The Railroad Grade Separation (RGS) Program

is a sub-program of the Bridge System Safety Program that

addresses the construction of new grade separation structures at existing at-grade highway-railroad crossings and the rehabilitation or replacement of deficient highway underpasses of railroads on the state highway system. The eligible state highway system routes must be of a classification greater than local road or rural minor collector on the functional classification scale; (i.e., they must be classified as federal-aid highways). Title 23 of the CFR Part 646 Subpart B – Railroad-Highway Projects provides federal policy and guidance on these types of projects.

Selected and prioritized highway-railroad grade separation projects are in some instances authorized in funding Category 6 RGS of the yearly Unified Transportation Program (UTP) under the CONSTRUCT level of authorization. Category 6 RGS funding is targeted for each of the following:

Candidate projects for construction of new grade separation structures are prioritized using a cost-benefit index, while projects for railroad underpass replacement/rehabilitation are prioritized using a priority rating. The cost-benefit index and priority rating are summarized in the Statewide Prioritization and Programming section and described in detail in Chapter 10 of the

Rail-Highway

Operations Manual.

Funding for Category 6 RGS should be limited to the actual structure and

any

other work necessary to make the structure serviceable and consistent with

Design Manual requirements.

This limits Category 6 RGS

funded approach roadway work

,

to that which is sufficient to transition the grade-line of the structure to an attainable touchdown with the existing or new approaching roadway that is at or near level grade. Roadway and other work that is outside these limitations should be funded from other categories.

These limitations should particularly control when the new or replacement structure will be constructed on a new alignment or at a new location.

Except in extraordinary situations, the existing at-grade highway-railroad crossing should be eliminated.

The data described for cost-benefit index calculation are compiled with data from the National Safety Council, CST, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Equipment Watch Rental Rate Blue Book.

When a new highway-railroad grade separation project eliminates an existing highway-railroad crossing with an active warning device (or is ordered by a state regulatory agency to install one), the respective railroad company is federally required to provide 5% of the project cost. See 23 CFR 646.210 for more detailed information.

Table 2-4: Railroad Grade Separation Program Selection Process Schedule

Program Time	Month	Time Frame	Action Items
List Development	August	1 month	BRG prepares map of eligible candidate projects.
Program Call	September	1 month	District updates estimates and letting dates for ongoing projects during the HBPprogram call.
Program Call	September - October	2 months	District evaluates eligible candidate projects
BSSP Approval Selection Comments	November	1 month	District submits new candidate projects
Program Call Finalized	December - January	1.5 months	BRG prepares final call list
Final list sent to FIN	January	End of month	BRG sends final RGS list to FIN.
TXDOTCONNECT Updates	February	1 month	District submits TXDOTCONNECT changes and creates new CSJs.

The main steps involved in the agreement process are:

Category 6 Developmental Authority (

6DA

) can be utilized to perform a feasibility study to determine the effects of changing a highway-railroad underpass structure to a highway-railroad overpass structure. Overpass structures are more desirable to the Department and the railroads. Contact your Bridge Division project manager for more information.