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| INTERCITY       FREIGHT AND PASSENGER RAIL:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |        |  |
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| ***Section         6***
**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. 

*GradeDec             2000*can be downloaded from the Federal Railroad Administration=s website at:             http://www.fra.dot.gov/doc/pol/gradedec/index.htm             .

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.**                     |        |
| Site         Index

Section         1.

Section         2.

Section         3.Section 4.Surface Transportation         ProgramTIFIANCPD and CBI ProgramsTransportation Enhancements         Program

Section         5.Air QualityEnergy**TEA-21         Role in Transportation and the Environment**

Section         6.�

Appendix         1.        Appendix 2.        Appendix 3.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |        |  |
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