Trucks and Buses

Highway-rail crossings are designed and controlled to accommodate the vehicles that use them. Trucks and buses have unique characteristics that should be considered. The following describes the additional evaluation and design taken into consideration for trucks and buses at crossings.

Trucks with Hazardous Material Cargo

Crossings used by vehicles with hazardous material cargo should be considered for improvements and, in turn, these improvements should consider the special needs of these vehicles. Based upon various NTSB studies of collisions involving trucks including those carrying hazardous materials, the following guidance should be considered:

•Trucks carrying bulk hazardous material should use routes that have grade separations or active control devices. Where routes that have crossings with only passive control devices are near terminals, the crossings should be considered for upgrading to active control.

•Ensure that active warning devices are activated with enough “warning time” (activation in advance of the arrival of a train) so that trucks have the available distance required for stopping. Also, for vehicles stopped at the crossing when signals are not operating, adequate warning time should be provided for clearance of tracks by loaded trucks before the arrival of a train.

•If feasible, where there is an intersection near the crossing, increase the storage space (defined as the “clear storage distance” in MUTCD) between the tracks and the intersecting highway. If on a direct route to a truck terminal, also consider giving ROW to the critical movement through control measures.

•Promote a program of education and enforcement to reduce the frequency of hazardous driving and alert the driver of potential danger. Driver training and education programs such as Operation Lifesaver should be expanded to include a specific program that addresses the problems.

•At crossings where a significant volume of trucks is required to stop, consideration should be given to providing a pull-out lane. These auxiliary lanes allow trucks to come to a stop and then to cross and clear the tracks without conflicting with other traffic. Hence, they minimize the likelihood of rear-end collisions or other vehicle-vehicle collisions. They would be appropriate for two-lane highways or for high-speed multilane highways.

Buses

Because buses carry many passengers and have performance characteristics like large trucks, these vehicles also need special consideration. Many of the measures suggested for trucks with hazardous material apply to buses. Railroad-highway crossings should be taken into consideration when planning school bus routes. Potentially hazardous crossings, such as those with limited sight distance or horizontal or vertical alignment issues, should be avoided if possible. Crossings along school bus routes should be evaluated by the appropriate highway personnel to identify the need for improvements. Drivers should be instructed on safe crossing procedures and routes. 164In addition to the recommendations that apply to trucks with hazardous cargo, the following should be considered when evaluating crossings where buses are likely to cross regularly:

•Special training for bus drivers

•Pavement markings and stop lines to delineate where buses should stop when checking for possible on-coming trains

Long and Heavily Laden Trucks

Large trucks have problems at crossings because of their length and performance characteristics. Longer clearance times are required for longer vehicles and those slow to accelerate. Also, longer braking distances become necessary when trucks are heavily laden, thus reducing their effective braking capability. As truck sizes, configurations, and weights have increased over time, it is critical to address currently allowable large vehicles (such as the interstate semitrailer truck—WB-62 or WB- 65), where such vehicles may be expected to utilize a highway-rail crossing on a regular basis. Consequently, when considering improvements, the designer should be aware of and design for the amount and type of current and expected truck traffic. Areas that should be focused upon include the following:

•Longer sight distances

•Placement of advance warning signs

•Warning time for signals

•Approach and departure grades

•Storage area between tracks and nearby highway intersection