Source: New Jersey Department of Transportation

Source: New Jersey Department of Transportation

Source: © 2018 Google® EarthTM

While these safety messages and tips are integral to improving overall 

railroad safety, hinged pedestrian gate skirts are physical structures 

that can help further improve pedestrian safety at rail crossings.1 A 

hinged pedestrian gate skirt is a secondary horizontal bar that hangs 

under an existing pedestrian gate. This treatment deters pedestrians 

from going under a gate that is in movement and in the down position. 

The low position of the gate skirt also benefits people who are blind or 

have low vision because the gate can be detected using canes or other 

mobility aids. Both Connecticut and New Jersey have installed hinged 

pedestrian gate skirts to better block access to crossings, deterring 

pedestrian violations. 

1 The hinged pedestrian gate skirt is under consideration to be included in a future edition of 

the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN RAIL-CROSSING SAFETY 

WITH HINGED PEDESTRIAN GATE SKIRTS

Noteworthy Practice

“Only cross railroad tracks at designated pedestrian and roadway crossings.” 

“Do not attempt to cross a railroad if red lights are flashing.” 

“Never walk around or under lowered gates at a crossing.” 

78% 54%

PEDESTRIAN GATE SKIRT 

PILOT PROJECT

HINGED PEDESTRIAN 

GATE SKIRT EXAMPLE

Decrease of 

Descending Gate 

Violations

Decrease of 

Horizontal Gate 

Violations

Source: USDOT FRA, Effect of Gate Skirts on 

Pedestrian Behavior at a Highway-Rail Grade 

Crossing Final Report, 2013.

Audible Device

Horizontal Hanging Bar

Pathway or Sidewalk

RAIL

ROAD

CROSSING

Source: FHWA

Hinged Pedestrian Gate Skirt
IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN RAIL-CROSSING SAFETY

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov

FHWA-SA-19-037

Connecticut

When new roadway construction and land use changes occurred in New Britain, 

Connecticut, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) converted 

an existing highway-railroad crossing to a pedestrian- and bicycle-only crossing. 

The new railroad crossing design needed to safely accommodate pedestrians and 

bicyclists accessing a nearby busway station, multi-use trail, and other amenities.

CTDOT and its railroad partners worked together to develop the new crossing 

design, which featured a hinged pedestrian gate skirt. Fencing, emergency exit 

gates, and video monitoring were also included in the design to optimize safety. 

The project was completed in June 2016.

As the first State to install a hinged pedestrian gate skirt, Connecticut has found 

the crossing treatment an effective safety tool. CTDOT intends to install a similar 

hinged gate skirt system in the Branchville section of Ridgefield, Connecticut, 

at a Metro-North Railroad crossing where vehicle access will be modified to 

pedestrian/bicyclist-only access.2

New Jersey

In 2016, three pedestrians were hit and killed near the Main Street and 

Ramsey transit station in Ramsey, New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of 

Transportation (NJDOT), New Jersey Transit, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 

and local town officials worked together to find and implement a treatment to 

help prevent similar tragedies from occurring again. The team determined that 

installing a hinged pedestrian gate skirt was an effective solution for the crossing.

In the summer of 2017, NJDOT became the second State in the country to install 

a hinged pedestrian gate skirt. As part of the project, NJDOT also added fencing, 

signs, and pavement markings to increase safety and improve general awareness 

near the crossing. According to NJDOT, the number of violations have decreased 

at the location, and most importantly, no fatalities have occurred since the 

installation of the hinged pedestrian gate skirt.3 

2 Stephen Curley (Connecticut Department of Transportation), phone interview, October 23, 2019.

3 Steve Schapiro and Todd Hirt (New Jersey Department of Transportation), phone interview, 

October 2, 2019.

In 2017, NJDOT became 

the second State.

CTDOT was the first 

State to install a hinged 

pedestrian gate skirt.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation and New 

Jersey Transit are committed to improving safety at rail 

crossings. These hinged gates have proven effective and 

provide another option to improve safety.

Steve Schapiro, Deputy Director of 

Communications, NJDOT Source: New Jersey Department of Transportation

Source: © 2018 Google® EarthTM