State Highway-Rail Grade 

Crossing Action Plan 

 

August 27, 2011 
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................................................................................................3

Scope and Objective..................................................................................................................................4

Alabama Rail System ................................................................................................................................6

SUMMARY of Alabama Rail System ...................................................................................................... 7

1.0 Crossing Closures.......................................................................................................................... 8

Class 1 RR Crossing Closures:................................................................................................................ 8

2.0 Grade Crossing Separations ........................................................................................................ 8

3.0 Multiple Incidents at a Crossing................................................................................................... 9

2006-2010 Multiple Crossing Incidents................................................................................................. 10

4.0 High Risk Crossings..................................................................................................................... 10

2006-2010 Crossings with Multiple Accidents ..................................................................................... 12

5.0 High Speed Rail Corridors .......................................................................................................... 12

2006-2010 Corridor Projects .................................................................................................................. 13

6.0 Pedestrians ...................................................................................................................................13

7.0 Implementation/Experimentation of Innovative Technologies at Grade Crossings ...........14

8.0 Engineering Enforcement and Education (3-E’s).................................................................... 16
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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State Highway-Rail 

Grade Crossing Action Plan 

Introduction 

Section 202 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA08), Public Law 

110-432 (H.R.2095 / S.1889), that was signed into law on 16 October 2008 required 

the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to identify the ten States with the most 

highway-rail grade crossing collisions, on average, over the past three years, and to 

require those States to develop State highway-rail grade crossing action plans. 

Section 202 further provided that these plans must identify specific solutions for 

improving safety at crossings, including highway-rail grade crossing closures or 

grade separations, and must focus on crossings that have experienced multiple 

collisions, or are at high risk for such collisions. 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) (http://www.fra.dot.gov/) published a 

Final Rule in the 28 June 2010 Federal Register (Volume 75, No. 123) addressing 

the development, review, and approval of the State highway-rail grade crossing 

action plans required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act. The Rule requires that 

State highway-rail crossing action plans cover a five year time period. 

Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio, 

and Texas were identified as the ten states with the most highway-rail grade 

crossing collisions in the 2006-2008 three calendar year period. 

 

The Alabama Department (ALDOT) of Transportation, Bureau of Multi Modal, 

Railroad Safety Program, has developed this Plan to conform with the requirements 

of 49 CFR Part 234, Grade Crossing Signal System Safety and State Action Plans; 

Subpart B, Reports and Plans; § 234.11 State highway-rail grade crossing action 

plans. 

 
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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Scope and Objective 

The regulatory requirement to develop a State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing 

Safety Action Plan, hereinafter Plan, requires an analysis of collision data from 2008-

2010. The use of three year collision history of data is used to evaluate safety 

improvement needs. This Plan will be effective for a five (5) year period through 2016 

when approved. 

As you can see from the table above, there has been a steady decline in 

accidents in Alabama. This Plan emphasizes road user safety at public highway-rail 

grade crossings. Private rail grade crossings are not included in this Plan. Public 

highway grade crossings located within the restricted areas of US military installations, 

are not included. References to a “crossing” or “crossings” refer only to public highwayrail grade crossings as described above, unless otherwise indicated. 

Highway rail crossing warning devices are classified as passive or active warning 

devices. Passive warning devices typically consist of cross bucks, warning signs, 

regulatory signs, and pavement markings. Passive crossings refer to crossings without 

active warning devices. Active warning devices typically consist of automatic gates, 

and/or flashing lights and bells. Hereinafter references to “gates” or “gated crossing” 

refer to crossings equipped with automatic gates, flashing lights and bells, and 

“flashers” or “flasher crossings” understood to refer to crossings equipped with 

automatic flashing lights and bells only. 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Fatalities 11 15 10 4 8

Injuries 49 39 34 27 29

Accidents 127 104 85 70 69

Number of Accidents

2006‐2010 Total Accidents @ Public

Crossings

Fatalities

Injuries

Accidents
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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The objective of this Plan is to identify specific solutions to mitigate collisions 

between trains or on-track equipment, and pedestrians or vehicles at crossings. Crash 

is a widely used term within the traffic engineering field that refers to collisions, 

accidents or wrecks. The term crash hereinafter should be understood to refer to such 

incidents. 

Highway grade crossing closures and grade separations are two (2) critical 

elements that could reduce crashes. The Plan will focus on existing crossings with a 

history of multiple crashes or otherwise have risk factors that could cause multiple crash 

crossings. The Rail Safety Improvement Act recognized that these type crossings 

account for a disproportionately high number of total crashes, and offer the greatest 

opportunity for crash reduction. Multiple crash crossings are defined as any crossings 

that have experienced more than one crash for the timeframe between 2006-2010. 

 
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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Alabama Rail System

 
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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SUMMARY of Alabama Rail System

Railroad operations in Alabama have historically been oriented to the movement of 

goods between major population centers and the Gulf Coast port cities. Through the 

years, those routes radiating out from the ports have been integrated into a 

comprehensive rail network. This has worked to Alabama’s advantage, as new 

industries seeking transportation efficiency, particularly intermodal efficiency, have 

found what they were looking for in Alabama, especially in terms of rail and waterborne 

shipping. 

The map above depicts the statewide rail network in the year 2008. As can be 

seen on the map, the state is criss-crossed by rail lines. According to the most recent 

report by the AAR, total rail miles of road operated in the State of Alabama is 3,759 

miles. As defined by the AAR, “miles of road” is the aggregate length of roadway, 

excluding yard tracks and sidings, and does not reflect the fact that a mile of road may 

include two, three, or more parallel tracks. Miles of road operated, less trackage rights, 

which eliminates double-counting caused by more than one railroad operating the same 

track, is the measure of the rail network. As published by the AAR, the amount of 

railroad mileage operated in Alabama, by classification, is shown below. 

Miles of Railroad in Alabama 

Class of Railroad Miles

Class I 2,684 miles

Class II/Regional 344 miles

Class II/Local Linehaul 572 miles

Class III/Local Switching and Terminal 159 miles

Total 3,759 miles

Source: Association of American Railroads, 2007. 

 
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1.0 Crossing Closures

Section 37-2-84, Code of Alabama 1975, (Act No. 94582) was amended and 

signed by the Governor of Alabama on April 22, 1994, giving the Alabama Department 

of Transportation (ALDOT) the authority to close a crossing on a Municipal or County 

Highway, Street or Right- Of-Way crossing the tracks or right-of-way of any railroad 

within the state whenever in the judgment of the Department the grade crossing is 

dangerous or redundant or the enhancement of public safety resulting from the closing 

outweighs any inconvenience caused by rerouting the vehicular traffic. 

While ALDOT does not pursue crossing closures on its own, ALDOT will work with 

the railroad to close any crossing approved to be closed by a local municipality. ALDOT 

will also make an incentive payment to the local government for the permanent closure 

of a crossing. ALDOT will match the incentive payment for the grade crossing closure 

paid by the railroad up to a maximum of $7,500 per crossing. The local government 

receiving an incentive payment from the State shall use the money for transportation 

safety improvements. 

Class 1 RR Crossing Closures:

YEAR CSX NS BNSF Total 

2006 8 13 3 24 

2007 3 19 1 23 

2008 6 12 3 21 

2009 1 7 1 9 

2010 5 4 0 9 

Total 23 55 8 86 

2.0 Grade Crossing Separations

Grade crossing separations can be a feasible alternative to resolve a high frequency 

crash problem at grade crossings. 

Separations are normally considered during planning and preliminary engineering 

phases. Grade separations are included in the construction phase of major contracts 

when there is a positive cost benefit ratio. These structures will cost $3-$5 million and 

require environmental analysis acquisition of right of way and other Federal 

requirements above those used for the Section 130 Program. 
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Separations will always be considered as an alternative to initiate a problem, but be 

seldom used.

3.0 Multiple Incidents at a Crossing

Multiple incidents at rail/highway grade crossings occur in the State of Alabama 

for various reasons. A large proportion of these collisions are caused by drivers 

deliberately circumventing warning equipment. Driver behavior issues include ignoring 

flashing lights or other active warning devices, passing through barrier gates or even 

driving around stopped traffic and already lowered gates. When a rail/highway grade 

crossing has multiple incidents, efforts will be made to determine the causes for such 

incidents. An assessment of the rail/highway grade crossing by reviewing the crash 

report records and a site review in most cases will explain why the rail/highway grade 

crossing has experienced a number of incidents. Once the prevalent characteristics are 

determined a plan will be prepared to identify appropriate countermeasures to reduce 

the amount of incidents. 

There are several strategies already in place to reduce the amount of collisions. 

These are listed as follows: 

1. Compile a list of accidents that have occurred at the rail/highway grade crossing. 

2. Contact the local governing agency to encourage implementation of educational 

and enforcement policies. 

3. Install flexible traffic channelization devices and other cost effective physical 

barriers at grade crossings that are already equipped with active warning 

devices. 

4. Improve the signs and permanent markings at the approaches to aid in reducing 

the amount of incidents. 

5. Encourage railroads to reduce the amount of vegetation to improve visibility for 

the rail/highway along the right-of-way. 

Identify the frequency and locations of multiple incidents are the first line of defense 

to reducing collisions. While no measure is fool proof, implementing a plan to reduce the 

number of incidents is a first step to resolving the problem. The methodology for 

identifying deficient crossings with multiple incidents requires information for a number 

of variables associated with the specific location. Variables such as train volumes, traffic 

volumes, type of roadway user, crossing geometrics and approach characteristics are 

critical in helping to determine a strategy to reduce multiple incidents at rail/highway 

crossings. 

If the proposed countermeasures fail to reduce the number of multiple incidents at a 

rail/highway grade crossing other alternatives will be considered. Follow up action may 

require installation of active warning devices at the rail/highway grade crossing. This 
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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process involves the analysis and ranking using the U.S. DOT/Accident Prediction 

formula to determine prior by ranking the rail/highway crossing locations that have 

greatest occurrence of collisions. 

2006-2010 Multiple Crossing Incidents

4.0 High Risk Crossings

The ALDOT Rail Safety Section is responsible for identifying high risk 

rail/highway grade crossing locations in Alabama. There are approximately 3,279 

public-at-grade crossings in the State of Alabama. 1,277 of those crossings contain 

active devices. The remaining rail/highway grade crossings contain passive devices. 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Fatalities 01201

Injuries 60024

Total Locations 74264

Number of Locations

Multiple Accidents @ Public Crossings

Fatalities

Injuries

Total Locations
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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High risk rail/highway locations are identified on an annual basis for investigation using 

the US DOT/ Accident Prediction Formula Index. 

The ALDOT Section 23 USC 130 (Section 130) Program is a 100% federally 

funded program. This program is designed to provide signalization at between 28 - 32 

rail/highway grade crossings across the State of Alabama annually. Alabama is 

allocated $4.4 million dollars each year for these rail/highway grade crossing 

improvements. The ALDOT Rail Safety Section will prepare a Program Document 

showing the top thirty (30) high risk crossing locations. Once the list is developed a 

Diagnostic Team is assembled to conduct Diagnostic Reviews and investigate each 

high risk crossing. The Diagnostic Team will be comprised of ALDOT personnel, local 

governing officials and the railroad. ALDOT personnel will make the final determination 

for the high risk crossing location. 

Once the scope of work is determined individual railroad crossing projects are 

initiated and steps are taken to process and complete the projects. 

Total number of crossings in Alabama that have had a safety upgrade from 2006 

through 2010 is 101 just through the Class I Railroads. It is evident that in order to 

adequately protect the citizens of Alabama all measures must be taken to ensure their 

safety. The only problem is that you cannot predict human behavior you can only 

attempt to divert situations that may arise from a person’s inability to drive safely. 

 
Alabama Department of Transportation                                   State Highway‐Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan

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2006-2010 Crossings with Multiple Accidents 

Year Crossing 

Multiple 

Year 

Current 

Status 

Type of 

Safety 

Features 

2006 351959Y CB 

 352090X CB 

 352325F 1 NA 

 352545B Closed 

 637913E 2 CFL 

 727811K 3 FLG 

 843916R NA 

 

2007 304232G 1 CFL 

 351461C x 3 FLG 

 727633B 1 FLG 

 727682X 2 CB 

 

2008 351290D 3 incidents 1 FL 

 728306U x 1 FL 

 

2009 351430D 3 FLG 

 637883P 1 CB 

 726756J 3 CFLG 

 727829V 1 CB 

 728277L 2 CB 

 728306U x 1 FL 

 

2010 351461C x 3 FLG 

 352327U 2 CB 

 636710W FL 

 639314R 3 CFLG 

5.0 High Speed Rail Corridors

ALDOT is not currently pursuing high speed rail corridors. However, ALDOT has 

participated in the past in the Southern Rapid Rail Commission by attending quarterly 

meetings. 
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Due to the high cost associated with the project is not economically feasible due to: 

 Purchase of right-of-way 

 Topography 

 Number of at-grade-crossings 

 Separated grade crossings, i.e. bridges spanning creeks and rivers 

 Environmental impact 

 Lack of ridership 

2006-2010 Corridor Projects

Year Corridor(Name) Number of

Crossings

Notes:  

2006 NS Corridor Line “A” Memphis

to Chattanooga.  Colbert,

Lawrence and Jackson

Counties.

               14 1 crossing had 1 accident in the past 5

years since signals were installed.

2007 No Corridor Project    

2008 No Corridor Project    

2009 No Corridor Project    

2010 CSXT  Thorsby Corridor,

Chilton County

                7 4 crossings had a total of 9 accidents ‐ the

5 years before signals were installed. No

accidents reported at these locations  

6.0 Pedestrians

The following are examples of the safety procedures for pedestrians and disabled 

pedestrians. An air activated horn will be sounded as trains approach rail passenger 

stations where pedestrian only crossings are present. FRA suggests that the train bell 

be sounded as it nears and passes through a passenger station even if is not servicing 

that station. They also recommend that train alerting lights in a triangular pattern should 

be illuminated while locomotive enter passenger stations. 

To guide pedestrians to the correct crossing points audible and visual aids 

should be available and easy to find in all passenger railroad stations. The audible 

messages should have information about trains leaving, departing, and what platform. 
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The visual signs should be the visual text of the announcement on a changeable sign. 

Other parts of these aides can tell the pedestrian wishing to cross railroad tracks, the 

direction of any trains moving in the station and how to get to his or her platform relative 

to his or her location. 

Swing gates serve two main functions an entrance and exit to the track. Swing 

gates open away from the track and slow pedestrians when they have to stop and open 

the gate. The gates open so that the pedestrian is looking down the track. Swing gates 

that have to be opened by a wheelchair are equipped with a smooth surface called a 

kick plate. The other crossing that deals with gates is the pedestrian gate that comes 

down across the walkway that leads to the track. Smaller gate than goes across the 

roadways. When necessary to get to other tracks the crossing surface will be flat and 

smooth, except for 2 1/2 inch gap on the edge of each rail to allow for wheel flange. 

When gap reduction is not practicable below-grade or above-grade routes would be 

provided. A surface of truncated domes at grade crossing are for the visually impaired 

to notify them of crossings. 

The use of convex mirrors are useful helping pedestrians having a clearer view 

down the track, see a train approaching, and warn of a second train on a different track. 

The best safety device for pedestrians and disabled pedestrians at railroad tracks 

is stop, look, and listen. 

7.0 Implementation/Experimentation of Innovative 

Technologies at Grade Crossings

Alabama completed a project where one of the latest technologies was implemented. 

Monies were earmarked and a project was planned, and completed at a crossing in 

Troy, Alabama. Below are the specifics related to the project: 

Cost: $725,225.63 

Project Number: HPP-AL49(900) Pike County, Alabama 

An agreement was prepared and executed between ALDOT, Gulf & Ohio 

Railways, The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama and University 

Transportation Center for Alabama and Quixote Transportation Safety. 

Scope: Install a StopGate Barrier Arm System at a specified railroad crossing in 

Alabama. The University of Alabama was the evaluator and should be providing a 

detailed report based upon this project. 

Benefits: The StopGate Barrier Arm can help to prevent vehicle intrusion into secured 

areas by vehicles up to 4410 lb. (2000 kg) traveling at speeds up to 43 mph (70 km/h). 

Based on initial costs, as well as projected costs of maintenance, the StopGate Barrier 

Arm can be an extremely cost effective method of protecting infrastructure. The 
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StopGate Barrier Arm operates like a standard automatic warning gate. Unlike a 

standard warning device, the StopGate Barrier Arm completely spans across a 

roadway, and connects to a locking device on both sides of the road, creating a positive, 

crashworthy barrier that meets National Cooperative Highway Research Program 

(NCHRP) Report 350 TL-2 criteria. 

Upon vehicle impact, the StopGate Barrier Arm acts as an arresting system to 

bring a vehicle to a complete stop. The StopGate Barrier Arm has successfully passed 

the NCHRP 350 TL-2 tests as required using vehicles weighing both 1808 lb. (820 kg) 

and 4410 lb. (2000 kg) for structural adequacy, occupancy risk, and vehicle trajectory 

evaluation criteria at speeds up to 43 mph (70 km/h). The mass of the StopGate Barrier 

Arm gives it commanding presence that discourages drivers from challenging it. 

The University of Alabama is preparing a report based upon the 3 year 

evaluation of this crossing. The report is not available at the time of creating the action 

plan and should be forthcoming. 
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8.0 Engineering Enforcement and Education (3-E’s)

Education efforts are very important in the scheme of being able to protect the 

citizens of Alabama. There are several ways to approach this situation. The first tool in 

this equation is to inform citizens about a program called Operation Lifesaver. Operation 

Lifesaver is a safety campaign that was started in 1972 in the state of Idaho. The basic 

goal of Operation Lifesaver is to promote highway-rail grade crossing safety through 

educating people about the dangers at rail-highway grade crossings and to prevent 

collisions, injuries and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade 

crossings. 

Operation Lifesaver encourages the use of the three E’s to educate people how to 

safely travel across rail-highway grade crossings. 

The first E is involves the use of Engineering. These consist of traffic control devices 

at highway-rail grade crossings which include signs, signals, pavement markings, or 

other active warning devices designed to help manage traffic flow and reduce risk. The 

familiar crossbuck is a warning to on-coming traffic of a highway-rail grade crossing and 

of the motorist's responsibility to yield if a train is approaching. Flashing red lights at a 

gated crossing provide clear warning of an approaching train and require the motorist to 

stop. Complying with the traffic control devices at highway-rail grade crossings can 

make the difference between life and death. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control 

Devices (MUTCD) identifies both passive and active devices that are used at railhighway grade crossings. 

The second E is Enforcement. These are the actual police officers that encourage 

citizens to drive safely when crossing rail-highway grade crossings. Seventy percent 

(70%) of fatalities, injuries and property damage incidents occur because drivers do not 

exhibit safe driving habits when driving across rail highway grade crossings. Police 

officers are instructed to ticket any and all drivers that do not adhere to the rules of safe 

driving. 

The third E is Education. This involves educating people about how to stay safe 

when being round rail-highway grade crossings. Examples these measures are looking 

both ways when going across a rail-highway grade crossing, not using excessive speed 

and not going around gates that are already down. 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in conjunction with Operation Lifesaver 

has developed Public Service Announcements (PSA) through print and broadcast 

campaigns that are intended to increase the awareness highway-grade crossing safety. 

Even though the focus is to protect citizens who travel across public at grade 

crossings statistics have shown that there have been increases in fatalities, injuries and 

property damage incidents at private crossings as well. Safety is a primary concern for 

law enforcement, community leaders and the railroad. The only way to ensure that all 
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parties are unified in their commitment to these issues is to continuously participate in 

the dissemination of newer and more advanced technology and it arises. 

 
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Appendix A - 49 CFR Part 234, Subpart B, § 234.11 

49 CFR Part 234, Grade Crossing Signal System Safety and State Action Plans 

Subpart B, Reports and Plans 

§ 234.11 State highway-rail grade crossing action plans 

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to reduce collisions at highway-rail grade 

crossings in the ten States that have had the most highway-rail grade crossing 

collisions, on average, during the calendar years 2006, 2007, and 2008. This section 

does not restrict any other State, or other entity, from adopting a highway-rail grade 

crossing action plan. This section also does not restrict any of the States required to 

develop action plans under this section from adopting a highway-rail grade crossing 

action plan with additional or more stringent requirements not inconsistent with this 

section. 

(b) Application. This section applies to the ten States that have had the most highwayrail grade crossing collisions, on average, during the calendar years 2006, 2007, and 

2008. 

(c) Action plans. 

(1) The ten identified States shall each develop a State highway-rail grade 

crossing action plan and submit such a plan to FRA for review and approval not later 

than August 27, 2011. 

(2) A State highway-rail grade crossing action plan shall: 

(i) Identify specific solutions for improving safety at crossings, including 

highway-rail grade crossing closures or grade separations; 

(ii) Focus on crossings that have experienced multiple accidents or are at 

high risk for such accidents; and 

(iii) Cover a five-year time period. 

(d) Review and approval. 

(1) State highway-rail grade crossing action plans required under paragraph (c) 

of this section shall be submitted for FRA review and approval using at least one of the 

following methods: Mail to the Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety 

Officer, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 

Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590; or e-mail to rrs.correspondence@fra.dot.gov. 

(2) FRA will review and approve or disapprove a State highway-rail grade 

crossing action plan submitted pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section within 60 days 

of receipt. 

(3) If the proposed State highway-rail grade crossing action plan is disapproved, 

FRA will notify the affected State as to the specific areas in which the proposed plan is 

deficient. A State shall correct all deficiencies within 30 days following receipt of written 

notice from FRA. 

(4) FRA may condition the awarding of any grants under 49 U.S.C. 20158, 

20167, or 22501 to an identified State on the development of an FRA approved State 

highway-rail grade crossing action plan.