EVALUATION OF ENHANCED TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT HIGHWAY-RAILROAD GRADE CROSSINGS

This project evaluated the effectiveness of two previously developed enhanced sign systems at passive highway-railroad grade crossings (developed in Texas Department of Transportation Project 0-1469). The first enhanced sign system consisted of a YIELD sign [Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) R1-2] with the supplemental message plate TO TRAINS. The second enhanced sign system consisted of a vehicle-activated flashing yellow strobe or flashing yellow beacon mounted above a railroad advance warning sign (MUTCD W10-1) in combination with a new yellow warning sign that reads LOOK FOR TRAIN AT CROSSING. The goal of the enhanced sign systems was to increase driver awareness, resulting in more cautious behavior when approaching the grade crossing. Before and after speed studies were conducted, and on-site interviews were conducted near the sites of the LOOK FOR TRAIN AT CROSSING enhanced sign systems. The project results indicate that neither of the enhanced sign systems harmed the drivers or negatively influenced their approach speeds to the grade crossings. Ninety percent of survey respondents at the four sites surveyed noticed the flashing lights at the approaches to the railroad-highway grade crossings.