7.10 Railroad Design

TxDOT routinely enters into Construction and Maintenance (C&M) Agreements with railroad companies when planning construction projects which impact railroad right of way. Several agreements and plan sheets are required for submittal, review and approval by the specific railroad company.
It is critical to consider bike and pedestrian connectivity over railroads early in the design process.

7.10.1 Exhibit A

The Exhibit A is a procedural document related to the development of a C&M Agreement between the department and the railroad. The C&M Agreement must be executed before a project can be awarded to a contractor.
An Exhibit A design is an Initial(30%) design or more
completed 12 or more months in advance
 of the Sealed(100%) plans showing work to be performed within the railroad’s ROW. Information must include:
  • Title sheet with Index of Sheets (not required on replanking projects);
  • Project layout sheet;
  • Active warning device forms (if installing or modifying};
  • Signing and striping forms (if not shown with active warning devices);
  • Traffic signal layouts and phasing forms (if preemption is involved);
  • Plan view of conduits, pipes, and culverts under track forms;
  • Planking layout (if installing or modifying);
  • Bridge or roadway plan and profile;
  • Rail survey (bridge projects; out to 1000 feet on both sides of bridge on overpass projects and out to 1500 feet on both sides of bridge on underpass projects;
  • Roadway typical sections (planking and construction projects);
  • Rail typical sections (planking and underpass projects);
  • Ditch cross sections on 100-foot centers (joint drainage projects); and
  • Railroad requirements sheets (construction projects).
For a bridge project involving a railroad, Exhibit A includes the bridge layout with some additional information of interest to the railroad owner. Final Exhibit A must be signed, sealed, and dated by a licensed Texas Professional Engineer.
Maintenance-type project scopes with minimal impacts to railroad ROW are handled by a Letter Agreement. A few of the project types are:
  • Minor bridge repair and inspection;
  • Mowing;
  • Overlays;
  • Seal coats; and
  • Surveying.
A Construction & Management Agreement is far more extensive for heavy construction within the railroad ROW.
Texas Railroad Information Management System (TRIMS) is a GPS and GIS-based data collection, inventory, and project management tool. The web-based Rich Internet Application (RIA) can be used to gather site data with a field computer, GPS unit, and digital camera. This system provides comprehensive railroad information to the designer.
Considerations when designing railroad crossings include:
  • Evaluate existing at-grade crossings for field panel conditions and/or “humped” crossing that can cause long wheelbase vehicles to get stuck on the crossing;
  • Obtain train traffic frequency and speed from the railroad company or through department internal TRIMS database;
  • Obtain railroad company’s design standards prior to project design development (available on TxDOT.gov Railroad Design Guidelines webpage);
  • Ensure railroad Agreement provisions are included in the Sealed PS&E; and
  • Projects will not be let until the railroad Construction & Maintenance (C&M) Agreement or Letter Agreement has been fully executed or with an approved Construction Management Plan (see
    Section 8.2.2.1
    ).
Contact RRD at least 24 months before letting for railroad overpasses (new or modified), and 48 months before letting for railroad underpasses (new or modified) to coordinate rail planning and obtain a Construction & Maintenance Agreement.

7.10.2 Sealed(100%) Plans

Most railroad companies will request a review and approval of the Sealed(100%) plans (often referred to as an Exhibit B on construction projects) to verify certain elements of the design have not changed from the Exhibit A. Railroad company approval of the Sealed(100%) plans may be/is required for underpass and overpass projects.
Do not include the Exhibit A in the Sealed(100%) plans unless there is information which is not contained in the rest of the plans such as track realignments.

7.10.3 Plans Requirements

As part of the Sealed(100%) plan set on TxDOT construction projects, the following railroad specific plan sheets are required:
  • Railroad Scope of Work Sheet; and
  • Railroad Requirements Sheets (Bridge or Non-Bridge).
Information on how to complete the Railroad Scope of Work sheet, Railroad Requirements sheets, and approved ROE Agreements may be found on the TxDOT.gov Railroad-Highway Crossing Information webpage. Refer to the
PS&E Preparation Manual
 and the PS&E QC Milestone Checklist for details on information to include on these sheets.
7.10.3.1 Railroad Scope of Work Sheet
The Railroad Scope of Work sheet identifies project specific work and requirements. It describes the scope of work at the crossing location(s), other project work in railroad ROW, the flagging requirements, any construction work to be performed by the railroad, the railroad insurance requirements, the ROE agreement, any railroad coordination meeting requirements and the emergency contact information.
Additional information and a copy of the Railroad Scope of Work sheet can be found on the TxDOT.gov Plans, Specifications & Estimate Requirements on Projects with Railroads webpage and in TxDOT’s
Rail Highway Operations Manual
.
7.10.3.2 Railroad Requirements Sheets
The Railroad Requirements Sheets clarify various information for contractors, including:
  • Need for safety training;
  • Operational requirements when working near tracks;
  • Minimum construction clearances;
  • Shoring and demolition requirements (bridge projects); and
  • Construction and as-built submittals (bridge projects).
7.10.3.3 Railroad Certification
A railroad certification is submitted for all projects. The certification describes the status of the coordination with railroad companies when railroad ROW is within the project limits, a railroad crossing (advance warning signs within the project limits) is near the project limits or parallels the project, a traffic signal is or will be linked to railroad signal devices, and the TCP will influence a railroad crossing. Examples of the required certifications for the various conditions are described below and a template can be found on TxDOT.gov:
  • No Railroad Work
     – this certification applies when no work within or near the limits of railroad ROW is included in the project.
  • Agreement Executed – work prior to construction
     – this certification applies to projects where the coordination and agreement are executed; railroad work is completed before letting; and only flagging is to be done during construction.
  • Agreement Executed – work during construction
     – this certification applies to projects where the coordination and agreement are executed, and railroad work will be completed during construction.
  • Agreement not executed – work during construction
     – this certification applies to projects where the coordination is complete and the railroad agreement will be executed without causing a construction delay for the contractor.
The District Engineer signs project certifications which will be part of the project File of Record. A copy of the signed certifications is submitted, with other supporting documents, to DES for RTL PS&E document review and processing.