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Rail Safety Programs

Overview

ODOT and ORDC have aggressively improved safety warning devices at highway-rail grade crossings. Historically, ODOT has allocated $15 million per year in Hazard Elimination and Surface Transportation Program funds for highway-railroad grade crossing safety improvements or corrective activity designed to alleviate a highway-railroad safety problems. This amount is approximately 140% more funding on grade crossing safety than required by the FHWA section 130 program. These funds are administered by the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) for projects on state (state highway, U.S. highway, interstate) or local (city street or county or township) roads. Funds are generally used for both preliminary and construction engineering.

From Fiscal Year 1995 through 2003, the ORDC funded the construction of 950 light and gate installations, 62 crossing circuitry upgrades, 239 crossing surface reconstructions, 133 crossing closures and a physical inventory of every public grade crossing in the state.

Project priorities fall under 10 program categories:

  • Statewide Priority Warning Device Improvements - Projects identified by Federal Railroad Administration Ranking which takes into consideration: # of trains, train speed, # of tracks, ADT, existing warning devices, angle of crossing.
  • Rail Corridor Program identified by crash and train data, sight distance, amount of railroad contribution per corridor.
  • Program to eliminate flashing light signals on the state highway system
  • Program to eliminate cross bucks on the state highway system
  • Circuitry Upgrade Program which upgrades antiquated equipment
  • Fatal Crash Upgrade Program
  • Grade Crossing Consolidation Program which provides flexible funds as a local incentive for crossing closures.
  • Surface Reconstruction and crossing Profile Program
  • County Task Force Program
  • Grade Separation Program

In 2003, ORDC began to adjust the corridor program to target grade crossing upgrades on passive crossings with higher train speeds. ORDC estimates that approximately 1,500 crossings in the state have maximum train speeds above 20 mph and passive warning devices. While more research is needed, ORDC believes this target group could have significant impacts on fatality statistics. Finally, ORDC is currently working with a NCHRP panel investigating alternative grade crossing warning devises and will implement its findings and recommendations.