FHWA RTP Contact

Christopher Douwes
Trails and Enhancements Program Manager
Federal Highway Administration
FHWA HEPH-10 Rm E74-474
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington DC 20590-0001
Phone: 202-366-5013
Fax: 202-366-3409

State RTP Contacts

Contact your State RTP Administrator to ask about policies and funding in your State.

Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned

Literature Review, Current Practices, Conclusions

RAILS-WITH-TRAILS: LESSONS LEARNED - TITLE PAGE: Table of Contents <<<; Report Documentation Page; Metric/English Conversion Factors; Acknowledgements

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Data Collection and Analysis; Process; Liability; Design; Operations/Maintenance; Conclusion

INTRODUCTION: Trail Trends; Railroad Trespassing and Safety Trends; Background of the Report; Data Collection; Process; Intent; Contents

SECTION I: Literature Review Summary: Rail-with-Trail Studies; Individual Studies and Master Plans; Liability of Rails-with-Trails; Innovative Technological and Operational Improvements; International RWT Research

SECTION II: Case Studies: Overview of Findings; Case Study Summaries

SECTION III: RWT Development Process: Overview of Recommendations; Current Practice; Assessing Potential Benefits; Corridor Acquisition; Process Flow; RWT Feasibility: Examples; Involving the Stakeholders; Keeping Written Records

SECTION IV: Legislation, Liability, and Insurance: Overview of Recommendations; Overview of Concerns; Definitions and Laws; Available Legal Protections; Crash Trends; Property Control; Design; Review and Strengthen State Statutes; Crossings; Indemnification; Insurance

SECTION V: Design: Overview of Recommendations; Rail Characteristics and Setting; Setback: Considerations; Setback: Recommendations; Separation; Railroad Track Crossings; Trail-Roadway Crossings; Utilities; Accommodating Future Tracks and Sidings; Trestles and Bridges; Tunnels; Environmental Constraints; Support Facilities and Amenities; Trailheads and Parking Areas; Landscaping; Drainage; Lighting; Signing and Markings; Equestrian Considerations; Considerations for Steam Locomotives

SECTION VI: RWT Operational Aspects: Overview of Recommendations; Rail Operations Involvement; Maintenance Needs; Construction Management Strategies; Trail Safety Education and Outreach; Railroad Safety Education and Outreach; Security and Enforcement; Developing Trail Use Regulations

REFERENCES

APPENDIX A: Definitions

APPENDIX B: State-by-State Matrix of Applicable Laws and Statutes

APPENDIX C: Sample Legal Agreements

APPENDIX D: Photo Credits

PDF Versions

Complete Report - 8.8 MB
Cover Page through Introduction 1.9 MB
Section I - 0.9 MB
Section II - 1.7 MB
Section III - 1.0 MB
Section IV - 0.8 MB
Section V - 2.8 MB
Section VI - 1.2 MB
References and Appendices - 2.6 MB

PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®

List of Figures & Tables

FIGURE 1.1	Map of existing rails-with-trails
FIGURE 1.2	Number and kilometers of U.S. rail-trails
FIGURE 1.3	Number and kilometers of existing U.S. rails-with-trails
FIGURE 1.4	Railroad trespassing casualties
FIGURE 2.1	RWT case studies
FIGURE 2.2	Type of trespassing by percentage of incidents
FIGURE 2.3	"Would observed activity be accommodated by planned RWT?"
FIGURE 2.4	Age of observed trespassers
FIGURE 2.5	Observed gender of trespassers
FIGURE 2.6	Observed type of trespassers
FIGURE 3.1	Agency ownership of rail corridor, by percentage of trails
FIGURE 3.2	Steps in feasibility study
FIGURE 3.3	Involving railroad companies
FIGURE 4.1	Liability definitions
Table 4.1	Liability exposure reduction options
FIGURE 4.2	Highway-rail grade crossing collisions and casualties at public crossings
FIGURE 4.3	Highway-rail incident breakdown
FIGURE 4.4	Preferred easement agreement contents
FIGURE 4.5	Preferred license agreement contents
FIGURE 4.6	Requirement for indemnity, by percentage of RWTs
FIGURE 4.7	Source of liability insurance, by percentage of RWTs
Table 5.1	Examples of RWTs by corridor type and ownership
FIGURE 5.1	Type of railroad adjacent to existing RWTs
FIGURE 5.2	Frequency of trains, by percentage of existing RWTs
FIGURE 5.3	Type of terrain through which trails pass
FIGURE 5.4	Width of full corridor, by percentage of trails
FIGURE 5.5	Width of RWT, by percentage of trails
FIGURE 5.6	Setback and separation definition
FIGURE 5.7	Distance between edge of trail and track centerline, by percentage of trails
FIGURE 5.8	RWT setback/train speed correlation
FIGURE 5.9	Setback/frequency correlation
FIGURE 5.10	Minimum RWT setback depends on specific situation
FIGURE 5.11	Dynamic envelope delineation
FIGURE 5.12	Minimum RWT setback - fill sections (depending on situation)
FIGURE 5.13	Minimum RWT setback - constrained sections (depending on situation)
FIGURE 5.14	Percentage of existing RWTs with barrier
FIGURE 5.15	Barrier type, by percentage of existing RWTs
FIGURE 5.16	Fencing styles
FIGURE 5.17	Trail separation example - using vegetation as a separation technique
FIGURE 5.18	Sample maintenance access transitions
FIGURE 5.19	Approach grade at at-grade crossings
FIGURE 5.20	45° Trail-rail crossing
FIGURE 5.21	90° Trail-rail crossing
FIGURE 5.22	Crossing equipped with passive warning devices
FIGURE 5.23	Crossing equipped with active warning devices and fencing
FIGURE 5.24	Highway-rail crossing (Crossbuck) sign
FIGURE 5.25	MUTCD #2 approved railroad warning signs that may be appropriate for RWTs
FIGURE 5.26	Sample trespassing and other signs
FIGURE 5.27	Composite drawing showing clearances for active traffic control devices at highway-rail grade crossings
FIGURE 5.28	Typical light rail transit flashing light signal assembly for pedestrian crossings
FIGURE 5.29	Typical pedestrian gate placement behind the sidewalk
FIGURE 5.30	Typical pedestrian gate placement with pedestrian gate arm
FIGURE 5.31	RWT culvert under tracks
FIGURE 5.32	RWT track undercrossing
FIGURE 5.33	RWT track overcrossing
FIGURE 5.34	RWT track overcrossing (meets Amtrak required clearance height for non-electrified track)
FIGURE 5.35	Roadway crossing type 1 (reroute to nearest intersection)
FIGURE 5.36	Roadway crossing type 2 (new signal)
FIGURE 5.37	Roadway crossing type 3 (unprotected crossing)
FIGURE 5.38	Roadway and track crossing
FIGURE 5.39	Summary of potential trail user movements
FIGURE 5.40	Angled intersection with roadway
FIGURE 5.41	Trestle options
FIGURE 5.42	Trailhead and parking design
FIGURE 6.1	"Does railway help trail agency maintain corridor?" by percentage of trails
FIGURE 6.2	Operation Lifesaver "Tips for Bicyclists" brochure

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Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned

Table of Contents

PDF Versions

List of Figures & Tables