Evening star., 1928-03-18
RAILWAY CROSSING
PROBLEM STUDIED
Solution Held Vital in Report
to Engineering As.
sociation.

THE highway grade crossing problem
lis one OF the most important confront
ing the railways and public authorities
at the present time"
This was the gist OF a report sub
mitted by the grade crossing committee
at the closing session yesterday at the
Palmer House in Chicago OF the Joint
meeting OF the American Railway Engi-
neering Association and the Engineer
ing Division of the American Railway
Association
The ever present hazard" said the
report. "and the growing density OF
highway trafic demand that serious
consideration be given as 10 how the
situation can best be met
While reports made public by the
Interstate Commerce Commission show
reduction In the nImbe. Of both
grade crossing accidents and fatalities
for the first / months In 1927, COM
pared with the corresponding period in
1926, there are still too many accidents
at crossings. due very largely 10 care
lessncss on the part Of drivers. The
number Of accidents at protected cross
ings tndicates that the public Is not
taking advantage as fully as 1t should
OF the additional protection afforded.
Crossings on Increase.
Statistics show that. notwithstand-
ing the large expenditure for grade
separation each year. the number OF
grade crossings is actually increasing.
Every grade crossing constitutes con-
dition dangerous TO traffic and partlcu-
larry 10 highway trafiic. Accidents are
not confined 10 crossings with bad ap-
proaches or poor visibility. Experience
has shown that they frequently occur
where approaches and visibility are
good. lack Of caution and care In cross
ing seemingly offset the other adVan"
tages
Crossing protection is effective In
preventing accidents and at many To-
cations Is all that is necessary or can
be provided In some locations grade
separation In the only solution. There
are many other crossings which can be
closed or consolidated end serious ef-
fort should be made IN this direction.
Public interest and safety should impel
public authorities In make reductions
In the number Of grade crossings one
of their most important activities, Not
only are municipal, county and state
authorities involved In this problem but
! IL should enlist the active interest oi
The Federal Government by reason OF
the interstate character OF much OF the
era Of long tours by automobile travel
and long distance bus and truck lines
transcending State limits. and the Fed
eral authorities should be- interested In
the safety welfare and control OF this
traffic. az we'll as that OF the railways.
solution Is Sought.
The excessive number of grade
crossings will continue until some
{ 4. AzA snty suff tTh
eraI arms 0f the Government partici"
/ pate In solving the problem. Hereto
/ tore. grade separation has been de-
pended on and although great sums
have been expended, hardly any I'm"
preston has been made upon the grade
crossing problem experience has shown
that this meihod by Itself IN not prac"
/ iicat nor conducive 10 early results.
/ Lack 0f progress Is not due ~ phShlcai
! ~ engineering dNIficuilies, nut Is a aieh"
/ ton 0f finance. The extraordinary eH'
/ pense attending grade separation mas
retarded elimination: IN fact, the cost
! Is Sd great ss IN discourage both The
railways aud the public authorities IN
such Undertakings
To solve the problem adequately,
/ SONS method should be adopted that
/ VIII eliminate a large number ~ exist"
/ ing crossings NJ negligible expense Al
compared with grade separation. btich
z plan would comprise In the f1rst place
I The prohibition ~ new grade crossings
! ar iheiI restriction IN unavoidable sill"
/ nati0ns, Along with this II should pro-
/ vide for The vacation or closing ~ ex~
listing grade crossings not nlaulishtly
| necessary for Tie convenience and vel
! fare of ihe community, ar the diver
| sion Gf tenchtiGn ot highways Ia
sFhid grade crossings The cost Ut NJ
/ version usually IL leaa Than for grade
| hepsfatt0n and IL viii serve The purpose
n elimination rs well rs grade beph~
! ration Grade separation should be-
i limited Ia situations where none nf The
/ other methods csn be used and where
| lhe traffIe IL such as to require H. This
| pisn VIII result IN the GTeafest good 10
| the greatest number IN the sh0rleht
time and III less ekUeuse"