Strategies for improving the project agreement process between highway agencies and railroads
By: Gordon Proctor & Associates, Inc. with StarIsis Corporation, Michael L. Bradley & Associates Consulting, LLC
Contributors: Gordon Proctor & Associates; StarIsis Corporation; Michael L. Bradley & Associates Consulting; Second Strategic Highway Research Program (U.S.)
Series: SHRP 2 report -- S2-R16-RR-1
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 174
ISBN-13: 9780309128889
Subjects: Management; Transportation; Transportation agencies; Railroads; Public-private sector cooperation; Strategic planning; Planning; Highway-railroad grade crossings; Road construction contracts; Project management
Other titles: SHRP2 renewal research; Project agreement process between highway agencies and railroads
Description: Examines five broad areas of performance including transportation, environment, economics, community, and cost.

North American railroads and public highway departments interact thousands of times annually as the highway agencies conduct projects that cross over, under, or parallel to the railways.  Each interaction requires a thorough review of the safety, engineering, and operating effects that the project will have on the railroad during construction and for decades thereafter.  Although most of these reviews and agreements proceed smoothly, both the highway agencies and the railroads agree that delays and problems occur routinely.  These delays can cause important highway projects to increase in cost, and they can consume valuable staff and engineering resources by all parties.  The focus of this project is to provide recommended standard agreements, standard processes, and best practices that can help both sides reduce the time and cost of project reviews. To succeed, each must understand the basic needs of the other and both must have common languages, practices, standards, and expectations.
Notes: At head of title: The second strategic highway research program.

Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Background; title: Research approach; title: Findings and applications : review of class I railroad permitting and agreement processes ; review of highway agency processes ; review of federal regulations; title: Conclusions and suggested research.