GENERAL: The standards and requirements listed in this document are intended for use on provincially regulated railway crossings. These standards are considered the minimum requirements to which existing crossings should be maintained. It is recommended that any new or relocated crossing be designed and constructed in accordance with the more detailed standards outlined in the most recent version of the Canadian Railway-Roadway Grade Crossings Standards (formerly known as RTD-10). RTS 2001.1 CROSSING ATTRIBUTES CROSSING SURFACE: Flangeway Width: Minimum: 65 mm Maximum: 120 mm Flangeway Depth: Thickness: Wear Tolerance: Minimum: 50 mm Maximum: Top of crosstie Dependant on material and attachment method Top of rail to top of surface: ± 25 mm FLANGEWAY SURFACING TIE WIDTH Typical Public Crossing NOTES: 1. Surfacing to be installed so that top of surface is level with top of rails. 2. Surfacing material to be selected to provide stability and wear resistance. 3. Surfacing material must resist excessive flexure. 4. Surfacing material must be securely fastened to prevent movement or removal. 5. Surfacing must extend, at least, to the edge of the shoulder or 500 mm beyond the edge of the travelled lane where there is no shoulder. 1 of 15
CROSSING WIDTH: Crossing surfacing shall extend sufficient width to ensure that vehicles will not run off the edge of the surfacing and become stuck between the rails during normal driving activities. Surfacing width requirements will vary depending upon the type of road being crossed. 1. GRADE CROSSINGS OF ROADS WITH PAVED OR GRAVEL SHOULDERS Crossing surface shall extend to the edge of the road shoulder. Shoulders must be maintained so that they do not extend beyond end of crossing surface. SURFACE MUST EXTEND TO EDGE OF SHOULDER TRAVELLED ROADWAY 2. GRADE CROSSING OF ROADS WITH NO SHOULDERS Crossing surface shall extend a minimum of 500mm beyond edge of travelled way. SURFACE MUST EXTEND MINIMUM 500 mm BEYOND EDGE OF TRAVELLED WAY ON ROADS WITH NO SHOULDER TRAVELLED ROADWAY 2 of 15
APPROACHES: GRADE CROSSING SIGHTLINES: 1. Gradient approaching and leaving a crossing shall not exceed 1 in 20 (5% gradient) for a minimum distance of 25 metres. 2. Crossing shall be level across track and for 1m either side unless track is super-elevated. 3. Approaches shall have provisions to allow free drainage or passage of water from one side of the approach to the other side. All existing grade crossing sight triangles must be clear of any vegetation, structures, etc. that would inhibit sightlines within the distances listed in the Minimum Sightline Diagram on the following page. Topography must also be sufficiently level to allow continual vision of a train on the track within the limits on the following diagram. Locomotives, railcars, or other railway equipment should not be stored or left to stand so as to unnecessarily interfere with sightlines of a train approaching the public grade crossing on another track. Any reductions of the sightlines from those listed will require: a) clearing the sightlines, or b) reducing train or traffic speed so that sightlines are sufficient, or c) installing additional protection at the crossing. 3 of 15
MINIMUM GRADE CROSSING SIGHTLINES: 4 of 15
RTS 2001.2 MINIMUM PROTECTION (SIGNAGE): MANDATORY MINIMUM PROTECTION (Signage): SRCS (Standard Reflectorized Crossing Sign): 1. Mandatory signage is required, as a minimum, at every grade crossing not protected by RTS 2001.4 Additional Protection or RTS 2001.5 High Volume/Risk Protection as detailed later in this standard. 2. Mandatory signage must be installed and maintained by the railway company. 3. All mandatory signage must adhere to standard design and materials as listed below. 4. At no time shall any equipment, sign, fence or permanent or temporary structure be placed within the clearance box of the railway track without the written consent of the railway. 1. All grade crossings shall have the SRCS made of or covered with white retro-reflective material having a reflectivity of reflectivity level 2 (CGSB 62-GP-11M) or better. 2. A 50 mm border of transparent red ink is to be applied onto the retro-reflective material. 200 100 50 1220 5 of 15
ADDITIONAL REFLECTORIZATION OF SRCS: 1. The back of the SRCS is to be reflectorized with 100mm wide strips of diamond grade retro-reflective tape of sufficient length to cover the arms of the SRCS up to the supporting post. 2. Retro-reflective material shall be applied to all SRCS arms, except that arm displaying the mileage. 200 100 50 1220 440 typ. 34.21 6 of 15
225 225 RTS 2001 STOP SIGN: When conditions require a stop sign at a crossing, due to limited sight lines or other restrictions, the stop sign shall be attached to the SRCS support, directly below the SRCS. Unless ordered by the Provincial Railway Inspector, the installation of stop signs at a crossing is at the discretion of, and a joint responsibility of both the Road Authority and the Railway. NUMBER OF TRACKS: Where multiple tracks are located within 30 metres of the main grade crossing, a supplemental number of tracks sign and number tag shall be attached to the SRCS support, directly below the SRCS. 225 2 Dimensions shown for Tabs are minimum acceptable. Dimensions in millimetres. 675 7 of 15
LOCATION OF SRCS: 1. SRCS (standard reflectorized crossing sign) to be located at all public grade crossings and to be clearly visible to oncoming traffic. 2. SRCS are to be installed and maintained by the railway owner. 3. Where existing SRCS signs are not in compliance with these standards, they shall be exempted from these location requirements until such time as they are modified or replaced or they pose a threat to safety due to their location. 4. Signs shall be located between 0.75 metres and 3.25 metres from the face of curb, or outer edge of road shoulder; or, where there is no curb or shoulder, 2.0 metres to 4.5 metres from the edge of the travelled way. 5. SRCS to be located between 3 metres and 5 metres from nearest rail. 6. Railway Crossing Signs shall be located as close as possible to the travelled way of the road within the limits shown, to be clearly visible to all persons approaching the grade crossing on the grade crossing road or intersecting roads. 8 of 15
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ADVANCE WARNING SIGNS (AWS): 1. Where required due to reduced visibility, advance warning signs (AWS) giving warning of a rail crossing ahead or rail crossing and stop ahead shall be posted a distance ahead of the crossbucks as listed in the following table. 2. AWS are to be installed and maintained by and at the cost of the road authority. 3. The use of AWS shall be at the discretion of the road authority, unless otherwise ordered by the railway inspector. Advanced Warning Sign (AWS) Placement Posted Speed (km/h) 50 60 70 80 90 100 Minimum Distance D ahead of crossing sign 30 60 90 115 140 170 with stop signs for AWS (metres) Minimum Distance D ahead of crossing sign without stop signs for AWS (metres) 100 135 170 190 215 240 10 of 15
WHISTLE POSTS: 1. Whistle posts are to be placed so as to require the train whistle to be sounded 20 seconds prior to the train entering the crossing when the train is travelling at track speed, unless otherwise approved by a railway inspector. 2. Whistle posts in place prior to these guidelines must be relocated to ensure the correct warning time is provided to road traffic approaching grade crossings, unless otherwise temporarily approved by a railway inspector. 3. Whistle boards are to be installed adjacent to the rail track outside of the clearance box, but clearly visible to the operating personnel. 11 of 15
RTS 2001.3 DISCRETIONARY SIGNAGE: DISCRETIONARY SIGNAGE: LOOK SIGN 1. Discretionary signage may be added to the SRCS post and/or the AWS post as appropriate upon approval by a railway inspector. 2. Discretionary signage may be ordered installed by the railway inspector where required. 3. All discretionary signage must be listed in this section and adhere to standard design and materials as listed below. 4. At no time shall any equipment, sign be placed within the clearance box of the railway track without the written consent of the railway. Look sign is installed directly below the SRCS (or stop sign where appropriate) to increase driver attention to the need to look in both directions for oncoming train traffic. Look signs are installed where, in the opinion of a railway inspector, additional caution is required by traffic due to partially obscured sightlines (due to topography, structures or vegetation) or driver attention may be distracted or drawn away from the crossing. Look signs are to be installed only at the discretion of a railway inspector, however road authorities or railways may request a recommendation from an inspector. 760 50 300 150 LOOK Dimensions in millimetres 210 210 BUMP AHEAD Bump ahead sign is installed below AWS sign to warn of rough crossing surface. This sign should be temporary until the rough crossing surface is repaired. 12 of 15
RTS 2001.3 ADDITIONAL PROTECTION (LIGHTS & SIGNAGE) ADDITIONAL PROTECTION: THRESHOLDS: Where traffic/train volumes, traffic/train speeds, crossing geometrics or other considerations increase the risk or potential severity of a collision between a train and a road vehicle or pedestrian, additional protection may be required by a railway inspector or in accordance with the threshold criteria listed below. Cross-products in excess of 1000 incidents per day but less than 3000 incidents per day require additional protection in a format consistent this part. CROSS PRODUCT > 1000 AND <3000 Cross Product = (Trains/Day) x (Vehicles/Day) Trains/Day = maximum expected number of trains crossing a given crossing in any continuous 24 hour period, calculated yearly. Vehicles/Day = average annual daily traffic count Upon request by the railway and the road authority, the railway inspector may increase the allowable threshold for an individual grade crossing if he is satisfied that the conditions at that crossing justify such an increase. PERFORMANCE : CONTINUALLY FLASHING LIGHT(S): Additional protection, as used in this section, means lights, signage or any combination thereof that clearly indicates the presence of a railway grade crossing and that provides a reasonable driver with sufficient notice that they may be required to stop. The protection must be clearly visible to oncoming drivers so that they have sufficient time to make a decision and come to a complete stop prior to entering an occupied grade crossing. Any method of protection not listed below must be approved, in writing, by the Minister prior to it being put into use. Amber light(s) mounted on SRCS posts or used as advanced warning signals. Designs and specifications to be approved by railway inspector prior to installation. 13 of 15
ILLUMINATED SIGN(S): Self illuminated signs mounted on SRCS posts or used as advanced warning signs. Designs and specifications to be approved by railway inspector prior to installation. RTS 2001.4 HIGH VOLUME/RISK PROTECTION (AUTOMATIC PROTECTION) AUTOMATED PROTECTION: THRESHOLDS: Automatic protection for grade crossings may be required where high traffic/train volumes, high traffic/train speeds, poor crossing geometrics or other considerations produce a high risk or high potential severity of a collision between a train and a road vehicle or pedestrian. Automatic protection may be required by the railway inspector or in accordance with the threshold criteria listed below. Cross-products in excess of 3000 incidents per day require additional protection in a format consistent with this part. CROSS PRODUCT > 3000 Cross product = (trains per day) x ( vehicles per day) Trains/day = maximum expected number of trains crossing a given crossing in any continuous 24 hour period, calculated yearly. Vehicles/day = average annual daily traffic count Upon request by the railway and the road authority, the railway inspector may increase the allowable threshold for an individual grade crossing if he is satisfied that the conditions at that crossing justify such an increase. PERFORMANCE : Automated protection, as used in this section, means lights, bells, gates or any combination thereof that clearly indicates the presence of a train occupying or approaching a railway grade crossing and that provides a driver with sufficient notice that they will be required to stop. The protection must be clearly visible to oncoming drivers so that they have sufficient time to make a decision and come to a complete stop prior to entering an occupied grade crossing. Protection must be designed so that in case of partial or complete failure of the system, the indication to oncoming vehicles shall indicate the worst case (crossing occupied) condition. 14 of 15
Where appropriate, traffic control lights shall be interlocked with the protection to ensure oncoming traffic is stopped when the protection is activated. Any method of protection not listed below must be approved, in writing, by the Minister prior to it being put into use. FLASHING LIGHTS: FLASHING LIGHTS AND BELLS: Refer to most current AREMA standards for design and specifications. Refer to most current AREMA standards for design and specifications FLASHING LIGHTS, BELLS AND GATES: Refer to most current AREMA standards for design and specifications 15 of 15