Prioritization Procedure for Proposed Road–Rail Grade Separation Projects Along Specific Rail Corridors (2019) / Chapter Skim
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From page 17... ...
17 3.1 Grade Separation Project Investment Modules Factors for the Safety Evaluation Module The objective of the safety module is to compute a safety score for each crossing and quantitatively rank them. A quantitative method was developed to prioritize grade crossings along a corridor for grade separation.
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18 Because of the limited number of crossings with an angle less than 30 degrees, the researchers decided to use only two values for this variable. Various normalization schemes were applied to this variable, as shown in Table 3-2.
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19 weighted values from 0.001 to 0.1 at intervals of 0.001. The range of the weights was limited to ensure that the site-related adjustment was not exceedingly influenced by a single variable.
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20 • For crossings with flashing lights, maximum timetable train speed and posted highway speed were the improvement variables identified; and • For crossings with crossbucks, maximum timetable train speed and crossing angle improved accident prediction. Using Scale Option C, the research team concluded the following: • For crossings with gates or crossbucks, maximum timetable train speed improved accident prediction and • For crossings with flashing lights, maximum timetable train speed and number of tracks improved accident prediction The research team decided to apply the weights from Scale Option A to the safety module in RCAT.
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21 Safety Score for Crossings with Flashing Lights, k1 = k2 = 1 safety score USDOT accident prediction value 0.047 normalized value for maximum timetable train speed 0.005 normalized value for posted highway speed limit 0.005 normalized value for crossing surface = + + + Safety Score for Crossings with Crossbucks, k1 = k2 = 1 safety score USDOT accident prediction value 0.047 normalized value for maximum timetable train speed 0.005 normalized value for crossing angle 0.005 normalized value for crossing surface = + + + Factors for the Economic Evaluation Module The research team evaluated a broad array of quantitative and qualitative factors in developing the analysis and prioritization method for the economic module. The economic module incorporates key factors in crossing improvement decisions based on previous research and stakeholder input.
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22 Economic Factor Calculation EC1.Vehicle operating cost, passenger vehicles Total fuel savings = total gals saved * average cost/gal 1.
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23 The premise in scoring the impacts to land use factor is that improvements to a crossing in an industrial area may not add much value to adjacent property, but should increase the mobility and safety of all stakeholders. However, in an urban setting the addition of a grade separation should add value to the nearby property and opportunities for economic development because of the increased mobility and safety provided by such an improvement.
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24 that may impact a CMA are assigned a score of 1. Corridors outside a CMA are assigned a score of 0.
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25 also be identified during the mapping and corridor buffer process. These locations may be protected under Section 4f of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966.
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26 The term livable community is also often used as an ancillary means for describing quality of life. Within the other three evaluation categories addressed by the research -- safety, economics and environment -- many of the elements that contribute to livability -- for example, safety and access to jobs -- are already covered.
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27 crossings frequently used by emergency vehicles, which have been identified as 911 critical grade crossings. In 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)
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28 Class I railroads often refer to major mainline corridors that stretch for thousands of miles between coastal gateway ports and major inland cities. For the application of a grade separation evaluation tool, a more disaggregated definition of corridor that could be applied at the state or local level was desired.
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29 After the culling process, the following five corridors were advanced to the project panel as potentials for case study beta test candidates: 1. Great Northern Corridor, Seattle Subdivision in Kent; 2.
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30 to help mitigate this mobility challenge. These three crossvings have some of the highest exposure rates within the BNSF Seattle Subdivision.
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31 Special Considerations/Other • What makes this corridor a good candidate (e.g., recent increases in hazardous cargo movements or total train volumes)
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32 Crossing ID Position of Crossing Highway Milepost Total Trains 803243W Railroad under Compton Avenue 0.22 18 803244D Railroad under Jefferson Avenue 0.82 18 803248F Railroad under 18th Street 1.37 41 803250G Railroad under 14th Street 1.65 41 424810P Railroad under Tucker Boulevard 1.8 0 Unknown Private Cerre Street 1.89 0 803264P Railroad over 7th Street 2.16 1 803265W Railroad over 6th Street 2.22 1 803266D Railroad over South Broadway 2.29 1 803267K Railroad over 4th Street and Cedar 2.35 1 803268S Railroad over 3rd Street 2.41 1 803269Y Railroad over 2nd Street 2.5 1 803270T Railroad over Plum and 1st 2.6 1 803271A Railroad under Poplar Street Bridge 2.61 1 803272G Railroad over Poplar Street 2.64 1 803273N Railroad over Washington Avenue 3.33 1 803274V Railroad under Eads Bridge 3.34 1 803276J Railroad over Lucas Avenue 3.38 1 803277R Railroad over Morgan Street 3.43 1 803280Y Railroad over Laclede's Landing Boulevard 4.49 1 803279E Railroad under Martin Luther King Bridge 3.49 1 803282M Railroad over Carr Street 3.66 0 803368W At grade Biddle Street 4.13 62 803366H At grade O'Fallon Street 3.83 62 803365B At grade Florida Street 4.13 62 803364U At grade Mullanphy Street 4.19 62 803362F At grade Brooklyn Street 4.39 62 803360S At grade Tyler Street 4.6 62 803359X At grade Chambers Street 4.65 62 803356C At grade Clinton Street 4.77 74 803354N At grade North Market Street 4.9 62 803353G At grade Branch Street 5.31 57 803078N At grade Hall and Dock 5.41 0 803077G At grade Hall and Buchanan 5.51 0 803350L At grade Angelrodt Street 5.58 84 803349S At grade Destrehan Street 5.66 94 803074L Railroad under Salisbury and Hall 5.8 14 803348K At grade Bremen Avenue 5.96 34 803347D At grade Angelica Street 6.23 50 803073E Railroad over Angelica Street 6.23 14 803346W At grade Ferry Street 6.45 38 803072X Railroad over Ferry S Street 6.45 1 803193V Railroad over Merchant's Bridge 7.61 0 803192N Railroad over Klein Street 7.82 0 803091C At grade Washington Avenue 7.9 10 803092J At grade Edwardsville Road 1.32 25 803090V At grade Market Street 8.32 72 803189F At grade Commonwealth Drive 9.77 0 803085Y At grade Niedringhaus Avenue 9.95 52 at Route 3 Table 3-19. Total trains using each crossing along Merchants Subdivision, TRRA.
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33 Safety History Table 3-20 lists crossings that have experienced a highway/ rail accident at the grade crossings along the Merchants Subdivision in the past 10 years between the years 2006 and 2015. Special Considerations/Other The Merchants Subdivision covers the Merchants Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River.
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