Manual Notice: 2023-1
From: Jeffrey Davis, Rail Division Director
Manual: Rail Highway Operations Manual
Effective Date: November 29, 2023
Anchor: #i998668Purpose
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Rail Highway Operations Manual has been updated to comply with administrative rule changes and business practices as well as to define both District and Division responsibilities on distinct types of projects and coordination efforts.
This manual is not a railroad operations manual and does not cover items related to train scheduling or railroad worker safety.
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Overall Changes:
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- Replaced Traffic Safety Division, TRF-RSS with Rail Division RRD Anchor: #RHVQSUWB
- Replaced Federal Signal Program, FSP with Section 130 or Sec 130 Anchor: #VNTMRYKT
- Replaced TRF – RSS project manager with RRD Project Manager Anchor: #DLWIXOQL
- Reorganized content with chapters and flowcharts Anchor: #DSWTMHMJ
- Added and omitted sections within chapters Anchor: #XQEDQKPR
- Replaced number sign (#) with numbers Anchor: #NGPROXVF
- Replaced single and double apostrophe with inches and feet Anchor: #PEUAGBSX
- Replaced mathematical symbols to word descriptions Anchor: #EXJEGPQB
- Added various links
Chapter 1 — Introduction
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- Section 1 — Overview of Railroads
in Texas
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- Redefined description and roles of the RRD four main sections Anchor: #EFCGXLVU
- Removed the quantities of railroad crossings and revised Spur Permit to Permitted track
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- Added description of Maintenance Notice Letter Anchor: #GCAAQYQF
- Added description of outside projects Impacting TxDOT and Railroad Right of Way
Chapter 2 — Construction Project Development
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- Section 1 — Construction & Maintenance
Agreement Timelines
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- Updated timelines Anchor: #GFNSAQMF
- Updated C&M Agreement Flowchart
Anchor: #KJYMXIUQ - Section 2 — Preliminary Activities
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- Added new subsection on railroad coordination Anchor: #XYSJGJDY
- Updated preliminary information including DES’s Project Development Process Manual reference and documents needed Anchor: #SNANCRDS
- Updated Design Meeting items to include sidewalk, road closure, traffic signal preemption, drainage and other utilities and sign boards Anchor: #XIHVKRNO
- Updated RRD policy on Preliminary Engineering Agreements, including documents required Anchor: #JQKBAYTG
- Added local government to sign preemption request form Anchor: #XDYITJOC
- Added note concerning Utility provider shall obtain agreement with railroad to relocate affect utility Anchor: #UKSSXMOD
- Added new Right of Way Division subsection concerning signboard responsibilities
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- Updated underpass plan submittal notes involving shoefly approval Anchor: #NEPHIQPN
- Updated the Required Documents sub section to Anchor: #GLCJWFDV
- Added Area Map sub section Anchor: #MLAITRTQ
- Updated 5% Theoretical Cost Estimate sub section to include district to notify RRD on project completion paragraph Anchor: #GXWBVYHB
- Added DES’s Hydraulic Design Manual reference Anchor: #ROAMAKDT
- Updated preemption documentation needed in agreement Anchor: #LNBOFXCK
- Updated information regarding railroad costs estimates
Anchor: #HKNBRHHH - Section 4 — C&M Agreements
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- Updated to include utility agreement types Anchor: #AFJYQMUK
- Updated signboard and other agreement types Anchor: #SDOXEVME
- Updated agreement amendments to include actual costs exceed estimate by 15% or more
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- Added UPRR will only enter agreements with TxDOT
Chapter 3 — Maintenance Projects
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- Section 1 — Letter Agreements
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- Updated description of invasive vs. non-invasive work Anchor: #VHGTVWEL
- Added subsection on letter agreement and Maintenance Notice letter including railroad flagging
Chapter 4 — Safety Projects (Section 130)
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- Section 1 — Overview
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- Updated funding and eligible type of work Anchor: #YWSSMFIQ
- Updated Section 130 work at permitted crossings Anchor: #CACOOYJY
- Updated partnering with State and Local safety projects
Anchor: #WJIUMWSC - Section 2 — Preliminary Activities
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- No significant updates
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- Updated RRD staff, items to be evaluated
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- Updated Federal and railroad cost share Anchor: #LKVRKAPT
- Updated closure process Anchor: #UYTABTIC
- Removed obsolete Federal Signal Program and Basic closure program sections
Anchor: #VQDSBJSO - Section 5 — Design Phase
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- Added Scope of Work (SOW) subsection and statement Anchor: #UPBCSIOJ
- Updated local government coordination requirements Anchor: #HLPMCYAC
- Added District programming of CSJ for Section 130 projects thru TxDOTCONNECT
Anchor: #EDXUCMXV - Section 6 — Project Agreements
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- Added Construction & Maintenance Agreement and Advance Funding Agreements subchapters
Chapter 5 — Replanking Projects
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- Section 1 — Program Overview
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- Updated eligible activities starting with 2022 program Anchor: #ANIDPHCA
- Updated flowchart
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- Updated that timber crossings are no longer reimbursable
Anchor: #FPLEKGWA - Section 3 — Project Selection
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- Updated program call information Anchor: #MVTLVWRM
- Added District programming of CSJ in TxDOTCONNECT
Anchor: #RVKQXEEP - Section 4 — Design Phase
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- Added RR SOW and TCP Subchapter and paragraph
Anchor: #EWHTHNHI - Section 5 — Project Agreements
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- Removed subparagraph on items not covered
Chapter 6 — Railroad Capital Improvement Projects
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- Section 1 — Overview
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- Updated items covered by this chapter Anchor: #SJMJGSBF
- Revised flowchart
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- Updated dismantling or modifying active warning devices Anchor: #VXPNAWSK
- Added subchapter on work impacting crossings licensed to State
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- Updated Project Agreement Process
Chapter 7 — Exhibit A and PS&E Design
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- Section 1 — Section 1 - Common Rail-Highway
Design Issues
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- Updated detour, cantilever flashing light usageUpdated use of schematic to start review Anchor: #YGLCRQEP
- Updated guidance on humped crossing mitigation
Anchor: #NYBCPINR - Section 2 — Crossing Closures & Consolidations
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- Updated general considerations including trains occupy crossing
Anchor: #ALXUMWED - Section 3 — Traffic Signal Preemption
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- Updated general definitions including traffic signal design Anchor: #ORTNQESH
- Updated Traffic signal preemption priority list Anchor: #AFAODWXW
- Added Cutover and Annual Testing of Preempted Traffic Signals subchapter
Anchor: #JXVONAUM - Section 4 — Track Design
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- Updated general notes and definitions
Anchor: #PPUISUBX - Section 5 — Exhibit A Design
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- Updated general layout requirements Anchor: #XCATPPDS
- Removed item 10, “Stencil DOT on mast” Anchor: #WNSMJNYG
- Updated guidelines on traffic control plans Anchor: #NRIKVIEN
- Updated guidelines on Projects with Overpasses Anchor: #VPYSFUXR
- Updated guidelines on Projects with Underpasses Anchor: #LIKBKNDE
- Updated guidelines on Projects with at-grade crossings Anchor: #YXXJHQTF
- Updated guidelines on Projects with Traffic Signal Preemption Anchor: #SBLAFBYV
- Updated guidelines on Projects with Existing or Proposed Quiet Zones Anchor: #JPORANRV
- Updated Guidelines on Projects with Culverts, Drainage Pipes or Conduits
Anchor: #XWBGXEEF - Section 6 — PS&E Design
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- Updated general notes and requirements
Chapter 8 — Right-of-Entry Process
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- Section 1 — Overview
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- Updated general notes and requirements Anchor: #PAMJSDQC
- Revised Flowchart
Anchor: #IMIEDJDG - Section 2 — Process
- Added subsection on Union Pacific Templates and CST's Standard Specification Manual reference
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Chapter 9 — Construction and Inspection Processes
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- Section 1 — Overview
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- Revised Flowchart
Anchor: #ITVDUGER - Section 2 — After C&M Agreement Execution
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- Updated conditional release description Anchor: #LJILJSPT
- Updated Authority to Order Material Anchor: #MTIAVORP
- Added subsections dealing with railroad flagging and Property Access Training for State employees
Anchor: #FPFOMNHE - Section 3 — Inspections
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- Updated general notes
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- Added Maintenance Projects Anchor: #DJDAVKYV
- Added Subsection on applicable flagging charges Anchor: #IRDUSABE
- Updated guidance to use OnBase
Chapter 10 — Other Rail-Highway Programs
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- Section 3 — Other Programs
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- Updated Basic Closure Program amount under Section 130
Chapter 11 — Quiet Zones
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- Section 1 — Overview
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- Revised new flowchart
Anchor: #YQUMXGGS - Section 4 — Implementing a Quiet Zone
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- Updated Safety Upgrades on TxDOT Roadways
Chapter 12 — Database
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- Section 1 — Crossing Database
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- Updated general information
Anchor: #OIWEUCTE - Section 2 — Texas Railroad Information
Management System (TRIMS)
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- Updated general information Anchor: #MIIWVRMA
- Noted that WebTRIMS was removed
Chapter 13 — Maintenance
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- Section 1 — Grade Crossing Maintenance
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- Updated information on maintenance and district inspection
Anchor: #MRLWSWDB - Section 2 — Preempted Traffic Signals
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- Added reference to Chapter 7
Chapter 14 — Policy
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- Section 2 — Laws Impacting Rail-Highway
Projects
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- Replaced spur permit with permitted crossings Anchor: #APVAPDJU
- Revised code from 23USC 409 to 407
Contact
Questions on the manual or its contents may be directed to the Rail Division.
Anchor: #i998724Archives
Past manual notices are available in a PDF archive.