Section 2: Preliminary Activities
Anchor: #i1001399Initial 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:
- Anchor: #HIBEMIAO
- UPRR. Anchor: #IHSKSIQH
- BNSF. Anchor: #MJYBTIGR
- CPKC. Anchor: #PMMKUKNP
- Shortline railroad companies (all under the same CSJ).
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.
Anchor: #i1001439Project 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.
Anchor: #i1001452Active 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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- Roadway surface (paved or unpaved). Anchor: #YJAYMJYR
- Crossing location (urban or rural area). Anchor: #EWFNMXJK
- The number of roadway lanes over the crossing. Anchor: #WDWWAMRG
- The number of railroad tracks at the crossing. Anchor: #GWFLHYPX
- The maximum train speed at the crossing. Anchor: #KWJRAVFD
- The minimum train speed at the crossing. Anchor: #NRDURMGR
- Total daily trains. Anchor: #DSFVJYEP
- AADT. Anchor: #OGJRYALL
- Nearby road intersection(s). Anchor: #WSNCMVJQ
- The highest roadway approach speed limit at the crossing.
Passive Crossings
Passive crossings are evaluated under a four-step process:
- Anchor: #FPJPLXQT
- Eliminate crossings with less than two daily trains and no crashes in the past five years. Anchor: #LMQSYVTC
- Eliminate crossings meeting non-qualification criteria. Anchor: #KAPKASSG
- Apply warrants. Anchor: #EIQALFQU
- Rank by Texas Passive Crossings Index (TPCI).
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.
Anchor: #i1001552Step 2: Non-Qualification Criteria
Passive crossings remaining after Step 1 are eliminated from consideration if all the following criteria are met:
- Anchor: #JWDLEAXO
- No crashes in the past five years. Anchor: #LPAEIQQU
- The crossing has only one track. Anchor: #UGNGHQHD
- No passenger trains at the crossing. Anchor: #YYFQPHIV
- AADT is below median of initial subset (crossings after Step 1). Anchor: #RPRHJVMC
- Maximum train speed is less than or equal to 30 mph. Anchor: #OBUGOALE
- Fewer than five daily trains. Anchor: #BWEBMBOH
- No nearby intersection (within 500 feet). Anchor: #UNMTLFAS
- Crossing angle is 60 degrees or greater.
Step 3: Apply Warrants
Crossings remaining after Step 2 are ranked first based on the number of warrants met. These warrants include:
- Anchor: #GLWOIPCE
- At least one crash in the past five years. Anchor: #STHJWCAN
- Trains per day greater than or equal to the 95th cumulative percentile (urban and rural crossings evaluated separately). Anchor: #JVROLVBJ
- School buses per day greater than or equal to the 94th cumulative percentile (of subset of crossings serving school buses). Anchor: #EILTWEXC
- Number of tracks at crossing greater than or equal to two. Anchor: #FNHPQGEX
- 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). Anchor: #CVNHPQNT
- 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. Anchor: #ONJBVION
- Average number of heavy vehicles per day greater than or equal to the 95th cumulative percentile. Anchor: #MJJBYIJO
- Passenger trains per day greater than or equal to one. Anchor: #YUWQQCCP
- 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.
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:
- Anchor: #QNKRFMYW
- Crashes in the past five years. Anchor: #OQXEJSQW
- Trains per day. Anchor: #SYBMIQUS
- School buses per day. Anchor: #PYCVGYQG
- Number of railroad tracks at the crossing. Anchor: #TPJVBCFS
- Train speed. Anchor: #QQPQVJAR
- AADT. Anchor: #QSYOFHCQ
- Presence of nearby traffic signal. Anchor: #AVHOVUDC
- Heavy vehicles per day. Anchor: #BBDJYAFV
- Presence of nearby intersection (non-signalized). Anchor: #AULUSXHG
- Highest roadway approach speed limit at the crossing. Anchor: #VKBRAPUC
- Crossing angle with roadway. Anchor: #APLLKJEJ
- Presence of humped or dipped crossing.
The crossing prioritization process currently does not include stopping distance or sight distance information due to a lack of existing data.
Anchor: #i1001732Preliminary 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. Anchor: #QQNABKAH
- Districts may remove crossings with invalid data. Anchor: #VSNESUFN
- Districts may recommend other crossings to be added for safety or preemption upgrades. Anchor: #RUUIPVIP
- Railroad companies may remove crossings with invalid data. Anchor: #HOOIREDE
- Railroad companies may recommend adding crossings for safety or preemption upgrades. Anchor: #NACULBSN
- Railroad companies may recommend upgrades as part of a corridor improvement.
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:
- Anchor: #NHEBRLEO
- Deemed high priority to TxDOT. Anchor: #QGRXWFMH
- The railroad company chooses to cost participate. Anchor: #IOMKVPFP
- Significant savings could result by upgrading all crossings at the same time.
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.
Anchor: #i1001809System-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.