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                        Highway-Rail Grade Crossing


            
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                GradeDec.NET Crossing Evaluation Tool
    

    
    
          The Federal Railroad Administration developed **GradeDec.NET,** a highway-rail grade crossing investment analysis tool, to provide grade crossing investment decision support. **GradeDec.NET**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.NET**is intended to assist state and local transportation planners in identifying the most efficient grade crossing investment strategies. The **GradeDec.NET**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.NET 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.NET**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.NET**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.NET 2000 model inputs to inform users which factors have the greatest impact on project risk.

View GradeDec.NET Documentation

GradeDec.Net 2017 User's Manual
	GradeDecNET 2019 Reference Manual or
	Workbook 2003.
              Questions
      
                              
                  
                  Questions concerning **GradeDec.NET**should be addressed to:

Janine McFadden, Program Analyst
Office of Research, Data, and Innovationjanine.mcfadden@dot.gov
      
    
          Last updated: Monday, March 11, 2024 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Railroad Administration**

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