Rail Corridor Trespass Severity Assessment

2019Final Report, August 2016 to February 2019PDFTech ReportFHWA/NC/2017-15NCDOT RP 2017-15Crash risk forecastingHigh risk locationsPedestrian safetyRailroad crashesRailroad safetyRight of way (Land)Spatial analysisSurveysTrespassersRailroad TrespassingPedestriansSafetyNorth CarolinaUnited StatesNorth Carolina. Dept. of TransportationSearcy, SarahCunningham, Chris M.Vaughan, Christopher L.Avr, AzhaganCoble, DanielNorth Carolina State University. Institute for Transportation Research & EducationNorth Carolina. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Development UnitUS Transportation CollectionThis research project builds on NCDOT RP 2015-18 (\u201cReduction in Railroad Right-of-Way Incidents\u201d). For NCDOT RP 2015-18, the research team analyzed Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-reported trespassing incidents along the 174-mile North Carolina Railroad (NCRR)/Piedmont corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte, NC using strike rates, Amtrak train crew surveys, and geospatial methods to identify communities with the highest risk of railroad right-of-way trespass. Since the FRA started geolocating trespass data in July 2011 through June 2016, this corridor had 65 reported trespasser strikes, or an average of one strike for every 677 trains. Based on an analysis of historic trespass strike data, associated environmental features, and survey data provided by Amtrak train crews who travel along the portion of the NCRR under study, the communities with the highest trespass risk were identified as Durham, Mebane, Elon/Burlington, and Greensboro. The rate of strikes from the 5 year study period indicated that these communities have the highest risk corridors. The close proximity of pedestrian generators to the railroad in these areas shows some correlation to the high number of strikes. The NCDOT Rail Division currently has no baseline data on the universe of trespassing along the railroad right-of-way in North Carolina beyond limited data on trespass incidents resulting in fatalities and injuries as reported by railroads and the FRA. Using the hotspot locations identified in NCDOT RP 2015-18, NCDOT RP 2017-15 (\u201cRail Corridor Trespass Severity Assessment\u201d) seeks to provide an estimate of the universe of trespassing within the Piedmont corridor via a pilot of static and dynamic thermal video detection.92