Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024
Subpart
1.
Candidate for grade separation.
A grade crossing must meet at least one of the criteria in
items A to C to be a candidate for grade separation.
A. The train speeds at the crossing are 40
miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour) or greater, the roadway carries four or
more lanes of traffic, and either:
(1) the
roadway immediately preceding the crossing has a posted speed of 30 miles per
hour (50 kilometers per hour) or greater and a current ADT of 5,000 vehicles or
more; or
(2) the roadway
immediately preceding the crossing has a posted speed of 55 miles per hour (90
kilometers per hour) or greater and a current ADT of 3,000 vehicles or
more.
B. There are
active warning devices, and there has been a vehicle-train accident at the
grade crossing involving a fatality or two property damage or personal injury
accidents within the last five years.
C. An increase in public safety would result
from construction of the grade separation by eliminating another safety problem
area such as an accident-prone roadway intersection.
Subp. 2.
Considerations.
The commissioner shall determine whether a grade separation
will be constructed, and, if so, the appropriate location for the grade
separation. The commissioner shall consider the following factors related to
the crossing in making this determination:
A. previous use of the crossing by emergency
vehicles;
B. accident history for
the last five years;
C. use of the
crossing by vehicles carrying hazardous materials, vehicles carrying passengers
for hire, and school buses;
D.
volume of vehicular traffic and operating speed;
E. volume of train traffic and operating
speed;
F. number of
tracks;
G. vertical and horizontal
alignments, and the need for and availability of additional
right-of-way;
H. other grade
crossings in the area;
I. other
factors that might adversely affect the safety of roadway users, pedestrians,
bicyclists, and recreational users;
J. costs and benefits of constructing a grade
separation and the cost participation that would be required of each of the
parties involved, as well as the availability of funds; and
K. public opinion regarding construction of
the grade separation.
Subp.
3.
Approval of structure plans.
Plans for structures that provide grade separations must be
approved by the commissioner under part
8830.2800.
