OPERATIONAL TEST OF LOW-COST ACTIVE WARNING SYSTEM FOR LOW-VOLUME HIGHWAY-RAIL INTERSECTIONS IN MINNESOTA

Through this operational test, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) hopes to determine whether a newly developed low-cost active railroad crossing warning system functions as well as traditional active system at low-volume highway-railroad intersections; and to determine whether the low cost system's addition of flashers on advance rail warning signs provides any additional benefits. The high level requirements and much of the design are complete. Six months of system analysis and testing has shown many functions to operate as required but has also raised a few questions. The system is being modified to address these concerns and further analysis and testing will be conducted in the late summer of 2003. Project activities are currently focused on failure modes and effects analysis, hazard analysis, and system validation. The project team is working closely with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in performing the system safety validation. Field tests indicate crossing warning times in the 27 to 28 second range regardless of train speed. The system demonstrated the ability to properly detect a train that stops on the approach and then either proceeds or backs away. During a 33 day mid-project evaluation, the system performed without failure in 493 train encounters. Warning times were within the range of 25 to 30 seconds 98.9% of time and all warning times were 20 seconds or greater. The system accurately tracked daily train movements and maintained global positioning system (GPS) communication at 99.76%. The independent evaluator will conduct another evaluation that encompasses the whole project period including the forthcoming one year operational test. If successful, this newly developed low-cost system offers the opportunity to install active warning systems at 15% the cost of traditional systems. Such a development would significantly increase the number of crossings equipped with active systems. By leveraging emerging technologies, rail crossing safety may soon be provided at a cost previously thought unthinkable.