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Some of the crossing treatments fit within a traffic control device category while others, such as fencing, are part of the infrastructure provided at the crossing. A single crossing treatment or device will not be sufficient; rather a combination of devices is needed to communicate appropriate crossing locations and crossing times. Crashes. Collisions between streetcar, light rail, or commuter rail trains and pedestrians are not common, but when they do occur the consequences are often very severe. This is demonstrated by the analysis of light rail vehicle collisions that found that while only 4 percent of all injuries as a result of light rail vehicle collisions were pedestrians, approximately 41 percent of fatalities were pedestrians. Crashes happened throughout the rail system, including where pedestrians should not be walking, such as along the rail track. However, crashes between pedestrians and transit trains also occur at designated crossing locations. The ability to determine where crashes may happen and under which circumstances is not fully identified by analyzing the available data sources alone, but these data sources do provide some general trends that can act as a component of a more in-depth safety evaluation. Surveys. The results of the online survey and the phone survey indicated that a variety of treatments are currently in use. The results also indicated that there are some treatments used in more locations and other treatments that are rarely used, although each treatment was selected at least once by the respondents to the online survey. A common theme raised by survey respondents was that there was not a predominant set of standards or guidelines for applying specific treatments to specific situations. Consequently, one important aim of this research was to provide consistent guidelines based on good engineering judgment and consideration of site conditions as a useful tool for practitioners to use. In addition, even though transit agencies may use treatments and strategies based on prevailing conditions and existing guidance, their use does not negate the need for pedestrians to exercise personal responsibility or the need for some level of enforcement. Most of the phone interview participants acknowledged the difficulty in measuring the effectiveness of treatments. In large part, this difficulty is due to each crossing being unique and the fact that most do not identify with just a single treatment but with a system of treatments. In discussing particular issues, line of sight was the most significant issue identified, with several transit agencies actively working to identify and improve sight distance issues at grade crossings along their rail lines. In general, the transit agencies appear to be active in their interaction with people with disabilities and concerned with the mobility and safety of all potential system users or those that interact with it. Site Visits. Members of the research team visited several public transit rail services crossings within select regions as part of this research. These visits provided the opportunity to observe the challenges faced by pedestrians at public transit rail services crossings. The observations were not intended to be a judgment on the condition of the rail systems. Rather, the observations helped with the development of the Guidebook. Therefore, post-site visit, the observations were grouped within broad categories that were used with the presentation of treatments within the Guidebook. The observations also influenced the discussions included within the Guidebook, so to emphasize how to analyze conditions at a crossing with respect to the needs of pedestrians. The site visits generated several key observations and findings for specific treatments that affected the presentation within the Guidebook. Rather than repeating those key treatment xv
observations here, the reader should review the appropriate section of the Guidebook. Following is a brief, broad (i.e., non-treatment specific) overview of key findings from this research: ⢠A task force within the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices has developed figures for potential inclusion in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Several figures show potential sidewalk placements. Debates were held within the National Committee regarding whether these figures on the sidewalk geometrics should be included in a manual focused on traffic control devices. One of the comments made was the need for this type of information to be located in a national reference document, and currently there is no such national document. This story illustrates the need for the type of Guidebook being developed within this TCRP study. Relevant figures were incorporated into the Guidebook. ⢠The types of treatments used are related to the type of service (e.g., light rail or commuter) along with the roadside development (e.g., retail, residential) and the age of the rail lines. Train services integrated into an established, developed area or train lines that have been in service for many years typically have less space and more restrictions in the crossing and station designs. Retrofitting these lines to current accessibility requirements or to provide more pedestrian amenities is complicated and expensive. ⢠Transit agencies seem to understand that the old standards may not be adequate given current conditions and are periodically updating system design standards. In addition to constructing new transit rail lines that utilize current standards, transit agencies are actively working to bring older transit rail system lines up to current safety design standards. ⢠Other variables that can affect decisions regarding pedestrian-related treatments at a crossing include frequency of the trains, vehicles, or pedestrians along with the speed of the trains and the available sight distance. Because of the number of variables to consider at a crossing, the treatments or set of treatments to use cannot be standardized. Guiding principles can be used to aid in the selection process; however, the analysis is unique for each crossing and engineering judgment is needed to make the decisions on what should be installed. ⢠Pedestrians take the shortest path regardless of where the markings are or how the station is designed, unless there is a barrier directing them to a preferred crossing location. For example, although signs are present forbidding travelers to cross light rail tracks in a station, many alighting passengers took the shortest route to the exit, preferring to negotiate the elevation changes and roughness of crossing the track bed closer to the train instead of traveling down the platform to the marked (and smoother) crossing. ⢠General approaches to pedestrian safety at crossings include restricting the pedestrians to cross at designated locations and having the pedestrians look both ways before crossing rail tracks. ⢠Treatments need to be built with durability in mind, so people cannot bypass the treatment by altering or destroying it. ⢠Providing consistency within a region is challenging, especially when there are multiple systems or multiple line ownerships, including freight. Having a formal mechanism for communication between departments can address some of the challenges. ⢠Regular involvement of an advisory committee of transit users with disabilities in planning grade crossings and other pedestrian facilities can help to assure that facilities not only comply with the American with Disability Act but that they are user-friendly. xvi
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT The scope of this TCRP project was to develop a Guidebook for pedestrian crossings for public transit rail services. The Guidebook on Pedestrian Crossings of Public Transit Rail Services is available on the TCRP website (1). The Guidebook was to cover three public transit rail services: ⢠Light rail is a mode of rail service provided by single vehicles or short trains on either private (i.e., dedicated) right-of-way or in roads and streets (i.e., mixed with vehicle and pedestrian traffic). Passengers board in stations or from trackside stops in streets. ⢠Streetcar service is a type of light rail service with frequent stops with almost the entire route operated in roads or streets. Streetcars are typically used in denser, high-traffic areas with vehicles designed for lower speeds and to allow for quick boarding and alighting by passengers. ⢠Commuter rail service is defined as rail service that is provided on regular railroads or former railroad right-of-way, with trains made up of either self-propelled cars or locomotive-hauled cars. Commuter rail passengers board in stations, with greater spacing between stations than other public transit rail services. Commuter rail service is characterized by high-speed, infrequent-stop service over longer distances from outlying areas into the commercial centers of metropolitan areas. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objective of the research was to develop a Guidebook for safe and effective treatments for pedestrian crossings for public transit rail services, including light rail, commuter rail, and streetcar services. The Guidebook is to be practical, and aid practitioners in selecting design, operational, and traffic control device treatments to improve safety, mobility, and accessibility. RESEARCH APPROACH The research was conducted within five tasks. Each task listed is followed by the objectives of that task: ⢠Task 1. Perform Review of Literature. The objective of this task is to identify the existing literature regarding pedestrian crossings especially at public transit rail services crossings by gathering and synthesizing information on existing (customary and innovative) practices and research. ⢠Task 2. Identify Treatments. The objective of this task is to identify treatments that can be applied to public transit rail services crossings to address safety, mobility, and accessibility concerns. An inventory will be developed of best practices and recent innovations in North America to improve the safety and effectiveness of public transit rail services crossings for pedestrians. ⢠Task 3. Develop Guidebook Structure, Identify Potential Case Study Locations, Submit Interim Report. The objectives of this task are: 1) to develop the organization structure for the Guidebook; 2) to identify potential case study locations that will be 1
visited in Task 4; 3) to identify potential treatments and locations for the field studies to be conducted in Task 4; and 4) to develop and submit the interim report. ⢠Task 4. Gather Information from Existing Crossings. The objective of this task is to conduct case study reviews of existing locations and field studies of treatment effectiveness at selected installations. ⢠Task 5. Prepare Guidebook and Final Report. The objectives of this task are to prepare the final report and the Guidebook. REPORT STRUCTURE This report contains the research methodology used to develop the Guidebook. Information is provided within the following seven chapters: ⢠Chapter 1: Introduction. This chapter presents the research objective along with an overview of the tasks completed to develop the Guidebook. ⢠Chapter 2: Literature Reviews. Several literature reviews were conducted as part of this research with a focus on rail characteristics, pedestrian (including pedestrians with disabilities) characteristics, rail crossing treatments, crossing treatment selection techniques, and crash reduction factors. This chapter provides a summary of how the literature reviews were done along with a synopsis of some of the findings. ⢠Chapter 3: Transit Crash Databases. This chapter highlights the major online crash databases available regarding rail. ⢠Chapter 4: Online Survey of Practitioners. This chapter provides a summary of the findings from a web-based survey of practitioners at transit agencies in the United States. The survey, conducted through the internet, asks practitioners for information on current and previous treatments used to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and rail vehicles, as well as other approaches they have used with respect to pedestrian safety at transit rail crossings. ⢠Chapter 5: Telephone Interviews. This chapter summarized the findings from supplemental telephone interviews that were conducted to ask for further details on specific treatments, perceived effectiveness at reducing conflicts, experiences with education or enforcement programs, concerns withâin addition to treatments implemented because ofâNational Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and results of any studies or surveys that the transit agency may have conducted. ⢠Chapter 6: Site Visits. Members of the research team visited several public transit rail services crossings within select regions as part of this research. These visits provided the opportunity to observe the challenges faced by pedestrians at public transit rail services crossings. This chapter summarizes the observations made during three site visits to Boston, Portland, and Los Angeles. ⢠Chapter 7: Summary. This chapter provides a summary of the work for the TCRP project. 2
