BNSF Railway Public Projects and Grade Crossing Safety APWA - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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BNSF Railway – Public Projects and Grade Crossing Safety

APWA Chicago Metro Division

Calvin Nutt – Manager Public Projects – IA, IL, WI November 18, 2015

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Agenda

• BNSF Public Projects Overview
• Crossing Safety
• At-Grade Crossing Consolidation
• Interconnection/Preemption
• Pedestrian Concerns
• Grade Separations
• Permitting
• Public Projects Department vs. Jones Lang LaSalle
• Contractor Safety

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BNSF Overview

• 32,500 miles of track
• 28 States, 3 Canadian

Provinces

• 47,000 Employees
• Average 1,600 trains/day
• 10 million carloads in 2014
• 50 million packages each

holiday season

• 500 miles/gallon for 1 ton of

freight

• 8,000 locomotives
• 13,000 bridges
• 25,700 Grade Crossings

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BNSF Public Projects Team

Public Crossing Statistics

• Chicago Area
• 105 At-Grade
• 31 Overpasses
• 84 Underpasses
• Illinois
• 1,500 At-Grade
• 168 Overpasses
• 206

Underpasses 2015 Projects Total = $88MM

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Public Projects Overview

Project Types

• Roadway Realignments/Widening
• Grade Separations
• Signal Installations
• Surface Installations
• Grade Crossing Closures
• Improvement projects paralleling BNSF ROW
• Quiet Zones
• Multi-use paths

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Public Projects Overview

• Responsibilities
• Project Administration
• Conceptual or Preliminary Plan Approval
• Internal BNSF Coordination on Agency Projects
• Facilitating plan review
• Project meetings
• Project scheduling
• Agreement Negotiations
• Contractor Onboarding
• Preconstruction Meeting
• Project Hand-Off

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Grade Crossing Safety

Highway-railroad grade crossing safety is an integral part of BNSF’s operation and culture and involves the daily cooperative effort of many employees

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Grade Crossing Safety

Crossing Facts

• It takes a fully loaded freight train moving 50 mph approximately 1

½ miles to come to a complete stop

• Motorists are 40 times more likely to die in a crash with a train than

with a motor vehicle

• Trains can’t swerve – travel on set route
• Large objects appear to be traveling slower than reality
• Any time is train time
• Varied levels of warning devices
• Most train/vehicle crashes are preventable

Crossing Statistics

• 52% of BNSF crossing collisions occur at active-warning crossings

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Grade Crossing Safety

Nearly all grade crossing collisions are caused by motorist error

Drove Around Gate: 212 (13%)

Did Not Stop 593 (36%)

Sources: AAR Analysis of Highway-Rail Incident Database for 2013 (March 2014). FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2010, Table 8-6. Note: Motor vehicle highway-rail incidents at public crossings.

Stopped on Tracks: 482 (29%)

Stopped, Proceeded 71 4% Other 228 (14%)

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Grade Crossing Safety

Warning Classes

• Passive (Cross Bucks, Yield Signs, Stop Signs)
• Active (Traffic Signals, Flashing Lights, Lights and Gates,

Four-Quadrant Gates)

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Grade Crossing Safety

Crossing Consolidation

• The safest at-grade crossing is ALWAYS no at-grade crossing
• BNSF Program to reduce at-grade crossings
• Started in 2000
• Currently 30-35 team members
• Built on Education, Engineering, and Enforcement
• Successfully eliminated 6,000 crossings
• Any at-grade crossing is a potential closure, and any closure is beneficial

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Grade Crossing Safety

Crossing Interconnect/Preemption

• BNSF supports installation of new preemption as well as

improvements to existing preemption

• Road authority determines required preemption time and

requests from BNSF

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Grade Crossing Safety

Quiet Zones

• FRA Train Horn Rule establishes

requirements for use of horn when approaching at-grade crossings

• Public authorities may establish

Quiet Zones in accordance with FRA rule (Pt. 222 of 49 CFR)

• Public Authority is the owner of the

process

• BNSF is involved in the process

and encourages SSM’s at every crossing to create a sealed corridor

• SSM’s include four-quadrant

gates, closure, and medians

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Grade Crossing Safety

Pedestrian Treatments

• New Chapter 8D approved for next publication of MUTCD
• Will be used for future roadway reconstruction,

streetscape, and commuter platform projects

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Grade Separations

• Railroads can be obligated to contribute

5% to initial grade separations.

• Additional funding potential if

multiple at-grade crossings are eliminated

• 5% number does not include

aesthetic components, additional landscaping, etc.

• All grade separations must meet the

requirements of the BNSF/UP Grade Separation Guidelines

• Highway structure typically more

feasible than railway structure

• Lower loads
• Shorter span
• Higher maximum allowable grade

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Municipality Project Coordination

BNSF is involved in

• Design
• Permitting
• Right-of-Way
• Contract Negotiation
• Contractor Safety
• Construction Inspection/Coordination

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Permitting with BNSF

Temporary Occupancy and Utility Permits

• Pipelines, utilities, surveys, geotech, etc.
• Handled by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)
• 6-8 weeks to obtain
• $750 processing fee (approx.)
• $2,500 permit fee (approx.)
• Permit outlines insurance, flagging, safety, etc.
• Information at www.bnsf.com/communities/faqs/permits-

real-estate/

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Public Projects vs. JLL

When do you use BNSF Public Projects vs. JLL?

• Public Projects
• Grade separations, roadway widening, new crossings,

crossing reconfiguration/reconstruction, quiet zones, closures, etc.

• JLL
• Surveys, geotech, utilities, permits, maintenance ROE

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Contractor Safety

Flagging Requirements

• Work within 25 feet of track centerline
• Work on BNSF ROW
• Work is capable of fouling track
• Within 4’ of track if equipment falls (cranes and

excavators)

• Coordinated through local Roadmaster
• Paid by road authority
• Required through ROE, permit, or C/C1 Agreement

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Contractor Start-Up

• Right of Entry
• Minimum 30 days for ROE, permit, or C/C1 Agreement
• Contractor Orientation
• BNSFContractor.com
• Covers safety requirements when working on BNSF ROW
• Must have card and photo on person when on BNSF ROW
• E-RailSafe
• www.e-railsafe.com
• Personnel screening and security management
• Submittals (overpass/underpass projects)
• Contractor submittal requirements included in Grade Separation

Guidelines

• Submittals require 4 weeks for each review cycle
• Consider consultants and contractors with railroad expertise.

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Questions?

Calvin Nutt Manager Public Projects Minneapolis, MN Calvin.Nutt@BNSF.com