Section 2: Preliminary Activities

Initial Programming

RRD
 will compile estimated preliminary engineering costs for
Section 130
 projects and request a separate Control Section Job (CSJ)
project number
 from the Finance Division Letting Management Section for system-wide preliminary engineering for:
  • UPRR.
  • BNSF.
  • CPKC.
  • Shortline railroad companies (all under the same CSJ).
The Finance Division Letting Management Section will compile a Federal Project Authorization & Agreement (FPAA) to be sent to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for each of these CSJs. The FHWA will review and approve the FPAAs to obligate federal funds for preliminary engineering. This occurs prior to issuing a System-wide PE Agreement to the railroad companies.

Project Selection

Statewide ranking of projects is performed by
RRD
 annually based on the Revised Texas Priority Index (TPI
REV
) process. The TPI
REV
 process separates active and passive crossings and evaluates each set independently.
Project selection is also compiled using the Texas Rail Information Management System's ranking process.

Active Crossings

Active crossings are evaluated under a formula which includes a crash prediction model and a five-year crash history. Factors and weightings used in the crash prediction model are based on historical crash data for at-grade crossings in Texas. These factors include:
  • Roadway
    surface
     (paved or
    unpaved
    ).
  • Crossing
    location
     (urban or rural area).
  • The number of roadway lanes over the crossing.
  • The number of railroad tracks at the crossing.
  • The maximum train speed at the crossing.
  • The minimum train speed at the crossing.
  • Total daily trains.
  • AADT.
  • Nearby road intersection(s).
  • The highest roadway approach speed limit at the crossing.

Passive Crossings

Passive crossings are evaluated under a four-step process:
  • Eliminate crossings with less than two daily trains and no crashes in the past five years.
  • Eliminate crossings meeting non-qualification criteria.
  • Apply warrants.
  • Rank by Texas Passive Crossings Index (TPCI).

Step 1: Initial Non-Qualification Criteria

Passive crossings with less than two daily trains and no crashes in the past five years are eliminated from consideration.

Step 2: Non-Qualification Criteria

Passive crossings remaining after Step 1 are eliminated from consideration if all the following criteria are met:
  • No crashes in the past five years.
  • The crossing has only one track.
  • No passenger trains at the crossing.
  • AADT is below median of initial subset (crossings after Step 1).
  • Maximum train speed is less than or equal to 30 mph.
  • Fewer
     than five daily trains.
  • No nearby intersection (within 500 feet).
  • Crossing angle is 60 degrees or greater.

Step 3: Apply Warrants

Crossings remaining after Step 2 are ranked first based on the number of warrants met. These warrants include:
  • At least one crash in the past five years.
  • Trains per day
    greater than or equal to the 95th
     cumulative percentile (urban and rural crossings evaluated separately).
  • School buses per day
    greater than or equal to the 94th
     cumulative percentile (of subset of crossings serving school buses).
  • Number of tracks at crossing
    greater than or equal to two.
  • Maximum train speed
    greater than or equal to
     49 mph and AADT
    greater than or equal to the 75th
     cumulative percentile (urban and rural crossings evaluated separately).
  • AADT or exposure (train counts
    multiplied by
     AADT)
    greater than or equal to the 95th
     cumulative percentile for rural areas or
    greater than or equal to the 90th
     cumulative percentile for urban areas.
  • Average number of heavy vehicles per day
    greater than or equal to the 95th
     cumulative percentile.
  • Passenger trains per day
    greater than or equal to one
    .
  • Highway parallel to and less than 75 feet from tracks when roadway speed limit is greater than 30 mph and exposure
    greater than or equal to the 75th
     cumulative percentile (urban and rural crossings evaluated separately), or school buses per day
    greater than or equal to the 50th
     cumulative percentile, or average number of heavy vehicles per day
    greater than or equal to the 75th
     cumulative percentile.

Step 4: Rank by TPCI

The TPCI ranking formula is needed to distinguish between crossings meeting the same number of warrants in Step 3. TPCI is a formula that evaluates and weights the following factors:
  • Crashes in the past five years.
  • Trains per day.
  • School buses per day.
  • Number of railroad tracks at the crossing.
  • Train speed.
  • AADT.
  • Presence of nearby traffic signal.
  • Heavy vehicles per day.
  • Presence of nearby intersection (non-signalized).
  • Highest roadway approach speed limit at the crossing.
  • Crossing angle with roadway.
  • Presence of humped or dipped crossing.
The crossing prioritization process currently does not include stopping distance or sight distance information due to a lack of existing data.

Preliminary Project List

The percentage of active and passive crossings
selected
 for the program year will determine how to integrate the two lists. For example, if the list includes 300 total crossings with 200 active crossings and 100 passive crossings, the top two ranked active crossings will be ranked first and second with the top ranked passive crossing ranking third. Or if 300 total crossings were chosen with 150 active crossings and 150 passive crossings, the top ranked active crossing will be ranked first with the top ranked passive crossing second. Active and passive crossings will be integrated in the same format until the total number of desired crossings is obtained.
Before a finalized list of crossings selected for diagnostic inspections is completed, adjustments are made to the TPIREV ranking by the following processes:
  • RRD
     removes any crossings
    with an existing Section 130
     project.
  • Districts may remove crossings
    with
     invalid data.
  • Districts may recommend other crossings to be added for safety or preemption upgrades.
  • Railroad companies may remove crossings
    with
     invalid data.
  • Railroad companies may recommend
    adding
     crossings for safety or preemption upgrades.
  • Railroad companies may recommend upgrades as part of a corridor improvement.

Corridor Improvements

Although the
Section 130
 has limited funding each year, corridor improvements to upgrade a series of at-grade crossings along the same track may be eligible for funding if:
  • Deemed high priority to TxDOT.
  • The railroad company chooses to cost participate.
  • Significant savings could result by upgrading all crossings at the same time.
RRD
 will evaluate any proposed corridor improvements with the district and the railroad company to determine eligibility.
The railroad company may agree to a cost share participation for the corridor improvement.

System-wide
PE
 Agreement

Many
 of the railroad companies will require a System-wide PE Agreement prior to attending diagnostic inspections.
RRD
 will issue the list of crossings to each of the railroad companies, commonly referred to as the Preliminary Project List, for signature and concurrence on the initial list for diagnostic inspections. A fully executed System-wide PE Agreement provides a method to pay the railroad companies and railroad consultants for
activities up to and including RRD issuing the Exhibit B. At that time, any funds for the work will be part of the Construction CSJ and under the review and approval of the district.