Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024
(1) The role of the
Diagnostic Team is to make recommendations to the Department for needed safety
improvements at a Crossing.
(2) The
Diagnostic Team reviews and evaluates proposed improvements for all Section 130
Crossing Projects and Non-Section 130 Crossing Projects. The Diagnostic Team
reviews a Crossing when requested by a Highway Authority, Railroad, or Company
when changes in Highway traffic patterns are proposed, when proposed Railroad
traffic is determined to increase significantly, when complaints are made about
a Crossing, when safety concerns arise, or when the Department receives a
closure request. The Department will consider all recommendations made by the
Diagnostic Team and, if appropriate, input received from the public at large
(in accordance with Section
R930-5-13
) before issuing orders for the improvement of Crossings.
(3) The Department may also make formal
findings and rulings as part of its process for evaluating Crossing
improvements or during routine inspection of Crossings, independent of the
Diagnostic Team.
(4) The Diagnostic
Team is usually composed of the following team members:
(a) Chief Railroad Engineer for the
Department;
(b) Representative from
the Railroad;
(c) Representative
from the appropriate Company, if applicable; and
(d) Representative from the Highway Authority
(preferably from engineering or public works), and when available, and where
appropriate public school district, law enforcement agency and invites with an
interest in the Crossing.
(5) The role of the Diagnostic Team is to:
(a) Recommend the elimination of a
Crossing;
(b) Recommend the type of
safety improvements including, but not limited to Passive Warning Devices,
Active Warning Devices, the type of Crossing material, improvements to Highway
approaches, removal of foliage and brush, pedestrian facilities (including
compliance with ADA requirements), and improvements to street
lighting;
(c) Review all requests
for a new Crossing;
(d) Review all
requests to reclassify a Crossing from private to public;
(e) Recommend the Department conduct an
engineering study to evaluate the need for a new overpass or other grade
separation structure(s); and
(f)
Recommend any other safety related changes to improve vehicle and pedestrian
safety.
(6) Duties of
Diagnostic Team members generally include participating in Crossings reviews
and providing input into the Diagnostic Team recommendations. Specific duties
include, but are not limited to the following:
(a) The Chief Railroad Engineer will, when
applicable:
(i) Select a Section 130 Crossing
Project from a corridor study, or based on a Highway Authority, Railroad, or
Company request;
(ii) Schedule and
notify Diagnostic Team members, and the FHWA, of the date and time of an
upcoming review;
(iii) Conduct
Crossing review and issue related reports in a reasonable time after the review
and send copies to all those attending the review;
(iv) Review and approve Crossing improvements
recommended by the Diagnostic Team;
(v) Determine Section 130 apportionments for
Crossing projects;
(vi) Initiate
all Notices of Intended Action for Crossing projects, as appropriate;
(vii) Review and approve the contractual
requirements for Crossing projects using Section 130 Program funding;
(viii) Review all necessary field data
obtained for the Crossing, including but not limited to site plan maps and
photographs of the existing Crossing conditions.
(b) The Railroad representative shall provide
all relevant data related to the Crossing, including, but not limited to train
volumes, accident data and any other pertinent data regarding the
Crossing;
(c) The Highway Authority
representative shall:
(i) Provide relevant
data regarding the Crossing including, but not limited to Highway traffic
volumes, planned road construction activities, and an approved master street
plan for the Highway;
(ii) Invite
local school district if appropriate and request that the local school district
representative provide child access and bus routing plan information;
and
(iii) Invite local law
enforcement agency if appropriate and request that the law enforcement agency
provide relevant data, including, but not limited to any safety concerns about
the Crossing.