South AvenueSouth AvenueVillage of ManchesterVillage of Manchester

Ontario County, NYOntario County, NY

Tom Lichtenthal, PETom Lichtenthal, PEEastern Region Rail Crossing SafetyEastern Region Rail Crossing Safety

ConferenceConferenceOctober 3, 2007October 3, 2007

Crossing Profile DeficiencyCrossing Profile DeficiencyMitigationMitigation

Project Design TeamProject Design Team

NYSDOT Region 4Rick Papaj, Project LiaisonCharles McGarry, Railroad Coordination

Ontario CountyWilliam Wright, Commissioner of Public Works

Christopher Day, County Bridge Engineer

Bergmann AssociatesMark McAnany, Principal in Charge

Tom Lichtenthal, Project Manager

RR Tracks

Project LocationProject Location

No

rth

No

rth

ShortsvilleShortsville

ManchesterManchester

Route

21R

oute21

SouthAve

SouthAve

Route 21Route 21RailroadRailroadCrossingCrossing

South AveSouth AveRailroadRailroadCrossingCrossing

High SchoolHigh School

SouthA

venue

Ontario Central RR Tracks

South AveSouth AveRailroadRailroadCrossingCrossing

Existing ConditionsExisting Conditions

••Local Village StreetLocal Village Street••30 mph posted speed30 mph posted speed

••900 vehicles per day900 vehicles per day••4 school buses cross per day4 school buses cross per day

Existing ConditionsExisting Conditions

13 %13 %gradegrade

••Only 40 ft.Only 40 ft.Stopping SightStopping SightDistanceDistance

••Passive Railroad CrossingPassive Railroad CrossingControlControl

Project HistoryProject History

Public MeetingPublic Meeting•• Community preferred atCommunity preferred at--gradegrade

railroad crossing on Route 21railroad crossing on Route 21

Public HearingPublic Hearing•• Administrative Law JudgeAdministrative Law Judge

JudgeJudge’’s Decisions Decision•• Approved atApproved at--grade railroadgrade railroad

crossing on Route 21crossing on Route 21•• Required safety improvementsRequired safety improvements

to South Avenueto South Avenue

Route 21 –Existing

Route 21 –Photo simulation

Railroad FactsRailroad Facts

••Ontario Central Railroad (ONTC)Ontario Central Railroad (ONTC)

•• Short Line Rail Service with 1 to 2 trains per weekShort Line Rail Service with 1 to 2 trains per week

••Class 2 Mainline track (25 mph Max., 10 mph Avg.)Class 2 Mainline track (25 mph Max., 10 mph Avg.)

••Approx. 150 commercial deliveries per yearApprox. 150 commercial deliveries per year

••Typical TrainTypical Train ––1 engine with 3 to 4 cars1 engine with 3 to 4 cars

AASHTO Design CriteriaAASHTO Design Criteria

No more than a 3 inch deflection in 30 feet.No more than a 3 inch deflection in 30 feet.

AASHTO Design CriteriaAASHTO Design CriteriaProvide AppropriateProvide AppropriateTrain Sight DistanceTrain Sight Distance

222 ft.

248

ft.

Train (25 mph)

Vehicle(30 mph)

Sight line

Obstruction

AREMA Design ConsiderationsAREMA Design Considerations

•• Tangent roadway alignment as much as possibleTangent roadway alignment as much as possible•• Tangent RR alignment as much as possibleTangent RR alignment as much as possible•• Consistent number of travel lanes and lane widthsConsistent number of travel lanes and lane widths

as approach pavementas approach pavement•• No turn lanes at crossingNo turn lanes at crossing•• No parking lanes at crossingNo parking lanes at crossing•• Limit number and location of driveways near crossingLimit number and location of driveways near crossing•• Provide consideration for bikes, pedestrians and ADAProvide consideration for bikes, pedestrians and ADA•• Remove roadway crown at crossingRemove roadway crown at crossing•• Crossing surface should be 1 foot wider then approach pavingCrossing surface should be 1 foot wider then approach paving•• Assure top of rail and top of paving is at same elevationAssure top of rail and top of paving is at same elevation•• Provide 60 inch wide level plane outside both rails before gradeProvide 60 inch wide level plane outside both rails before grade

breaks on approach roadway profilesbreaks on approach roadway profiles•• Finished grade shall deflect no more then 3 inches + orFinished grade shall deflect no more then 3 inches + or -- within 30within 30

feet of rails (taken from AASHTO)feet of rails (taken from AASHTO)•• Provide suitable warning devices and signageProvide suitable warning devices and signage•• Provide heavy duty crossing surfaceProvide heavy duty crossing surface

AREMA = American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association

NYSDOT Design CriteriaNYSDOT Design Criteria

215 ft.40 ft.215 ft.Min. Stopping SightDist.

7.6%13%15%Max. Grade

4 ft.*4 ft.5 ft.Min. Shoulder Width

11 ft.11 ft.10 ft.Min. Lane Width

30 mph30 mph30 mphDesign Speed

ProposedExistingDesignStandard

Design Criteria

* Retained as non-standard feature

New Road ProfileNew Road Profile

Raised Road 6 ft.

15 ft.

Flat crossing areaProposed Profile

7.6%13%

Check Clearance to Overhead Wires

South Avenue ImprovementsSouth Avenue Improvements

ProfileProfileImprovementsImprovements

Railr

oad

trac

ks

Concrete trackConcrete trackcrossing surfacecrossing surface

New RailroadNew Railroadgates, bells,gates, bells,

flashersflashers

ElectricSub-station

450 ft.

Traffic DetourTraffic Detour

South AveSouth AveRailroadRailroadCrossingCrossingClosureClosure

South AveSouth AveDetourDetourRouteRoute

ManchesterManchester

No

rth

No

rth

ShortsvilleShortsville

Route 21Route 21RailroadRailroadCrossingCrossing

Concrete crossingConcrete crossingMax. 7 day suspensionof train traffic or face

liquidated damages of$2000/day

Concrete crossingConcrete crossing

Concrete crossingConcrete crossingStartrack Crossing

Concrete crossingConcrete crossing

Concrete crossingConcrete crossing

Both South Avenue and Route 21crossings reopened to train traffic

in 10 days!

Continuous Welded RailContinuous Welded Rail

South Avenue TodaySouth Avenue Today

South Avenue TodaySouth Avenue Today

6 feet

South Avenue TodaySouth Avenue Today

South Avenue TodaySouth Avenue Today

South Avenue TodaySouth Avenue Today

Duration: 4 Months (coordinated with Route 21)

Cost: $ 350,000

Materials:Earth Fill 2,500 Cubic YardsAsphalt 400 TonsConcrete Crossing 40 linear feet (Startrack Crossing)

Signals Automated signal with flashers, gates andbells

Contractor: Sealand Contractors (General)

G.W. Peoples (Railroad Track and Crossing)

Saratoga RR Engineering (Railroad Signals)

Project FactsProject Facts

Questions?Questions?

Tom Lichtenthal, PETom Lichtenthal, PEEastern Region Rail Crossing SafetyEastern Region Rail Crossing Safety

ConferenceConferenceOctober 3, 2007October 3, 2007

Crossing Profile DeficiencyCrossing Profile DeficiencyMitigationMitigation