Rail-Highway Crossing Warning Device Life Cycle Cost Analysis

PDFTech ReportDOT-TSC-FRA-80-11FRA-RRS-80-003DOT-TSC-1533Life cycle costingRailroad grade crossingsGrade crossing protection systemsWarning devicesWarning systemsProximity detectorsCost allocationCostsGovernment fundingMaintenance managementUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationHeisler, JenniferMorrissey, JosephInput Output Computer Services IncorporatedUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of ResearchJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)AGR-INFRASTRUCTURE-RailroadsAGR-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Railroad Highway Grade CrossingsNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATIONNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail SafetyNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Rail SafetyNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterThe Highway Safety Acts of 1973 and 1976, and the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 provide funds to individual states to improve safety at public rail-highway crossings. This report was undertaken in support of a U.S. DOT effort to improve the efficient allocation and use of these Federal funds. The report describes the results of a study designed to collect, analyze, and document life cycle costs of active rail-highway crossing warning devices. Life cycle costs were determined from information on installation costs contained in the final billings of rail-highway crossing improvement projects and from data on maintenance costs provided by various states, railroads, and railway associations. Life cycle costs were analyzed by cost components for each of the five Federal Railroad Administration regions. Cost components included pre-engineering, labor, material, and equipment rental costs as well as maintenance costs. Cost variability due to several factors such as number of tracks, crossing location, type of train detection system, and combinations of these variables was analyzed