - Page 38
Active - Page 40
Closure - Page 43
Grade Separation - Page 45
New Crossings - Page 46

TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE SELECTION PROCEDURE

Step 1 - Minimum Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Criteria - Page 48
Step 2 - Evaluate Highway Traffic Flow Characteristics - Page 49
Step 3 - Possible Revision to the Highway-Rail Grade
            Crossing - Page 49
Step 4 - Interim Measures and/or Documentation - Page 49

REFERENCES - Page 51

GLOSSARY - Page 53

APPENDIX

Preemption/Interconnection - Page 55
Pedestrian Clearance Phase - Page 55
Traffic Signal Controller Re-Service Considerations - Page 56
Programming Security - Page 56
Supervised Interconnect Circuitry - Page 57
Advance Preemption and Use of Timers - Page 57
Standby Power Sources - Page 58

List of Tables

Table 1 Federal Laws, Rules, Regulations & Policies - Page 3
Table 2 Clearing Sight Distance - Page 7
Table 3 Guide for Selection of Design Levels of Service - Page 12
Table 4 Maximum Train Speeds by Class of Track - Page 13
Table 5A Current MUTCD Devices - Page 16
Table 5B Not Currently Proposed in the MUTCD - Experimental     Devices - Page 18
Table 6 Guidelines for Active Devices - Page 41
Table 7 LRT Grade Separation - Page 46

List of Figures

Figure 1 Clearing Sight Distance at a Single Track Highway-Rail     Grade Crossing - Page 7
Figure 2 Pedestrian Sight Triangle - Page 9
Figure 3 Desire Lines of Travel, Road Network Provided - Page 11
Figure 4 Pre-Signal Location at Automatic Gate Crossing - Page 30