State Action Plans National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Training Conference

Transcription

1 State Action Plans. Debra (Dee) Chappell FRA Office of Safety James (Jim) Dahlem FHWA Office of Safety 2015 National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Training Conference

2 Agenda What is an Action Plan? Recent History of State Action Plans Resource Guide Progress of the 10 State Action Plans Model Grade Crossing Action Plan Wrap Up 2

3 ACTION PLANS What is an Action Plan? An Action Plan is the mechanism to implement an organizational strategy or goal. How is it different from a Program Plan or Strategic Plan? Program Plan (or Strategic Plan) Describes what will be done. Action Plan Describes how it will be done. 3

4 History The Railroad Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) of 2008 Required the 10 States with the highest number of grade crossing collisions during 2006, 2007, 2008 to develop a State highway-rail grade crossing actin plan AL, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, LA, OH, TX 4

5 History According to the Railroad Safety Improvement Act (RISA) of 2008 The action plans shall: i. Identify specific solutions for improving safety at crossings, including highway-rail grade crossing closures or grade separations; ii. Focus on crossings that have experienced multiple accidents or are at risk for such accidents; and iii. Cover a five-year time period 5

6 History The Railroad Safety Improvement Act (RISA) of 2008 The 10 State Action Plans are linked from FHWA s website at: 6

7 History June 24, 2011 a westbound Amtrak train crosses US-95 near Miriam, NV 7

8 History A truck drove through the crossing and struck the side of the train The flashing lights were activated and gates were down 8

9 History Six people died Sixteen were injured 9

10 History The NTSB concluded that the crash was the result of the truck driver's delayed braking and the failure of John Davis Trucking to adequately maintain the brakes on the accident truck. The NTSB also recommended the FHWA and FRA develop a Model Grade Crossing Action Plan in response to this crash. 10

11 Model Grade Crossing Action Plan Interim resource document on FRA s website: Developed by FRA and FHWA for use by agencies wishing to update or create a State Action Plan 11

12 Some Thoughts RSIA: The Action Plan may coordinate with other State/Federal planning requirements Establishment of FRA-approved metrics Coordinating effort will reduce level of effort/uneasiness by the States not exactly true

13 Crossing closures Crossing separations Multiple incidents at a crossing High-risk crossings High speed rail corridors RSIA Section 202

14 Efforts to analyze data to strategically pinpoint safety needs Pedestrian issues (including ADA) Implementation/Experimentation of innovative technologies Education efforts Enforcement efforts

15 What we heard Great idea! We ve been thinking/working on this for a while About time folks take rail seriously So all we have to do is use part of the HSIP report and respond to the Regulation? We are updating the SAP we sent you should we forward this on to you as well? Team FRA: Supportive, yet Proactive to Get the Job Done!!

16 What ELSE we heard Unfunded mandate, and besides, we re understaffed Hey, FRA we re not in the Top Ten We re not interested in HSR funds We ve done this report already talk to FHWA, not us! CEBACOG! Team FRA: Supportive, yet Proactive to Get the Job Done!!

17 and many more

18 Suggested SAP Development Steps Pre-planning Planning Post-planning Implementation Plan review 18

19 SAP Pre-planning Create team Plan review (current, surrogate plans, other States, etc.) Generate data for review Identify goals/objectives Identify scope Brainstorm! 19

20 SAP Planning Establish scope, goals and objectives Generate additional data/metrics needed for plan Identify SAP resources (funding, manpower, etc.) Determine implementation strategies and priorities Decide next steps, options, contingencies Review and Modify possibly over and over again 20

21 SAP Post-planning Plan review/modification Evaluate measures of success Communicate Communicate Communicate Prep for next iteration of SAP 21

22 SAP Implementation Manage action items as planned Implement contingency plans as needed (and document) Review effectiveness and success of item in meeting SAP goal(s) 22

23 SAP Review (1/2) Modify SAP due to changes in (examples): Other Federal/State plans Program mission statement Legislative/Regulatory requirements Funding Data Technology Manpower Other 23

24 SAP Review (2/2) If modified, share with SAP Team! Share UP, DOWN and ACROSS!!! TEAM Together Everyone Achieves More! 24

25 Suggested Programs/Projects for the SAP Roadway Approach Improvements MUTCD-type improvements Highway User Visibility Roadway Geometry Crossing Elimination Data Acquisition and Assessment Education and Awareness Efforts Communications Other 25

26 Consider Sharing With Others Other States Stakeholders MPOs Counties, States, communities 26

27 Our Wish Utilize efforts to make efforts less challenging, but informative Maintain focus-it is an Action Plan Realistic Accountable 27

28 Model Grade Crossing Action Plan Anticipated completion in first half of 2016 Being developed by FHWA and FRA Developed with input from the States 28

29 Model Grade Crossing Action Plan Will include information on how to update or develop an Action Plan: Selecting appropriate stakeholders Gathering data and information Framework / Outline of sections of an Action Plan Implementation the Action Plan Evaluation and revisions 29

30 Model Grade Crossing Action Plan For those States that have an action plan, what has been the most beneficial and what has been an area they d like to change? For those States with an action plan, are they monitoring it, evaluating it, and / or planning on updating it? For those States without an action plan, do they see a benefit in developing one or do they think they will develop one if there is a model action plan? What kind of features/assistance/examples would they like to see in a model action plan? 30

31 Questions? 31