IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

PO. Box 7129
Boise ID 83707-1129
(208)334-8000
itd.idaho.gov

February 15, 2005

Transportation Board
Charles Winder
Chairman
Mr. Stephen Moreno
Division Administrator, Idaho Division
Federal Highway Administration
3050 Lakeharbor Lane, Suite 126
Boise, 10 83703-6217

John X. Combo
Vice Chairman
District 6

John McHugh
District 1
Attention: Richard A. Scarr

Bruce Sweeney
District 2
RE: Project No. STX 9833(800), Milwaukee Street Railroad Crossing; Key No. 9142

Monte McClure
District 3

Gary Black
District 3

Neil Miller
District 4

Dear Mr. Moreno:
Attached for FHWA approval is a Request for Experimentation: In-Roadway Flashing Light System at Rail-Highway Crossing on Milwaukee Street in Boise, Idaho. If there are any questions, please contact Joseph H. Peagkir at 334-8561.

David Ekern, P.E.
Director
Sincerely,
Sue Huggins
Board Secretary
Lance Johnson, P.E.
Traffic and Highway Safety Engineer

REQUEST FOR EXPERIMENTATION:
IN-ROADWAY FLASHING LIGHT SYSTEM AT RAIL-HIGHWAY CROSSING

In cooperation with the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad Company and Ada County Highway District, the Idaho Transportation Department proposes to participate in a rail-highway crossing safety experimental project to determine if a psychological barrier created by illuminated red flashing in-roadway warning lights can result in a favorable behavioral change in motorists approaching a railroad crossing when a train is approaching.

Statement of the Problem

Each year the Idaho Transportation Department compiles data concerning train-vehicle collisions at rail-highway grade crossings and publishes findings in its Idaho Rail-Highway Crash Bulletin.

The table below depicts train-vehicle collision data for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004:

The data collected indicates that most crashes are attributed to motorists' disregard of warning devices, inattentiveness or other vehicle code violations.

The site identified for this experimentation is the Milwaukee Ave, Boise, Idaho, Crossing Number 906394X. This nearly right angle crossing accommodates 5 lanes in the southbound direction and 2 lanes in the northbound direction. There are no gates, due to the width of the crossing. The crossing signal heads are mounted on an overhead structure. A high volume signalized intersection located just to the south of the crossing detracts from the crossing signals. Observations at this site indicate that vehicles park on the crossing/track almost every traffic signal cycle. During railroad preemption, the vehicles do not obey the railroad signal and keep crossing the tracks in front of the oncoming train. This crossing also averages one crash per year due to inattention.

The red in-roadway flashing warning lights should create a psychological deterrent to drivers at the grade crossing and will result in a reduction of train-vehicular conflicts. Also, the installation of a new experimental grade-crossing system acconunodates the installation of the Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lights in its edge beam. The edge beam of the "BODAN" system runs parallel to the track on both sides of the crossing. The `BODAN" system is manufactured by Transpo Industries, Inc.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for Streets and Highways, 2003 Edition, Section 4L-01, provides only for In-Roadway Lights at pedestrian crossings. Adoption of the red InRoadway Lights for railroad crossings would require a change to this section and possibly Section 10D.

Performance Measures
Project Goal:

The goal of this safety experimental project is to enhance public safety at rail-highway grade crossings through implementation of innovative technology.

Project Objective

The first objective of this experiment is to determine any change in behavior among motorists approaching and passing over the crossing when the lights are activated.

Proposed Solution

The In-Roadway Flashing Lights will activate upon actuation of the active grade crossing warning system and shall cease operation at the termination of the active grade crossing warning system.

The In-Roadway Flashing Lights will display a flashing red signal indication when activated. The flash rate for In-Roadway Flashing Lights shall be at least 50 but not more than 60 flash periods per minute. The flash rate shall not be between 5 and 30 flashes per second to avoid frequencies that might cause seizures.

When the In-Roadway Flashing Lights are installed on multiple lane roadways, the minimum number of lights installed on the travel lanes will be two times the number of lanes plus one. The lights should be installed in the center of each travel lane and at each edge of each travel lane.

The In-Roadway Flashing Lights will be installed 5 to 12 feet from the nearest rail at the crossing and for the full width of the roadway along both sides and parallel to the tracks.

Project Evaluation

The crossing will be video taped for a minimum of eight (8) hours, both during daylight and darkness and at peak traffic volumes, before the installation, and edited to document driver behavior. Thirty days after the installation of the "BODAN" crossing system, the crossing will be video taped for another eight (8) hours, both during daylight and darkness and at peak traffic volumes, and edited to document driver behavior. Another two (2) hour video tape will be made in 6 to 8 months, 12 to 14 months, and 18 to 20 months after installation, both during daylight and darkness and at peak traffic volumes, and edited to document driver behavior.

Reporting

The proposed study period will be eighteen (18) months. Four (4) reports will be prepared and submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The initial report will be prepared upon completion of the pre-installation video taping sequence. Post-installation reports will be prepared at six (6) months and twelve (12) months, due to the FHWA within three (3) months after the study periods. The final evaluation report will be completed and submitted to the FHWA within three (3) months of the end of the experimentation period. If the use of the In-Roadway Lights is found to be effective, the final report will include recommended changes to the MUTCD.

Site Restoration

Each participating agency agrees to restore the experiment site to a state complying with the provisions of the MUTCD:

• within three (3) months following the end of the time period of the experiment, or
• at any time that a participating agency determines that significant hazards are directly or indirectly attributable to the experimentation, or
• if requested to do so by the Federal Highway Administration. Restoration will include deactivation of the In-Roadway Flashing Lights.

If, as a result of experimentation, a request is made that the Manual be changed to include the red InRoadway flashing lights at railroad crossing, then the experimental device may remain in place until an official rulemaking action has occurred.

BODAM Highway/Railroad
Grade Crossing System

BODANO is a unique precast reinforced polymer concrete crossing system used for highwaylnei crossings.

Unlike other crossings, BODAN® does not rely on railroad ties for attachment or supportThe modular design allows for easy removal to perform routine tract Inspection and maintenance.

Since BODANO uses a bridge design concept, the vehicle axle loads are transferred directly to the bridge rails. Panel tests show they are capable of withstanding loads in excess of 44,000 lbs.

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Durable: Modular precast polymer concrete impervious to salt, diesel fuel and moisture
Unique: Only system with optional imbedded LED warning lights
A Crossing Unhts.ndf UI Drawl f
Accessible: No lag bolts needed, the modular panels bridge to the rails

Easy: Panels can be removed for routine track maintenance
Strong: Steel reinforcements support HS 25 traffic The BODAN® system accommodates curved as loads wei as multiple track crossings, switches and sidewalks. The components may be custom~ Safe: Lifetime sbd-resistant surface molded to match your site.

Home About Us Safety Distributor Materials Precast Contact

BCDAN® level Crossing Luminaires

Applications: Railroad Crossing, Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety, Traffic Delineation, Tunnel, Platform Edge

Luminaire: Flush (zero elevation above ground level)

Light Source: Two LUXEON Star LEDs

Light Pattern: Bidirectional, Wide

Photometrics: From 5° to 80° in vertical plane; ± 65° in horizontal plane in each direction. Peak intensity 15 candelas.

Colors: RED AMBER GREEN CYAN BLUE 7I
Electrical: LED power consumption 2.5-watts. Power inputs 120/240 volts AC; or low voltage operation AC/DC from 9-volts to 24-volts, polarity independent.
Mechanical: Drive over, snow plow proof, weatherproof, completely sealed against road salts & chemicals, shock and vibration resistant, 2.5 inch 0, 1.46 inches deep, weight 6-ounces

20 Jones Street, New Rochelle. NY 10901-6098
Tel.914.636.1000 fax. 914.636.1282 www.transpo.com

The Only Gra . system
With Built-in = . arnin Lights

TRANS'S, 8oden Level-Crossing %day· . NOArml0ht *ow concrete l ,brir lge* between U rails end require no %wening to the cross ties. The nnddilar panels are mei*nence tree. Theyre designed for high fed-marrying fir, impervious to set spray, moisture or diesel kW : and come with a skid and wean reestant surfece.The iced wwrwig fights alert epproacft vehicles end era coc 'moue on bath sides of he crossing. mis could eliminate the need for quad at crossings.

TRANSPOO
INDUSTRIES, Inc.
The Smart Solutions Company Tel 914-636-1000 Fax 914-636-1282

U.s. Pam
+doe 6.786.E and 5.808.764

Cell 1-10.3!1-7171 or visit us on our web site at ewrrrtmnup.c $ Bt~DAN~
For Further Information On The Bodan Level Crossing System

BODAN Polymer Concrete Panels

The Polymer concrete material used for precasting the Bodan modular panel consists of an acrylic resin composite and specially formulated aggregate fillers. This highly formulated polymer concrete exhibits unique physical property performance characteristics vastly superior to those of Portland cement. Polymer Concrete is highly resistant to water and salt penetration thus preventing corrosion of the reinforcing bar and deterioration of the concrete.

Transpo has been manufacturing Polymer concrete material systems and precasts at its Castek facility in Berwick, PA for over 15 years. We have supplied polymer concrete materials for the repair of bridges, airport tarmacs, parking structures and commercial buildings. Precast Polymer concrete products include tunnel wall liners, retroreflective Jersey barriers, curbing, utility box covers, corrosion resistant drains, high voltage insulators, roof pavers, acid cells, architectural facia panels and BODAN modular panels.

The BODAN modular precast polymer concrete panels are maintenance free. They are impervious to salt spray, moisture or diesel fuel and have a lifetime skid resistant granular surface. The panels are designed for high load-carrying capacity with compressive strengths in excess of 14,000 psi.

As an added safety feature, red LED warning lights to alert approaching vehicles, are molded into the edge beam of the BODAN system which runs parallel to the track on both sides o the crossing.

20 Jones Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801-6098
Tcl. 914.636.1000 . Fax: 914.636.1282 . Web: www.transpo.com
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Milwaukee St. MC RR Crossing, Boise, ID
Milwaukee St. INPC RR Crossing, Boise, ID