Communications, Signals & Information Technology Functional Group

Technical Committee 36 – Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Warning Systems

The purpose of this committee is to develop concepts, provide information and recommend practices for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of highway-railroad grade crossing warning equipment and systems.

Chair

Shawn Hall

Assistant Director Signal Design

BNSF Railway

Email: shawn.hall@bnsf.com

Vice Chair

Dale R. Hill

Sr. Resident Project Manager

Alfred Benesch & Company

Email: dhill@benesch.com

Secretary

David C. Flores

Asst. Chief Engineer Signal Design

Keolis Commuter Services

Email: David.Flores@Keoliscs.com

Subcommittees and Current Assignments

Subcommittee 1: Warning Systems Controls.

  • Responsible for updating AREMA C&S Manual Parts concerning warning system control circuits.  
  • Evaluating industry practices on the interconnection of grade crossing warning systems with nearby traffic signal intersections including the use of pre-signals. 
  • Responsible for development of new recommended practices for new grade crossing warning system technology. 
  • Responsible for review of grade crossing control product changes and safety improvements to ensure recommended practices are current with state of the practice. 
  • Studying the requirements/recommendations of autonomous vehicles and what design/manufacturing requirements will need to be met to comply with FHWA and FRA guidelines.

Subcommittee 2: Warning System Installation and Maintenance.

  • Responsible for updating AREMA C&S Manual Parts that are related to the installation and maintenance of warning systems. 
  • Develop a recommended practice for the layout and coverage of vehicle detection sub-systems
  • Develop pathway grade crossing warning device layout recommendations, including the use of swing gates, and other pedestrian treatments. This effort needs to be coordinated with the standards and guidance recommendations being made in the pending MUTCD. 
  • Monitor FRA Activation Failure data to determine if changes in recommended practices are warranted to reduce malfunctions (on-going assignment).

Subcommittee 3: Warning System Equipment.

  • Reviewing recent findings in the industry concerning in-rush currents in LED arrays causing catastrophic failures of relay contacts. The study will lead to revision to Design Criteria manual parts to mitigate the problems.
  • Studying the requirements/recommendations of autonomous vehicles and what design/manufacturing requirements will need to be met to comply with FHWA and FRA guidelines.