This synthesis presents a review of the current practices associated with the operation of traffic signals at intersections located near highway-rail grade crossings. This topic is of special concern because of the October 1995 fatal crash of a train with a school bus that remained on the tracks while stopped for a traffic signal on the adjacent roadway. This report presents information on the policies and operational characteristics of highway-rail grade crossing warning devices and details on system components, including advance warning times, train detection, and traffic signal interconnections. In addition, several advanced highway-rail grade crossing warning systems in operation are described. Information on highway traffic signal systems is presented, including traffic controller pre-emption system characteristics. (A) This report may be accessed by Internet users at http://trb.org/publications/nchrp/nchrp_syn_271.pdf
Samenvatting