[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 14 (Friday, January 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3784-3785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1118]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Safety Advisory 2009-03

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory; Identification and Handling of 
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings with Vertical Profile Conditions.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2009-03 to address Safety 
Recommendations H-96-01, H-96-02, and H-96-04, issued by the National 
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that relate to vertical roadway 
profile conditions at highway-rail grade crossings. This safety 
advisory reminds States of their responsibility to identify and 
document in the U.S. DOT National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Inventory 
(``DOT Crossing Inventory'') highway-rail crossings where ``Low Ground 
Clearance'' signs have been installed. This safety advisory also 
recommends that States implement policies and procedures to identify 
public highway-rail grade crossings that do not satisfy the standard 
for vertical profile conditions set forth in the American Association 
of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Policy on Geometric 
Design of Highways and Streets (``AASHTO Green Book'') and recommends 
that corrective action be taken to bring them into compliance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Ries, Staff Director, Highway-Rail 
Grade Crossing & Trespasser Prevention Division, FRA, RRS-23, Mail Stop 
25, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6299), or Kathryn Shelton,

[[Page 3785]]

Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, RCC-11, Mail Stop 10, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6038).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In Safety Recommendation H-96-01, the NTSB recommended that DOT 
expand its DOT Crossing Inventory to include vertical profile 
information on all highway-rail grade crossings in the United States. 
The NTSB advised that this additional data, which could be obtained in 
a cost-effective manner by simply training the survey teams that 
currently collect State grade crossing data to make vertical profile 
measurements, would facilitate the identification of existing crossings 
that do not meet the AASHTO Green Book standard for vertical profile 
conditions.\1\
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    \1\ AASHTO's Green Book standard for vertical profile conditions 
states that the crossing surface should be at the same plane as the 
top of the rails for a distance of two feet outside the rails. 
Additionally, the surface of the highway should not be more than 
three inches higher or lower than the top of the nearest rail at a 
point 30 feet from the rail (except where track superelevation makes 
a different level necessary). A copy of AASHTO's Green Book standard 
for vertical profile conditions may be obtained from AASHTO at the 
following address: 444 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 249, 
Washington, DC 20001. A copy of AASHTO's Green Book standard for 
vertical profile conditions is also available at the Federal 
Railroad Administration, Docket Office, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.
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    FRA determined, however, that requiring States to take vertical 
profile measurements of each highway-rail grade crossing could be very 
burdensome and costly on State highway transportation departments who 
would likely bear the brunt of additional costs associated with 
required training and/or employment of additional personnel. Therefore, 
FRA modified the DOT Crossing Inventory Form in March 1999 to include a 
data field that would identify crossings equipped with Low Ground 
Clearance signs (W10-5 in the Federal Highway Administration's Manual 
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices). However, based on a recent review 
of DOT Crossing Inventory records, it appears that States have not been 
submitting this information, even though use of this relatively new 
sign is understood to be increasing.
    FRA has been statutorily mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement 
Act of 2008 (RSIA08) to prescribe regulations that would require States 
and railroads to submit current information and periodic updates for 
public, private, and pedestrian crossings. Rail Safety Improvement Act 
of 2008, 49 U.S.C. 20160, 23 U.S.C. 130 (2008). Therefore, given the 
lack of current data on the prevalence of crossings with substandard 
vertical profiles, FRA intends to address this issue during the course 
of the upcoming rulemaking. In addition, FRA is currently funding a 
pilot demonstration project that utilizes LIDAR (light detection and 
ranging) mounted on a track inspection vehicle to determine if this 
technology is an economical and efficient way to collect vertical 
profile data at crossings. A successful project could lead to an 
automated method to collect the data, thus reducing the potential 
burden on State highway transportation departments who would likely be 
required to provide this information for public highway-rail grade 
crossings.
    In Safety Recommendation H-96-02, the NTSB recommended that DOT 
encourage and coordinate efforts between the railroad industry and 
State and local highway transportation officials to identify crossings 
with substandard vertical profiles and close or take appropriate 
corrective action to eliminate them. FRA believes that the rulemaking 
mandated by RSIA08 will play an important role in facilitating joint 
efforts by the railroad industry and State and local highway officials 
to identify crossings with substandard vertical profile conditions and 
take appropriate corrective action to eliminate them. As stated above, 
FRA intends to address the absence of current data on the prevalence of 
crossings with substandard vertical profiles in this upcoming 
rulemaking.
    In Safety Recommendation H-96-04, the NTSB recommended that DOT 
develop procedures and processes that will facilitate improved 
communication and coordination between the railroad industry and State 
and local highway transportation officials regarding crossing 
maintenance activities so as to prevent the creation of crossings with 
substandard vertical profile conditions. FRA intends to comply with 
this Safety Recommendation by participating in a joint effort with the 
Federal Highway Administration to develop and propose guidance for 
inclusion in the next revision of the AASHTO Green Book that would 
require prior communication and coordination of any changes in highway 
approach elevation or roadway width with appropriate railroad 
personnel. FRA has been informed that similar revisions have been 
proposed by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way 
Association (AREMA) for the railroad industry. FRA believes that 
revision of these AASHTO and AREMA standards will facilitate improved 
communication and coordination between the railroad industry and State 
and local highway transportation officials regarding crossing 
maintenance activities, so as to reduce and/or eliminate the creation 
of new crossings with substandard vertical profile conditions.
    Recommended Action: Based on the foregoing discussion and to 
promote the safety of highway-rail grade crossings on the Nation's 
railroads, FRA recommends that each State:
    (1) Identify public highway-rail grade crossings where Low Ground 
Clearance signs have been installed and submit updated data on these 
crossings to the DOT Crossing Inventory; and
    (2) implement policies and procedures to identify public highway-
rail grade crossings that do not satisfy the AASHTO Green Book standard 
for vertical profile conditions and take corrective action to bring 
them into compliance.
    States are encouraged to take action consistent with the preceding 
recommendations and to take other actions to help ensure the safety of 
highway-rail grade crossings on the Nation's railroads. FRA may modify 
this Safety Advisory 2009-03, issue additional safety advisories, or 
take other appropriate action necessary to ensure the highest level of 
safety on the Nation's railroads.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 31, 2009.
Jo Strang,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-1118 Filed 1-21-10; 8:45 am]
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