Screening Tools for Considering Grade Separation at Rail-Highway Crossings

Abstract

At-grade rail-highway crossings lead to economic losses due to vehicle delays and train-vehicle collisions. To consider the need and priorities for grade separation at crossings, screening tools are required. Such tools were developed in the study based on detailed field measurements at 20 representative sites and following the analysis of all crossings’ accident and inventory data for 5 years. The tools consist of a safety model, a formula for estimating the economic loss due to vehicle delays at a crossing, and a qualification criterion. The screening applies economic principles, comparing the economic loss due to an at-grade crossing with the average cost of grade separation. Applying the tools to all existing Israeli crossings, in the year 2000, 30 sites out of 216 were found as warranting grade separation.