Authors: John B. Hopkins, Morrin E. Hazel

Date of Publication:  August 1975

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research and Development

Performing Organization:  U.S. Department of Transportation - Transportations Systems Center

Report No: FRA-OR&D-76-04

Abstract:

This report describes a computer-aided analytical approach to estimation of the potential benefits, costs, and implementation implications associated with allocation of grade crossing safety resources.  Three types of information are required as input: (1) the grade crossing population, categorized by hazard, location (urban/rural), and existing warning systems; (2) warning time alternatives, categorized by cost and effectiveness; (3) criteria for acceptable or preferred resource allocation strategies (required benefit/cost ratio, total resources available, number of fatalities to be prevented, etc.).  A computer program has been prepared that determines all solutions meeting stated criteria and characterizes them in detail (specifying warning systems for each crossing category).  Operation is highly interactive, and requires only seconds of computer time.  Examples are presented based upon national statistics, and cases are chosen to indicate sensitivity to uncertainties in input data.  An extensive discussion of the currently-estimated crossing population is included, with a brief review of accident prediction equations.
 

No. of Pages:  65