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Section 2: Preliminary Activities

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Initial Programming

RRD will compile estimated preliminary engineering costs for Section 130 projects and request a separate Control Section Job (CSJ) project number from the Finance Division Letting Management Section for system-wide preliminary engineering for:

The Finance Division Letting Management Section will compile a Federal Project Authorization & Agreement (FPAA) to be sent to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for each of these CSJs. The FHWA will review and approve the FPAAs to obligate federal funds for preliminary engineering. This occurs prior to issuing a System-wide PE Agreement to the railroad companies.

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Project Selection

Statewide ranking of projects is performed by RRD annually based on the Revised Texas Priority Index (TPIREV) process. The TPIREV process separates active and passive crossings and evaluates each set independently. Project selection is also compiled using the Texas Rail Information Management System's ranking process.

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Active Crossings

Active crossings are evaluated under a formula which includes a crash prediction model and a five-year crash history. Factors and weightings used in the crash prediction model are based on historical crash data for at-grade crossings in Texas. These factors include:

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Passive Crossings

Passive crossings are evaluated under a four-step process:

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Step 1: Initial Non-Qualification Criteria

Passive crossings with less than two daily trains and no crashes in the past five years are eliminated from consideration.

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Step 2: Non-Qualification Criteria

Passive crossings remaining after Step 1 are eliminated from consideration if all the following criteria are met:

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Step 3: Apply Warrants

Crossings remaining after Step 2 are ranked first based on the number of warrants met. These warrants include:

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  • At least one crash in the past five years.
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  • Trains per day greater than or equal to the 95th cumulative percentile (urban and rural crossings evaluated separately).
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  • School buses per day greater than or equal to the 94th cumulative percentile (of subset of crossings serving school buses).
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  • Number of tracks at crossing greater than or equal to two.
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  • Maximum train speed greater than or equal to 49 mph and AADT greater than or equal to the 75th cumulative percentile (urban and rural crossings evaluated separately).
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  • AADT or exposure (train counts multiplied by AADT) greater than or equal to the 95th cumulative percentile for rural areas or greater than or equal to the 90th cumulative percentile for urban areas.
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  • Average number of heavy vehicles per day greater than or equal to the 95th cumulative percentile.
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  • Passenger trains per day greater than or equal to one.
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  • Highway parallel to and less than 75 feet from tracks when roadway speed limit is greater than 30 mph and exposure greater than or equal to the 75th cumulative percentile (urban and rural crossings evaluated separately), or school buses per day greater than or equal to the 50th cumulative percentile, or average number of heavy vehicles per day greater than or equal to the 75th cumulative percentile.
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Step 4: Rank by TPCI

The TPCI ranking formula is needed to distinguish between crossings meeting the same number of warrants in Step 3. TPCI is a formula that evaluates and weights the following factors:

The crossing prioritization process currently does not include stopping distance or sight distance information due to a lack of existing data.

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Preliminary Project List

The percentage of active and passive crossings selected for the program year will determine how to integrate the two lists. For example, if the list includes 300 total crossings with 200 active crossings and 100 passive crossings, the top two ranked active crossings will be ranked first and second with the top ranked passive crossing ranking third. Or if 300 total crossings were chosen with 150 active crossings and 150 passive crossings, the top ranked active crossing will be ranked first with the top ranked passive crossing second. Active and passive crossings will be integrated in the same format until the total number of desired crossings is obtained.

Before a finalized list of crossings selected for diagnostic inspections is completed, adjustments are made to the TPIREV ranking by the following processes:

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  • RRD removes any crossings with an existing Section 130 project.
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  • Districts may remove crossings with invalid data.
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  • Districts may recommend other crossings to be added for safety or preemption upgrades.
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  • Railroad companies may remove crossings with invalid data.
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  • Railroad companies may recommend adding crossings for safety or preemption upgrades.
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  • Railroad companies may recommend upgrades as part of a corridor improvement.
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Corridor Improvements

Although the Section 130 has limited funding each year, corridor improvements to upgrade a series of at-grade crossings along the same track may be eligible for funding if:

RRD will evaluate any proposed corridor improvements with the district and the railroad company to determine eligibility. The railroad company may agree to a cost share participation for the corridor improvement.

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System-wide PE Agreement

Many of the railroad companies will require a System-wide PE Agreement prior to attending diagnostic inspections. RRD will issue the list of crossings to each of the railroad companies, commonly referred to as the Preliminary Project List, for signature and concurrence on the initial list for diagnostic inspections. A fully executed System-wide PE Agreement provides a method to pay the railroad companies and railroad consultants for activities up to and including RRD issuing the Exhibit B. At that time, any funds for the work will be part of the Construction CSJ and under the review and approval of the district.
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