Railroad Safety Standards and Clearance Requirements, Definitions for Use in Part II, Public Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings Costs, Standards for Opening and Closing of Public Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings, Installation Criteria and Warning ...

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
14-57.003: Railroad Safety Standards and Clearance Requirements
14-57.010: Definitions for Use in Part II
14-57.011: Public Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings Costs
14-57.012: Standards for Opening and Closing of Public Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings
14-57.013: Installation Criteria and Warning Devices for Public Railroad-Highway Grade Crossings
14-57.014: Rail Corridor Crossing Management

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 36 No. 39, October 1, 2010 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

In response to comments from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee, Chapter 14-57, F.A.C., is being amended to remove all references to any possible future amendments to incorporated materials, Department recommendations, and a non-functioning website. The proposed rule has also been rewritten to clarify language, and incorporate Form 850-040-20 through Rule 14-57.014, F.A.C.

14-57.003

(e) Applicability.

1. The clearances prescribed in this rule shall not apply to building structures or facilities constructed or relocated adjacent to any tracks prior to September 17, 1953, and to all tracks therein.

2. The clearances prescribed in this rule shall not apply to the extension of tracks or the adjacent buildings, structures, or facilities provided the track or buildings or structure or facility to be extended was constructed prior to September 17, 1953.

14-57.013

(2) Minimum Active Grade Crossing Traffic Control Devices. All new public railroad-highway grade crossings shall have, as a minimum, roadside flashing lights and gates on all roadway approaches to the crossing, usually placed on the right of approaching traffic. Lamp units shall be in accordance with the standards recommended by the MUTCD. The location of the roadside flashing lights and gates shall be in accordance with the Department’s Design Standards for Design, Construction, Maintenance and Utility Operations on the State Highway System, “Railroad Grade Crossing Traffic Control Devices,” with the primary emphasis being the visibility of the flashing lights and gates. The Department’s 2010 Design Standards for Design, Construction, Maintenance and Utility Operations on the State Highway System, “Railroad Grade Crossing Traffic Control Devices,” is hereby incorporated by this rule and made a part of the rules of this Department. Copies of this document and any amendments thereto are available at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/officeofdesign.

(3) Cantilevered Flashing Lights. The Department recommends for rail safety that traffic signals be placed on cantilevers along with grade crossing flashing lights if the original placement of the traffic signal obstructs the visibility of the flashing lights. Pairs of flashing lights placed on cantilevered arms extended over traffic lanes shall be employed when any one or more of the following conditions exist:

(7)(a) When a new public railroad-highway grade crossing over an industrial spur track is allowed a delay in the installation of active grade crossing traffic control devices, the Department will require the crossing to be manually flagged. A delay in the installation of active grade crossing traffic control devices may occur when there are two trains or less per day at the crossing and the Department determines that the characteristics of the highway (e.g., two lanes, the average daily traffic is less than 5000 vehicles, the vehicle operating speed is less than 30 mph) are conducive to requiring a flagman. When train movements require manual flagging at night, the grade crossing must be illuminated. A new railroad-highway grade crossing over an industrial spur track may be considered for a delay in the installation of active grade crossing traffic control devices when train movements are two trains per day or less, and if the Department determines that the characteristics of the highway traffic is conducive to requiring a flagman; the Department will require the crossing to be manually flagged (e.g., two lane highway, average daily traffic is less than 5,000 vehicles, less than vehicular operating speed is less than 30 mph crossing must be illuminated). When train movements require manual flagging at night, the grade crossing must be illuminated.

(8) Public Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Traffic Control Devices. All public railroad-highway grade crossing traffic control devices shall conform to the Department’s Design Standards for Design, Construction, Maintenance and Utility Operations on the State Highway System, “Railroad Grade Crossing Traffic Control Devices.” Copies of this document and any amendments thereto are available at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/officeofdesign.

14-57.014

(4)(c)3. Security Instrument Receipt, Form 850-040-20, Rev. 04/93, must be used, and is incorporated herein by reference in Rule Chapter 14-87. DOT Form 850-040-20 can be obtained from http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rail/ http://www.formserver.dot.state.fl.us/capture/listings/FormList ing.aspx?ListType=FormOffice&office=RAIL or the Central Rail Office, Department of Transportation, 605 Suwannee Street, MS 25, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450.