NTL Record

Title Assessment of risks for high-speed rail grade crossings on the Empire Corridor : next generation high-speed rail program
Record ID 10003
Personal Name
Creator
Coltman, Michael; McCown, Robert; Mironer, Mark
Source 51p. in various pagings
Corporate
Contributor
John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration
Publication Date 20000800
Language English
Abstract The report describes a risk-based approach for assessing the implications of higher train speeds on highway-railroad grade crossing safety, and allocating limited resources to best reduce this risk. To predict accident frequency, an existing DOT model was extended to include higher speeds. Accidents were statistically grouped according to crash mechanics. By using historical data and crashworthiness analysis, the severity of an accident was estimated independently for the highway users and train occupants based on a number of factors. These included accident type, type of highway vehicle, type of train, and train speed. The Empire Corridor in New York State was used to illustrate the application of the approach. The study concludes that the increased risk due to higher train speeds can often be more than offset by implementing standard crossing improvements. The analysis shows that improving the highest risk crossings in a corridor, rather than the crossings with the highest train speed, produces the greatest benefit. The report finds that the risk to highway users saturates at train speeds around 65 mph, and that the risk to train occupants does not increase dramatically with train speed. The report recommends an incremental migration to improved safety. (51 p.)
Rosap ID dot:8433
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8433
TRT Terms High speed ground transportation; High speed rail; Railroad grade crossings; Railroad safety; Railroad crashes; Crash rates; Crash severity; Crash types; Highway safety; Corridors
General Subjects Highway safety; Highway-railroad grade crossing; New York state
Classification NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - RAIL TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Rail Safety;
NTL - RAIL TRANSPORTATION - Railroad Highway Grade Crossings;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety
Geographical
Coverage
United States
OCLC 631855239
TRIS Online
Accession No
805895
Contract Number RR003/R0047
Report Number DOT-VNTSC-FRA-00-03; DOT/FRA/RDV-00/05
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Research Paper
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/10000/10000/10003/rdv0005.pdf
Alternative URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/17000/17200/17218/PB2001100285.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository