2013 Session: 518

• Mathematical Modeling Approach to Resource Allocation for Railroad-Highway Crossing Safety Upgrades
  Abstract: In this paper we propose a mathematical model for the resource allocation problem for railroad-highway crossing safety upgrades. The proposed approach is compared to existing methods for resource allocation safety upgrades. The comparison proves that the proposed mathematical modeling approach is more effective than currently used sorting methods.
  Authors: Konur, Dincer; Golias, Mihalis M.; Darks, Brandon
  Authors: Konur, Dincer; Golias, Mihalis M.; Darks, Brandon
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-0128
• Driver Injury Severity Study at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings in the United States
  Abstract: Previous studies on crash modeling at highway-rail grade crossings focused on estimating the relationship between crash frequency and explanatory variables. These studies aimed at exploring the factors which are likely to increase the crash frequencies at highway-rail grade crossings. In recent years, modeling driver’s injury severity at highway-rail grade crossings has received interest. Although previous studies have focused on analyzing driver’s injury severity at highway-rail grade crossings, the research on this issue has been limited. This study aims to develop highway-rail grade crossing driver injury level severity models using a probit model and data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Data from 15,881 highway-rail grade crossing accidents were selected as our final research sample. The explanatory variables are classified into five groups including “Time factor”, “Weather condition”, “Vehicle and Train Information”, “Environment ”, and “Driver’s Information” . Based on the data estimation and marginal analysis results, it was found that the factors significantly impact driver injury severity include peak hour, weather, visibility, vehicle type, vehicle speed, train speed, driver’s age, gender, area type and highway pavement. Marginal analysis was provided to quantitatively explain the marginal effects of each independent variable on each injury level.
  Authors: Hao, Wei; Daniel, Janice R.
  Authors: Hao, Wei; Daniel, Janice R.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-3066
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Effects of Three Advanced Devices on Crash and Gate Breaking Prevention at Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings
  Abstract: This study investigates the effects of three advanced devices including obstacle detector, LED train approaching indicator, and law enforcement camera on the prevention of specific types of traffic incidents at highway-railroad grade crossings (HRGXs). Specifically, the before-and-after effects of the three warning/control devices on the reduction of traffic collisions and gate breaking rates are evaluated. In particular, the interactions among these advanced devices on the safety improvement of HRGXs are respectively analyzed in order to identify the pure effect of each of the three devices and/or a combination of multiple devices. A 15-year crash dataset accompanied with crossing inventory data including the installation history of these three advanced devices were collected for the empirical study. The numerical analysis results indicate that both LED train indicator and enforcement camera have different degrees of positive influence on HRGX safety improvement. However, the obstacle detector is found to be less effective for preventing a traffic collision(s), especially from a cost-effective perspective. Finally, policy implications based on the empirical study are discussed and future research directions are recommended.
  Authors: Hu, Shou-Ren; Lin, Jhy-Pyng
  Authors: Hu, Shou-Ren; Lin, Jhy-Pyng
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-3333
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Advancing Pedestrian Safety at Rail Grade Crossings
  Abstract: Contrary to the declining number of fatalities due to train-vehicle collisions at highway-rail grade crossings, the number of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities at highway- and pathway-rail grade crossings has remained relatively unchanged in the last ten years. While engineering solutions and education and enforcements initiatives have been proposed and implemented, little is known as to their effectiveness to mitigate such incidents. This paper reports on findings from the literature and discussions with professionals in the public and private sectors involved in safety at rail grade crossings. The paper highlights the multitude of factors related to pedestrian safety in this context, and provides an informed discussion for stakeholders to advance safety initiatives.
  Authors: Metaxatos, Paul; Sriraj, P. S.
  Authors: Metaxatos, Paul; Sriraj, P. S.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-2985
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Mathematical Modeling Approach to Resource Allocation for Railroad-Highway Crossing Safety Upgrades
  Authors: Golias, Mihalis
  Authors: Golias, Mihalis
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-0128
• Advancing Pedestrian Safety at Rail Grade Crossings
  Authors: Metaxatos, Paul
  Authors: Metaxatos, Paul
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-2985
• Driver Injury Severity Study at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings in the United States
  Authors: Hao, Wei
  Authors: Hao, Wei
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-3066
• Driver Injury Severity Study at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings in the United States
  Authors: Daniel, Janice
  Authors: Daniel, Janice
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-3066
• Effects of Three Advanced Devices on Crash and Gate Breaking Prevention at Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings
  Authors: Hu, Shou-Ren
  Authors: Hu, Shou-Ren
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 518
  Paper Number: 13-3333