Responsibilities

The highway-rail crossing is unique as compared to other highway features in that railroads install, operate, and maintain the traffic control devices located at the crossing. Even though much of the cost of designing and constructing crossings, including traffic control devices, is assumed by the public, current procedures place maintenance responsibilities for devices located in the railroad ROW with the railroad. The railroad may be responsible for crossing surface maintenance within the rail and for several feet outside of the rail proper, depending upon State law. The public agency having jurisdiction usually terminates its responsibility for the roadway at the crossing surface. Traffic control devices on the approach, in most instances, are the responsibility of the public agency. Maintenance-sharing with highway or other local authorities is typically included in C&M agreements developed prior to initiation of final design and construction of improvements. It should be noted that the railroad that usually installs and maintains the active warning system within the railroad right-of-way may require local jurisdictions to assume the added maintenance cost for treatments installed to obtain a Quiet Zone. The highway agency is usually responsible for traffic control devices that are outside of the railroad ROW. The highway authority is also usually responsible for all types of advance warning signs.