Safety Management

Safety Management System

Grade Crossing Improvement Program

The Grade Crossing Improvement Program (GCIP) implements safety projects at railroad grade crossings with public roads. The current federal level of funding for the GCIP is $1,800,000 per biennium. At least one-half of this money must be spent on crossing signals or signal improvements. As of the 2000-2001 Biennial Transportation Improvement Plan (BTIP), no local funds are required for GCIP projects, regardless of the road classification.

     In 1999 there were 982 rail grade crossings in Maine, of which 625 were active grade crossings located at public roads. Of the active crossings, 177 utilize only cross buck signs as protection devices. All other locations use active warning devices (e.g., lights, bells or gates).

     The following links provide specific information about recently funded projects:

     Project selection for the GCIP is based on the condition of the crossings. Each crossing is field reviewed biennially to determine its condition. Click on any of the four criteria used in evaluating each grade crossing to see an example of the questions used to rate the railroad crossings:

• surface condition (pdf);

• sight distance (pdf);

• site characteristics(pdf); and

• crash potential (USDOT equation)(pdf).

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     Values are assigned to the pertinent criteria (i.e. sight distance is not a critical element at a crossing that currently utilizes an active protection device), and the criteria are weighted dependent upon the type of project that would be constructed, as defined below: