PART 8: Traffic Control for HighwayRail Grade Crossings

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PART 8 Traffic Control for Highway-Rail Grade
Crossings
Millennium EditionSummary of Changes
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Traffic Control for Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Highway
• Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

• Street
• Grade-Crossing

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8A.01 Introduction

• Not in the MUTCD

• Added Definitions for 16 New Terms

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8A.01 Introduction
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Various Titles and Order of Sections

• Revised Titles and Order of Sections

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8A.02 Use of Standard Devices, Systems, and
Practices
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD
• Part 8 applies to new crossing installations and
  locations where modernizations were made.

• Added an Option and Support on national
  highway-rail intersection (HRI) architecture
• Part 8 applies to all highway-rail grade
  crossings.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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Section 8A.04, Highway-Rail Grade Crossing
Elimination
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Any highway grade crossing for which there is not
  a demonstrated need should be closed.

• Section expanded to discuss situations where the
  crossing is eliminated, where some of the tracks
  are removed, and where the roadway is removed.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8A.05 Temporary Traffic Control Zones
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Smaller section entitled Traffic Controls During
  Construction and Maintenance
• Performance of Work Zone operations - not in the
  MUTCD

• Expanded section
• When a crossing exists near or in a work zone,
  operations shall not be performed in a way that
  would cause vehicles to stop on the tracks with
  no means to escape.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.02 Highway-Rail Grade Crossing (Crossbuck)
Sign (R15-1,-2)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Retroreflective material shall be on back of
  crossbuck except when mounted back-to-back and on
  each support.
• 10 year compliance period.

• Not in the MUTCD

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.03 Highway-Rail Advance Warning Signs (W10-1,
2, 3, 4)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Advance Warning (W10-1) sign not required
• on highways with less than 30 m (100 ft) between
  the crossing and a highway intersection.
• Where physical conditions prevent effective
  display.

• Not in the MUTCD

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.03 Highway-Rail Advance Warning Signs (W10-1,
2, 3, 4)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Placement distance for W10-2, W10-3, and W10-4
  determined by using speed of turning maneuver.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.06 DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS Sign (R8-8)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Sign should be used whenever an engineering study
  determines potential for stopping on tracks is
  high.

• Sign should be used whenever engineering judgment
  determines potential for stopping on tracks is
  high.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.07 STOP or YIELD Signs at Highway-Rail Grade
Crossings
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• In Section 8B-9 STOP signs limited to use at
  crossings after need is established by
  engineering study.

• STOP or YIELD signs may be used at passive
  crossings with 2 or more trains per day.
• Install Stop Ahead and Yield Ahead Advance
  Warning signs in accordance with Section 2C.26.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.09 Emergency Notification Sign (I-13, I-13a)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• New section provides guidance that emergency
  notification signs should be posted at all
  highway-rail grade crossings.
• White message on blue background

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.10 TRAINS MAY EXCEED 130 km/h (80 MPH) Sign
(W10-8, W10-8a)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Provides a sign for use on class 5 or higher
  railroad tracks where trains may exceed 130 km/h
  (80 mph).

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.11 NO TRAIN HORN Sign
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Provides a sign that shall be used at the
  crossings which have FRAs authorization for
  trains to not sound a horn.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.12 NO SIGNAL Sign (W10-10)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Section provides a warning sign at highway-rail
  grade crossings not equipped with automated
  signals.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.13 LOOK Sign
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Provides a sign for use at passive crossings.
  This regulatory sign directs road users to look
  for trains.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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The LOOK (R15-8) sign may be mounted as a
supplemental plaque on the Crossbuck (R15-1) sign
post
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Change in Sequence of Sections
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Pavement Markings was Section 8B-4. Other
  sections were not in the 1988 MUTCD.

• New section order
• 8B.14 Low Ground Clearance Hwy-Rail Grade
  Crossing Sign
• 8B.15 Storage Space Signs
• 8B.16 Pavement Markings
• 8B.17 Stop Lines
• 8B.18 Dynamic Envelope Delineation

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.14 Low Ground Clearance Highway-Rail Crossing
Sign (W10-5)
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Guidance to install Low Ground Clearance sign in
  advance of crossings with highway profile
  conditions sufficiently abrupt to create a
  hang-up situation for vehicles with low ground
  clearance.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.15 Storage Space Signs
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Guidance to use symbol Storage Space sign
  (W10-11) with word message sign (W10-11a) to warn
  of locations with limited vehicle storage space.
• New W10-11b

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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New Signs W10-11, W10-11a, W10-11b
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8B.17 Stop Lines
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Section added to provide guidance on the
  placement of stop lines at highway-rail grade
  crossings.
• 2.4 m (8 ft) from the gate, if present, but no
  closer than 4.6 m (15 ft) from nearest rail.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8B.18 Dynamic Envelope Delineation
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• An option to delineate the dynamic envelope to
  show the train cargo overhang.
• If used, pavement markings shall conform to Part
  3 and shall be a 100 mm (4 in) normal solid white
  line, contrasting pavement color and/or
  contrasting pavement texture.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8C.1 Illumination at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Option given to use luminaires but no engineering
  study required.
• For location and type of luminaires refer to
  Roadway Lighting publication

• Section 8B-5, may install illumination where an
  engineering analysis determines better visibility
  of the train is needed
• Location so as to not interfere with train crew
  signal system and refer to Roadway Lighting
  publication

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.01 Introduction Flashing-Light Signals,
Gates, Traffic Control Signals
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Chapters 8C and 8D

• Chapter 8C was redesignated as 8D. Information
  from Chapter 8D entitled, Systems and Devices
  was incorporated into revised Chapters 8A and 8D.
• Significantly expanded to include items that
  relate to all Sections of this Chapter.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.01 Introduction - Flashing-Light Signals,
Gates, Traffic Control Signals
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• New Option permits flashing-light signals and
  gates to be used separately or in combination
  with each other as determined by an engineering
  study.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.01 Introduction - Flashing-Light Signals,
Gates, Traffic Control Signals
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Lateral location of flashing-light signals and
  gates given as Guidance in 8C-2 and as an Option
  and a Standard in 8C-4.

• Specific clearances for lateral location of
  flashing-light signals and gates stated in
  Standard in 8D.01 and 8D.02.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.01 Introduction - Flashing-Light Signals,
Gates, Traffic Control Signals

• In Section 8C-2, Guidance is given that equipment
  housings (controller cabinets) should have a
  lateral clearance of 30 feet from the roadway and
  adequate clearance from the tracks.

• Guidance Equipment housings (controller
  cabinets) should have a lateral clearance of at
  least 9 m (30 ft) from edge of highway and where
  railroad property and conditions allow, at least
  7.6 m (25 ft) from the nearest rail.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.01 Introduction - Flashing-Light Signals,
Gates, Traffic Control Signals
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Guidance If a pedestrian route is provided,
  sufficient clearance from supports, posts, and
  gate mechanisms should be maintained for
  pedestrian travel.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.2 Flashing-Light Signals -- Post Mounted
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Flashing-light signals should be placed to the
  right of approaching roadway traffic on all
  roadway approaches to a crossing.

• Flashing-light signals shall be placed to the
  right of approaching highway traffic on all
  highway approaches to a crossing.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.2 Flashing-Light Signals -- Post Mounted
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• In Section 8C-7 Maximum number of flashes per
  minute shall be 55.

• Maximum number of flashes per minute shall be 65.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.2 Flashing-Light Signals -- Post Mounted
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• The requirement for storage batteries with
  specified maximum voltage and wattage for signal
  and gate operation during outages in primary
  power.

• Requirement for flashing-light signals to operate
  at a low voltage using storage batteries either
  as a primary or stand-by source of power. Added
  a requirement to provide a source of energy for
  charging batteries.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.04 Automatic Gates
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• The approach lane gate arms shall be designed to
  fail safe in the down position.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.04 Automatic Gates
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Standard When the train clears the crossing, the
  gate arm shall ascend to its upright position
  normally in not more than 12 seconds.

• Guidance The gate arm should ascend to its
  upright position in not more than 12 seconds.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.04 Automatic Gates
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Option added to allow the installation of medians
  at grade crossings with automatic gates.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.05 Four-Quadrant Gate Systems
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• This section was added to provide standards,
  guidance, and options for four quadrant gate
  systems.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.07 Traffic Control Signals at or Near
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• 1988 Manual allows signals only where train
  speeds are very slow.
• In 1999 proposed to allow signals to be used in
  lieu of gates and/or flashing-light signals where
  train speeds are equal to or less than 32 km/h
  (20 mph).

• Reverted back to the Standard and Option language
  in the 1988 MUTCD Traffic signals shall not be
  used in lieu of flashing-light signals to
  control road users at mainline crossings.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.07 Traffic Control Signals at or Near
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Installation of a NO TURN ON RED sign required
  for the approach that crosses the track when
  pre-signals are used near a highway intersection
  with a storage problem.

• Not in the MUTCD

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.07 Traffic Control Signals at or Near
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Added clarifying language on the termination of
  the preemption condition when crossing gates
  exist.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard
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8D.07 Traffic Control Signals at or Near
Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
1988 MUTCD 2000 MUTCD

• Not in the MUTCD

• Allows traffic signals to be mounted on the same
  overhead structure as flashing-light signals when
  in close proximity to the highway intersection.

Yellow Text Denotes a Standard