Office of Highway Safety Grade Crossing Accident Elmwood Park, Illinois November 23, 2005.
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Transcript of Office of Highway Safety Grade Crossing Accident Elmwood Park, Illinois November 23, 2005.
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Office of Highway Safety
Grade Crossing AccidentElmwood Park, IllinoisNovember 23, 2005
Grade Crossing AccidentElmwood Park, IllinoisNovember 23, 2005
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Office of Highway Safety
IntroductionIntroduction
David S. Rayburn
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Investigative TeamInvestigative Team
• Dan Walsh Highway• Jennifer Morrison Vehicle• Burt Simon Human Performance• Hank Hughes Witnesses• James LeBerte Witnesses• Robert Accetta Forensic Mapping
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Investigative TeamInvestigative Team
• Chris Voeglie Electronic Recorders • Richard Hipskind Railroad Track• Jay Kivowitz Railroad Operations• Ruben Payan Railroad Signals• David Rayburn IIC/Highway• Mark Rosenker Member On-Scene
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Report Development StaffReport Development Staff
• Avis Clark Audio Visual• Robert Molloy Statistical
Research• Gwynne O’Reagan Editor• Julie Perrot Recommendations• Rafael Marshall Project Manager
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Parties To The InvestigationParties To The Investigation
• Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)• Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT)• Village of Elmwood Park• Northern Illinois Regional Commuter Rail
Corporation (METRA)• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)• Cook County Sheriff’s Office
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Safety IssueSafety Issue
Need for a grade separation
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Accident SummaryAccident Summary
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View of CrossingView of Crossing
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75th Avenue
West Grand Avenue
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Office of Highway Safety
HighwayHighway
David S. Rayburn
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Grade Crossing TrafficGrade Crossing Traffic
• Average daily vehicle traffic: 20,900• Average daily train volume: 107
– 82 commuter trains– 25 freight trains
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Crossing FeaturesCrossing Features
Acute angle+ 4 highway lanes+ 3 railroad tracks+ Heavy traffic volume--------------------------------Unique grade crossing
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Signals Preempted by Train TrafficSignals Preempted by Train Traffic
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Right Turns PrecludedRight Turns Precluded
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Desynchronization of Traffic LightsDesynchronization of Traffic Lights
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Grade Crossing Accident HistoryGrade Crossing Accident History
• Forty-five accidents since 1956, resulting in 7 fatalities and 27 injuries
• 2004 and 2005 accidents occurred on Thanksgiving Eve
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Preaccident Mitigation EffortsPreaccident Mitigation Efforts
• 2002: West Grand Avenue crossing the most hazardous in Illinois
• 2002-2005 IDOT/ICC safety efforts– Fiber optic traffic signal system– Public education– Signal coordination program – Overhead sign renewal and pavement
marking installation– Supplemental warning signs
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Postaccident Mitigation EffortsPostaccident Mitigation Efforts
• IDOT, ICC, and Village of Elmwood Park consensus on grade separation
• 2005-2007 IDOT/ICC safety efforts – Track speed reduced to 30 mph– Permanent changeable message warning sign
installed– Traffic signal timing modified– Bus stop east of grade crossing removed
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• 2005-2007 IDOT/ICC safety efforts – Operation Lifesaver efforts increased – Low-mount “Do Not Stop on Track” signs
and amber warning flashers installed – Crosshatch pavement markings within
the crossing area installed
Postaccident Mitigation EffortsPostaccident Mitigation Efforts
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• Purpose: to identify engineering options for improving grade crossing
• Three options identified– Highway overpass– Highway underpass– Lowered highway and raised rail (preferred
option)
• Next step: engineering and environmental assessment study
Feasibility StudyFeasibility Study
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Postaccident Events Postaccident Events
No further accidents since November 2005
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Summary of IssuesSummary of Issues
• Heavy train and vehicle traffic• Multiple traffic lanes and tracks• Skewed crossing angle• Grade crossing boundaries hard to judge• Three other crossings within ½ mile • Other three crossings interconnected,
causing congestion on West Grand Ave.• Result: Queuing of traffic onto tracks
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