28.16 Pedestrian Rail Crossing Safety

  • Design features and/or warning devices at rail crossings need to provide pedestrians enough warning of approaching trains, force the pedestrian to look for trains, or prevent crossings entirely. Table 28.5 lists design guidelines and countermeasures to improve safety at rail crossings and indicates the type of warning each treatment provides (passive or active). Any countermeasure should be ADA-compliant. Another option is to route pedestrians around the crossing using features such as over/underpasses.
Table 28.5 Treatments to Improve Pedestrian Rail Crossing Safety
Category Treatment Appropriate Location Type of Rail Service Passive/Active
Channelization All All Passive
Barrier Offset pedestrian crossing All Light rail, commuter rail Passive
Maze fencing All Light rail, commuter rail Passive
Pedestrian fencing All Light rail, commuter rail Passive
Between-car barriers 2, 3 Light rail, commuter rail Passive
Temporary All Light rail, commuter rail Passive
Design Defined pedestrian crossing All All Passive
Smooth and level surface All All Passive
Sight distance improvements All All Passive
Stops and terminal design All All Passive
Illumination All All Passive
Pedestrian refuge All Light rail, commuter rail Passive
Sidewalk relocation All Light rail, commuter rail Passive
On-road bollards 1, 2 All Passive
Infrastructure Audible crossing warning devices All All Active
Pedestrian automatic gates 1, 2, 4 Light rail, commuter rail Active
Pedestrian automatic gates w/horizontal hanging bar 1, 2, 4 Light rail, commuter rail Active
Pedestrian swing gates All Light rail, commuter rail Active
Signs Passive All All Passive
Unique warning messages All All Passive
Enforcement All All Passive
Blank-out warning All All Active
Signals Timing considerations near railroad crossings 1, 2 All Active
Flashing-light signal assembly All Light rail, commuter rail Active
In-pavement flashing lights All Light rail, commuter rail Active
Pavement Markings Pedestrian stop lines All Light rail, commuter rail Passive
Detectable warning All All Passive
Words or symbol All All Passive
Dynamic envelope marking All All Passive
Operations Required stop All Light rail, commuter rail Active
Reduce train speed All All Active
Rail safety ambassador 2, 3 All Active

1 = Pedestrian-rail grade crossings adjacent to motor vehicle crossing

2 = Pedestrian-rail grade crossings at stations adjacent to motor vehicle crossings

3 = Pedestrian-rail grade crossings at stations

4 = Pedestrian-rail only crossings

Do you have more questions? Get in touch!

8 + 1 =

CONTACT:

Chris VanDyke

Research Scientist | Program Manager

chrisvandyke@uky.edu