AADT traffic counts

[Anonymous]

Imagine how well it works for the traffic count to be a multiplier in the secret "formula" to determine which crossings need upgraded. Growth in my area in astronomical yet the traffic counts at all the crossings are at the 1995 levels and have apparently leveled off. I suppose people are flying to there homes in the new subdivisions. Time to find out WHEN and IF they were even done. What CFR is referenced for when a school bus uses a crossing it has to have gates. That's another "missed" stat in the inventories. Also why are all the roads single lanes?

[Anonymous]

Program Prioritization And Evaluation B - 3
P' 2e t
1%e t
e
B.2.4 Final Crash Prediction Equation
The following formula was developed for use in prioritizing highway railroad grade crossing
safety improvements using Part 924, Title 23, United States Code.
t = -9.21 + 1.14Log10 (A(T + 0.5)) + 0.014V + 0.008S - 0.63L
And,
Where,
t = A temporary value used to simplify the mathematical expression.
A = Vehicles per day or Average Daily Traffic (ADT).
T = Average number of trains per day.
V = Posted vehicle speed limit (MPH).
Note - geometry may dictate a lower speed.
S = Maximum train speed (MPH).
= 2.71828182845904523536... (constant)
L = For,
Topic No. 725-080-002 March 2000
Rail Manual
P )'P H
PY
Crossing with active warning devices use L = 1.
Crossing with passive devices or no warning devices use L = 0.
P = Predicted Number Of Crashes Per Year.
The Predicted Number Of Crashes Per Year (P) is adjusted for crash history. Although this
introduces a mathematical bias, it is needed to ensure that all possible hazardous situations
are investigated. The Crash Prediction Model explains less than half of the crash
environment, whereas human failure is almost always involved. Locations experiencing non
predicted crashes should receive special investigation.
The phenomenon of regression toward the mean may apply because a crossing that has two
(2) to three (3) crashes one year may not have any more until it reaches its Actual Predicted
Crash Rate. The Crash History Adjustment Equation always increases (never decreases) the
crash predictor. The following adjustment for crash history is only calculated when the crash
history is greater than the crash prediction.
Where,
P' = Crash prediction adjusted for crash history.
P = Predicted number of crashes per year.
H = Number of crashes for the six (6) year history or since the last warning device
upgrade.
Y = Number of years of crash history.

[Anonymous]

what does the B-3 stand for again.. you kinda lost me after the first word of your original post


Detour kev.

[Anonymous]

The trick is to buy some old junkers and sit them across the tracks because a stalled abandoned vehicle hit gets as many POINTS as if 7 people were killed in the same collision.
Or do like the railroads---Here state people check this green stuff in my hands.

Its like a bingo card -- when all the slots are filled you WIN a set of crossing equipment.

[Anonymous]

Whats fast food in Missouri?
Answer: Hitting a deer at 65 MPH!

[Anonymous]

Train hits truck, killing driver
Selma tow truck operator had tried to stop before crash.
By Louis Galvan
The Fresno Bee
(Published Saturday, June 7, 2003, 5:20 AM)



SELMA -- A tow truck driver was killed Friday when his vehicle collided with a Union Pacific freight train.
The accident occurred at a railroad crossing that has been the scene of five fatalities since 1993, police said.

Marion Edward Coots, 39, who was better known in the Selma community as "Junior" or "JR," died in the crash, family and friends said.

The railroad crossing, at North and Front streets, is the only one in town without gates. The crossing has flashing red signal lights and bells.

Selma Police Chief Thomas Whiteside said his department's investigation is continuing, but preliminary findings show that the warning devices were functioning properly at the time and that the train had sounded its horn as it approached the intersection.

Whiteside said Coots, driving one of four tow trucks co-owned with his partner, Dave Helm, was towing a car west on North when hit by the southbound train.

Whiteside said skid marks indicate Coots attempted "a panic stop" seconds before being struck by the train, which reportedly was traveling about 43 mph.

The tow truck was thrown into the air and landed about 50 feet south of the crossing.

The car being towed also was damaged

Whiteside said investigators have talked to a couple of witnesses but have not determined why Coots apparently got too close to the tracks before he tried to stop.

"At this point, I can't even guess what happened," the chief said Friday.

In addition to two minor injury crashes in 1998, three other fatal crashes have occurred at the crossing since 1993, killing four people, Whiteside said.

The most recent crash occurred on Feb. 17, 2002, killing one person.

Selma Mayor Dennis Lujan, also a longtime Selma City Council member, said the city has been asking Union Pacific officials for more than 10 years to place a crossing gate at the intersection.

Railroad officials have said the city should pay for the crossing gate.

"We tell them that a gate is needed for the safety of the public and that it's their property and that they should pay for it," Lujan said.

Ten years ago, he said, the cost of installing a crossing gate was estimated at $110,000.

He said he didn't know the current cost.

Mark Davis, a spokesman for Union Pacific, said the city, state and railroad should work together to install a crossing gate.

"The warning devices themselves are considered highway signs," Davis said. "If the city is looking for those upgrades, they would work through the state Transportation Department. The state prioritizes what crossings get improvements. They would have final approval."

The train, which was more than one mile long, was headed from Roseville, north of Sacramento, to West Colton near Riverside, Davis said.

No injuries to the two-person train crew were reported.

The accident, which snarled traffic through Selma for nearly three hours, drew dozens of residents to the scene, many of whom knew Coots.

Teresa Johnson, a cousin of his who works as a teacher's aide at Roosevelt Elementary School, said she was getting ready to take her lunch break when she heard about the crash.

"It's so tragic," she said. "His son, Jamie, just graduated from high school [Thursday] night."

She said Coots and Helm did business as Dave's 24-Hour Towing, with their headquarters at the Shell Station on Floral Avenue, just east of Highway 99.

In addition to his son, Coots is survived by his wife, Natalie, and a daughter, Sydney, about 4 years old.

Staff writer Michael Baker contributed to this report. The reporter can be reached at [e-mail] or 441-6139.


----- Original Message -----
From:
To: [e-mail]
Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 4:58 PM
Subject: Train VS. Wrecker


Crossing # 750703W http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/Default.asp (click crossing) run the accident prediction on this crossing. Over 20% a year is showing. This prediction was made without the fatality last year and with a average vehicle daily count that was probably guesstimated in 1988 it looks like. Plug in the real #s to the formula and no telling what the prediction would be. It also looks like there might be parallel roads running side by side with the tracks there. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/ProgMgt/Grants/Sight_Eng.pdf which automatically the crossing fails the FHWA sight triangle requirements if the train is approaching from the rear. There is no way a driver can see the train unless their rear view mirror was out of adjustment. So the intersecting angle of the road and track which is part of the formula should be like 0 degrees not 90 degrees which is part of the formula. Sick system when peoples lives count as points and the winner gets crossing gates which the tax-payers only get reemed with a 100% profit in overcharges made by the railroad putting the equipment in AFTER they have killed a 1/2 dozen people.

In other words the state, county, city, Federal, and railroad officials who are in charge of railroad safety should be in jail for negligient homicide in the murder of a wrecker driver in Selma, California for not haveing the proper crossing equipment in. Where were the lights out over the street? Post mounted crossing signals have been obsolete for years? Where were the advance warning lights? Electrical wire, light sockets, and lights that can be tied into the existing lights are pretty cheap. Kinda like plugging in a extra set of Christmas lights on the tree which is what the crossings should be lit up like a Christmas tree when the trains are around.

[Anonymous]

can't be bothered to read that

shorten it.


Detour kev.

[Jackflash]

Another example of trains sneeking up on drivers
I'll bet that the UP train wasnt blowing its horn
and the headlights wernt on either, also the wrecker driver was new to this location and didnt
know the crossing was there, dont know about you
but I think I wouldnt need to "see" flashing lights or even "see" the train, the horn blowing
would be enough for me to look listen and live !!

[Mookie]

M & M - have you tried the cupcakes - maybe the new brownies!?

Jen

[wabash1]

isnt b-3 a bingo term

[wabash1]

well mike lets look at your post again.

the crossing was protected lights and bells was working. even the horn was working. it is the only crossing in town that had not been equiped with gates. I bet that this crossing was not used as heavy as others in town until they put gates up. then it was the heaviest traveld crossing. why you ask . couse people wanting to beat a train dont want to go around a gate. and even though this train was going 43 mph i bet there is a siding or industry that trains are going thru the town slowly. nothing like being held up by a train when you dont want to be late. i bet he thought the train would be gooing slow so he tried beating it. but suprise it wasnt. and the man found this out to late. flashing red lights mean stop. . in other words the railroad will win this law suit also. there is no reason to have lights out over the street. post mounted lights are still leagle and in use. all the other jibberish you mention only you know about in your mind. in other words sounds like to me if he would of stopped then looked and being a horn was blowing listened. he would be alive. when you find a post from a news paper that says railroad neglagent and the horn wasnt blowing and that the lights wasnt working and that the person stopped and train swerved over and hit the car. then ill jump on your side and fight. you are trying to fight a no win battle here and losing . the railroads are doing just what they haft to just like your boss. pretty simple stuff. go jump on the miners web site im sure they need help suing the company for light dirt cave ins that ruin lunches. and so people cant eat. better yet go t a railroad crossing drive like these people do and see if you get hit and killed then come and tell us what needs to be done and we will help you then. this way you have first hand knowladge of the so called crime.

[Anonymous]

Let's see Mike is nor Missouri. Roadside signals haven't been used in years. Why? Because they are easily obstructed by vehicles and vegetation. Who said the crossing lights were working?