What do they mean to you?

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1 CANADA S NEW GRADE CROSSING REGULATIONS What do they mean to you? May 2, 2015 Floris van Weelderen, P.Eng., PTOE Becky Lai, EIT

2 THE ACCIDENTAL GRADE CROSSING Gare Montparnasse, Paris October 22,

3 3

4 QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ANSWERED TODAY Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How Who is responsible for what? What is a public grade crossing? Where do you find the new regulations and standards? When do the regulations come into force? When must the information be shared? When must the existing crossings be upgraded? Why were the regulations enacted? How many public grade crossings are there in BC? How will grade crossings be made safer? 4

5 AGENDA Background Grade Crossing Information Safety Standards Issues and Opportunities 5

6 MMM GROUP LIMITED BACKGROUND

7 SIZE OF EXPOSURE How many public grade crossings are there in BC? 1, > 10 8 Source: Transport Canada's Integrated Railway Information System (IRIS) database (2010) 7

8 CLOSING THE GAP Why were the regulations enacted? The new Regulations are expected to improve crossing safety and reduce the number of collisions, fatalities, injuries and property damage at grade crossings 8

9 POLICY APPROACH How will grade crossings be made safer? 9

10 TIMELINES A Phased-in Approach CIF = November 27,

11 ACT, REGULATIONS, STANDARDS & GUIDELINES Hierarchy of rules Act Regulations Standards Guidelines 11

12 GUIDELINES VS. STANDARDS Guidelines Recommended, non-mandatory requirements that assist the standard when no mandatory control has been specified Standards Specific low level mandatory requirements to ensure and control consistency Considered Best Practice 12

13 GRADE CROSSING REGULATIONS Regulation Details Definitions Sharing of Information Sightlines New Grade Crossings Existing Grade Crossings General Requirements Audible Warning Records 13

14 GRADE CROSSING STANDARDS Table of Contents Part A - Introduction Part B - Existing Grade Crossings Part C - New Standards Part D - Design Calculations Part E - Warning System Design Part F - Interconnected Devices Appendix A Light Emitting Diode (LED) Signal Modules Appendix B - Limited Use Warning Systems And Signs Appendix C - Limited Use Warning System With Walk Light Appendix D Whistling Cessation 14

15 THE INTERNET Where do you find the new regulations and standards? Grade Crossing Regulations Grade Crossing Standards 15

16 DEFINITIONS Grade Crossing Public Grade Crossing Private Grade Crossing Crossing Surface Road Approach Traffic Control Devices Warning System Cross-Product 16

17 GRADE CROSSING a road crossing at grade, or two or more road crossings at grade where the lines of railway are not separated by more than 30 m 17

18 PUBLIC GRADE CROSSING a grade crossing whose road is opened or maintained by a Road Authority and is designed for public use 18

19 PRIVATE GRADE CROSSING a grade crossing that is not a public grade crossing 19

20 CROSSING SURFACE the part of a road that lies between the ends of a railway tie and that has the width shown in Figure 5-1 of the Grade Crossings Standards 20

the stopping sight distance (SSD) and the point that marks

21 ROAD APPROACH the part of a road, other than the crossing surface, that lies between the point that marks the start of the stopping sight distance (SSD) and the point that marks the front of a design vehicle when it is past the clearance point 21

22 TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES STOP sign STOP AHEAD sign RAILWAY CROSSING AHEAD sign ADVISORY SPEED TAB sign PREPARE TO STOP AT RAILWAY CROSSING sign, including the interconnection with the warning system Traffic signal, including the interconnection with the warning system 22

23 WARNING SYSTEM an automated system, other than an interconnected traffic signal, that indicates the approach or presence of railway equipment at a grade crossing and that is composed of any combination of light units, bells, gates, operating mechanisms and circuits 23

24 CROSS-PRODUCT X Average annual daily railway movements Average annual daily traffic 24

25 TYPES OF GRADE CROSSINGS Billups Neon Crossing Signal - Grenada, Mississippi 25

26 TYPES OF GRADE CROSSINGS PASSIVE RAILROAD CROSSING Sign (RCS) ACTIVE Flashing Light Units & Bells (FLB) RCS + STOP Sign (SRCS) Flashing Light Units, Bells & Gates (FLB&G) 26

27 MMM GROUP LIMITED GRADE CROSSING INFORMATION 27

28 INFORMATION SHARING Railway Company precise location number of tracks average annual daily railway movements railway design speed warning system STOP sign on same post as RAILWAY CROSSING sign (yes / no) whistling required (yes / no) 28

29 INFORMATION SHARING Road Authority precise location number of traffic lanes average annual daily traffic road crossing design speed road design specification (classification) width of each traffic lane and shoulder stopping sight distance average gradient crossing angle departure time activation time interconnection time sidewalk, path or trail (yes / no) design vehicle 29

30 RECORDS Information Sharing Railway Company must keep the most recent information Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Railway Company must keep and maintain the records Temporary Protection Measures Railway Company must keep and maintain the records 30

31 MMM GROUP LIMITED COMPREHENSIVE AND ENFORCEABLE SAFETY STANDARDS

32 COMPLIANCE Who is responsible for what? Railway Company RAILWAY CROSSING sign NUMBER OF TRACKS sign EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION sign STOP sign installed on the same post as a RAILWAY CROSSING sign maintenance warning system crossing surface, other than its design Sightlines within the railway right-of-way and over land adjoining the railway right-of-way Road Authority road approach design, construction and maintenance traffic control devices except maintenance of a STOP sign installed on the same post as a RAILWAY CROSSING sign crossing surface design Sightlines within the land on which the road is situated and over land in the vicinity of the grade crossing 32

33 RESPONSIBILITY OF RAILWAY COMPANY Part B - Existing Grade Crossings Crossing Surface RAILWAY CROSSING sign NUMBER OF TRACKS sign 33

34 CROSSING SURFACE Material RUBBER RENFREW STREET - MILE , NEW WESTMINSTER SUB TIMBER - 4 TH AVENUE WEST MILE 0.50, MARPOLE SPUR ASPHALT - JELLICOE STREET MILE 10.21, MARPOLE SPUR CONCRETE PANEL - POWELL STREET MILE 34

35 CROSSING SURFACE Road 35

36 CROSSING SURFACE Sidewalk, path or trail along a Road 36

37 MMM GROUP LIMITED ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 37

38 COMMON ISSUES Sightlines not achieved Warning system requires upgrade Traffic control devices and pavement markings don t meet standards 38

39 SIGHTLINES Minimum Sightlines D Stopped Departure design distance for users stopped at a Grade Crossing SSD Stopping sight distance D SSD Approach design distance for users approaching a Grade Crossing 39

40 SIGHTLINES AT EXISTING CROSSINGS Without a warning system 40

41 SIGHTLINES AT EXISTING CROSSINGS Without a warning system 41

42 SIGHTLINES AT EXISTING CROSSINGS Warning system without a gate 42

43 SIGHTLINES AT EXISTING CROSSINGS Warning system with a gate Requirements respecting sightlines do not apply 43

44 WARNING SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS Warrants Warning System without Gates Cross-product (>2000) Presence of sidewalk, path or trail Railway design speed Number of rail lines Proximity to an intersection Warning System with Gates Cross-product (>50,000) Presence of sidewalk, path or trail Railway design speed Number of rail lines Proximity to an intersection 44

45 SIGNAGE AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS Figure C1-6 Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices of Canada (MUTCDC) 45

46 TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES Responsibility of Road Authority STOP sign STOP AHEAD sign RAILWAY CROSSING AHEAD sign ADVISORY SPEED TAB sign PREPARE TO STOP AT RAILWAY CROSSING sign, including the interconnection with the warning system Traffic signal, including the interconnection with the warning system 46

47 SIGNS Responsibility of Railway Company RAILWAY CROSSING Sign NUMBER OF TRACKS Sign EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION Sign 47

48 APPENDIX D WHISTLING CESSATION Table D-1 Requirements for Warning Systems at Public Grade Crossings within an Area without Whistling 48

49 MMM GROUP LIMITED CONCLUDING REMARKS

50 QUESTIONS THAT WERE ANSWERED TODAY Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How Who is responsible for what? What is a public grade crossing? Where do you find the new regulations and standards? When do the regulations come into force? When must the information be shared? When must the existing crossings be upgraded? Why were the regulations enacted? How many public grade crossings are there in BC? How will grade crossings be made safer? 50

51 QUESTIONS? 51

Grade Crossing Regulations

Grade Crossing Regulations An Overview of Municipal Roles and Responsibilities at Federally Legislated Grade Crossings March 21, 2017 presentation to Alberta Municipal Supervisor Association, Edmonton,