Crossing Closures

Reducing Accidents

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has encouraged the states to reduce the number of accidents at highway-rail crossings by the consolidation of redundant and unnecessary at-grade crossings. In order to reduce the number of redundant at-grade crossings, the Rail Safety Section of the Public Utility Commission is requesting assistance in identifying those crossings.

Identifying Crossings

If you know of potentially redundant at-grade public highway-rail crossings, please provide us with the names and locations of those crossings by completing the Highway-Rail Public Grade Crossing form.

We are particularly interested in locations where there is an opportunity to eliminate crossings that are not required for the safety and convenience of the public. Similarly, if there are any rail corridors where there are excessive number of at-grade crossings, please provide us with the name and location of the corridor and a list of those redundant crossings located along that corridor.

FHWA Guidelines

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Handbook (Revised Second Edition August 2007) has provided suggested criteria to be considered in identifying potential crossing closures.

• Main Line - more than 5 crossings within a 1 mile segment.
• Branch Line - less than 2,000 ADT, more than 2 trains per day and an alternate crossing within 0.25 miles.
• Spur Tracks - less than 2,000 ADT, more than 15 trains and an alternate crossing within 0.25 miles.

Contact

If you have any questions or further comments, please contact Rodney D. Bender, P.E. at (717) 787-9732. For written responses, contact:

Rodney D. Bender, PE, Manager
Transportation Division
Pa. Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120