Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Title 415 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - LOCAL ASSISTANCE DIVISION
Chapter 6 - Highway-Rail Crossings - Construction, Repair and Maintenance
Section 415-6-003 - CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR RECONSTRUCTED PUBLIC HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSINGS
Universal Citation: 415 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 6 ยง 003
Current through September 17, 2024
003.01 DIAGNOSTIC TEAM REVIEW
A Diagnostic Team Review will be completed to determine the final design for the approach roadway, grade crossing and type of traffic control devices including active warning devices. The determination of the Diagnostic Team Review shall be final. The following minimum design standards shall apply to reconstructed public highway-rail grade crossings.
003.01A APPROACH ROADWAY/CROSSING SURFACING.
The approach roadway and crossing surfacing shall be constructed to conform to
the design standards for new construction applicable to the State functional
classification of the public roadway, or the following standards, whichever are
more stringent.
003.01B CROSSING
SURFACING - WIDTH. The crossing surfacing, from end of tie to end of tie, shall
extend at least two feet beyond the outside edge of the highway surfacing, but
in no case shall the crossing width be less than 20 feet.
003.01C CROSSING SURFACING - HEIGHT. The
surface elevation of the roadway and the top of the railroad tracks shall be
within 1/2 inch of each other, measured between the top of the railroad track
and the plane of the approach roadway 2 feet outside the near rail.
003.01D CROSSING SURFACING - BETWEEN RAILS.
The highway-rail grade crossing must be solidly constructed with no openings
except as necessary for operation of the railroad track. The crossing surfacing
shall be made of durable material and the elevation of the surfacing shall be
within 1/2 inch of the top of the rail. Durable materials shall mean timber,
asphalt, concrete or equivalent.
003.01D1 The
following types of crossing surface systems between rails shall be the minimum
required:
| Exposure Factor | Surfacing |
| 0-3000 | Timber or Asphalt |
| 3000 & Above | Concrete or Equivalent |
003.01E ROADWAY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT. The
crossing surface shall be on the same plane as the top of the rails for a
distance of 2 feet outside the rails. The surface of the approach roadway shall
not be more than 3 inches higher or lower than the top of the nearest rail at a
point 30 feet from the rail. Vertical curves shall be used to traverse from the
roadway grade to a level plane at the elevation of the rails.
003.01F TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. Traffic
control devices must be placed as shown in the MUTCD, and such devices shall be
of a type, size, and construction that conform to MUTCD requirements. Active
warning devices shall be considered the minimum required devices necessary for
locations with an exposure factor of 3,000 or above, a minimum of 100 vehicles
per day, and when any one of the following conditions is present:
003.01F1 Clearing sight distance not meeting
the requirements of Section 003.01G.
003.01F2 Multiple tracks.
003.01F3 Approach angle of roadway and tracks
varying from 90 degrees by 15 degrees or more.
003.01G CLEARING SIGHT DISTANCE. Clearing
sight distance is defined as the distance a stopped driver must be able to see
down the tracks in both directions from a distance of 15 feet from the near
rail in order to move his or her vehicle safely across the tracks to a point 15
feet past the far rail, prior to arrival of a train. The required clearing
sight distance along both directions of the track, from the stopped position of
the vehicle, is dependent upon the maximum train speed and the acceleration
characteristics of the "Design Vehicle." The table values are for a level, 90
degree crossing of a single track. The Diagnostic Team shall evaluate
circumstances not meeting these requirements and adjust the table accordingly.
003.01H HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT. Public
highway-rail crossings shall be constructed so that the highway intersects the
tracks at a right angle (90 degrees) with no public highway intersections or
driveways on railroad property or within 100 feet of the o utside rail.
Railroad access drives and maintenance of way service roads are excluded from
this requirement.
003.02 RELAXATION OF STANDARDS
A relaxation of the standards set out in Section 003.01 of this chapter will be considered only if a written request is submitted to the Department by a professional civil engineer licensed to practice in the State of Nebraska. The engineer shall state in writing that the engineer is familiar with the standards set out in these rules and with all the relevant aspects of the proposed crossing necessary to design a crossing that will function safely. The engineer shall also provide:
(1) A
detailed explanation of why the standard for which a relaxation is requested is
not practicable or economically feasible and why the standard should not apply
to the proposed crossing, and
(2)
A statement that the design of the crossing to be constructed has been examined
by the engineer and the engineer believes that the crossing will function
safely as designed.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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