ALTERNATIVE ENGINEERING METHODS WHERE SIGNALIZED ROADWAY INTERSECTIONS ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSINGS

摘要

To maximize efficiency and safety, traffic engineers evaluate roadway infrastructure and design complex networks to best utilize traffic to transport vehicles from one location to another. In order to design these networks, engineers consider factors such as timing, priority, and phasing, all while conforming to the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO) - Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) Millennium Edition. When looking at highway-rail crossings, many of the same factors come into play. The UVC states: No driver shall enter any railroad grade crossing unless there is significant space on the other side of the railroad grade crossing to accommodate the vehicle such driver is operating without obstruction the passage of railroad trains, notwithstanding any traffic-control signal indication to proceed. If the governing road authority determines that signs other than or in addition to "Do Not Stop on Tracks" are appropriate, the addition of pre-signals or queue cutters can be a cost-effective solution that require little to no railroad circuitry modification. Additionally, pre-signals and queue cutters are an engineering method that can increase compliance with the UVC and keep the crossing clear, as opposed to preemption, which attempts to clear downstream traffic. While advance preemption time is one engineering option, it is important to consider all options such as pre-signals and queue cutters. Advance preemption attempts to clear the crossing before a train arrives at the crossing. Queue cutters and pre-signals are a means to maintain a clear space across the tracks on every traffic move.