Author: K.W. Heathington, Daniel B. Fambro, Robert W. Rochelle

Date of Publication:  July 1983

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Performing Agency:  Transportation Center, University of Tennessee

Abstract:

Six active warning devices for use at railroad-highway grade crossings were evaluated in a laboratory setting by the Transportation Center at The University of Tennessee. This research was conducted under Federal Highway Administration contract no. DTFH61-80-C-00144, Innovative Railroad-Highway Crossing Active Warning Devices. The six active warning devices
chosen for laboratory testing were:

1. Four-quadrant gate system (without skirts);
2. Four-quadrant gate system (with skirts);
3. Four-quadrant flashing light signal system (without strobes);
4. Four-quadrant flashing light signal system (with overhead strobes);
5. Highway traffic signal system (with one white bar strobe); and
6. Highway traffic signal system (with three white bar strobes).

The testing of these six active warning devices was conducted on a private two-lane roadway at the McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base near the main Knoxville airport. This test facility provided a good combination of road geometry, vehicle control, electrical power, security, and accessibility.
 

No. of Pages:  129