Railroad Crossing Reliability Partnership Program

Within the DFW Metropolitan Planning Area, there are approximately 2,500 locations where railroads and roadways cross.  Of those, only about 500 are currently grade-separated, where the road or rail passes on a bridge above or trench below the other; the remaining 2,000 crossings occur at-grade. 

The type of warning devices that exist at these at-grade crossings varies widely.  Some rail crossings are gated and have signalized controls such as flashing lights.  These electric devices are referred to as active warning devices.  Other crossings have only passive (non-electric) warning devices such as stop signs, railroad crossing signs, and pavement markings.  In addition, the active devices at some locations are old and unreliable. 

Recognizing the importance of addressing safety and reliability issues, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) set aside funds to improve some of these 2,000 at-grade crossings.  Partnering with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the railroads, and local governments, NCTCOG staff performed an inventory of recent upgrades at these locations.  NCTCOG staff then developed a data review process that allowed the funding program to move forward. 

The Railroad Crossing Reliability Partnership Program (RCRPP) began with local partners assisting in the identification of crossings that had safety and/or reliability constraints.  That portion of the data review process resulted in a list of rail crossings which were identified for potential improvement.  In August 2003, the RTC solicited applications related to improvements at those crossings.  In the summer of 2004, an initial round of projects was selected from eligible applications, with the second round of projects receiving approval in the summer of 2005.
 

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Staff Contacts:  Jeff Hathcock, Mike Johnson, Dan Lamers