GRADEDEC 2000 - Grade Crossing Risk Assessment Tool

The Federal Railroad Administration developed the GradeDec 2000 highway-rail grade crossing investment analysis tool as a stand-alone PC-software package to provide grade crossing investment decision support.  GradeDec 2000 provides a full set of standard benefit cost metrics for a rail corridor, a region, or an individual grade crossing.  Model output allows a comparative analysis of grade crossing alternatives that are designed to mitigate highway-rail grade crossing accident risk and other components of user costs including highway delay and queuing, air quality, and vehicle operating costs.

GradeDec 2000 is intended to assist state and local transportation planners in identifying the most efficient grade crossing investment strategies.  The GradeDec 2000 modeling process can encourage public support for grade crossing strategies, including closure and separation, where project success often depends on getting the community involved in the early planning stages.  GradeDec 2000 computes model output using a range of values for many of the model inputs.  This process allows individual stakeholders to influence how different investment options are weighed and evaluated. 

GradeDec 2000 implements the corridor approach to reducing accident risk that was developed as  part of TEA-21's Next-Generation High-Speed Rail Program.  This approach can be an effective means of reducing the overall capital costs involved in constructing facilities for high-speed passenger rail service (at speeds between 111-125 miles  per hour), where grade crossing hazards and mitigation measures can be a major cost factor.

The corridor approach can be used to demonstrate that acceptable levels of accident risk have been reached for all rail corridors, train types, and speeds.  For example, exceptions to the proposed federal rule mandating whistle sounding at all highway rail-grade crossings can be made by showing that appropriate safety measures have been taken to mitigate the additional risk otherwise presented by trains not sounding their horns.

GradeDec 2000 uses simulation methods to analyze project risk and generate probability ranges for each model output, including benefit cost ratios and net present value. The software also analyzes the sensitivity of project risk to GradeDec 2000 model inputs to inform users which factors have the greatest impact on project risk.

Web page users can e-mail FRA technical staff directly from the web page for assistance with operating the model. GradeDec 2000 is also distributed by McTrans Center for Microcomputers in Transportation at the University of Florida.

Questions concerning GradeDec 2000 should be addressed to:

Karen McClure, Policy Analyst, 202/493-6417, Office of Policy and Program Development, FRA.