RAILROAD BRIDGE AND TRACK DESIGN AND COORDINATION ISSUES Lloyd M. Wolf, P.E.

Coordination with Railroad Meet with Railroad Early in Project Development to Discuss Railroad Track Operations are Very Important Minimize Impact on RR Operations LOA and RR Agreement

Structure Type Selection and Bridge Design

Superstructure Considerations Safety –Highway Users –Railroad Required Span for Horizontal Clearance –Column Protection Adequate Vertical Clearance

Preferred Railroad Grade Separations 1. Overpass 2. UPRR Steel Deck Girder Standards 3. Deck Plate Girder w/ Steel Deck 4. Steel Girder w/ Conc Deck 5. Prestressed Beam w/ Conc Deck 6. Thru-Girder w/ Steel Deck

UPRR Deck Girder Standard Depth-Top / Rail to Low Chord = 5-5 Steel Deck 69 ft Max Span Length

Thru Girder Depth-Top / Rail to Low Chord = 4-6 Steel Deck 155 ft Max Span Length

Superstructure Considerations TxDOT Design Requirements UPRR-BNSF Design Guidelines KCS Design Guidelines Composite and Non-Composite Design No Sacrificial Beams Design for 30 Ballast Ballast Depth for Concrete Tie

Vertical Clearance Steel Deck Girder16.5 ft Steel Thru Girder-Bolt Bot Fl17.5 ft Prestressed Conc17.5 ft Hwy Over RR23.33 ft

Design Development and Review Process with Railroads

Railroad Underpass 30% Submittal - Exhibit A 60% Submittal 90% Submittal 100% PS&E Plans RR Agreement with Exhibit B

30% Submittal - Exhibit A Preliminary: –Bridge Layout –Track Plan and Profile –Track Typical Sections Structure Type Selection Report –Thru Girder LOA Facilitate RR Review

Structure Type Selection Report Required for Thru-Girder Design Factors Considered –Underpassing Roadway Width –Clear Zone –Vertical Clearance Consider All Options for Railroad

RR Requirements Sheets

60% Submittal Complete Bridge Plans Complete Mainline and ShooFly Track Plans and Profiles Railroad Track Standards Mainline and ShooFly Typical Sections

60% Submittal, ctd Track Sections every 50 ft Division of Labor Sequence of Work

90% Submittal Revised Complete Bridge Plans Revised Complete Mainline and ShooFly Track Plans and Profiles Mainline & ShooFly Typ Sections

90% Submittal, ctd Track Sections every 50 ft All Parts of PS&E that Affect the Railroad All Specifications

100% Submittal Complete PS&E That Affects RR Complete Bridge Plans Complete Mainline and ShooFly Track Plans and Profiles Mainline & ShooFly Typ Sections Sequence and Division of Work RR Agreement w/ Exhibit B Attachment

Mainline Bridge Replacement Shoo-Fly Construction

Track Plans & Sequence of Work Bridge Replacement on Mainline Longer Span and Increased Clearance Track Raise Shoo-Fly Construction Best Maintains RR Operations

Track Design Speed Railroad Operating Dept Determines Speed Mainline & ShooFly Same Speed ? –Existing Conditions –Future Upgrades –Design Speed Agreement

Railroad Track Grade Raise No Grade Raise is Desirable 6 Max Raise with Ballast Only Use Subballast for Greater Raises ShooFly Profile Grade Ballast Delivery May Be an Issue

Bridge Design and Track Design Resources

Bridge and Track Design Resources TxDOT and Individual Railroad Use TxDOT Annotated Guidelines –TxDOT Website BRG Project Development Web Page –BRG FTP Site AREMA and AASHTO

Bridge and Track Design Resources UPRR, BNSF, KCS Guidelines and Standards Updated Requirements and Standards TxDOT Bridge FTP Site: –Railroad Bridge and Track Design

Ballasted Track Construction Specification Bridge Division has a Reference Spec Available for Project Use Bridge Division is Working to Develop Statewide Special Spec

Thank You

Lloyd M. Wolf, P.E

Estimated Costs 2008 Bridge and Track

Estimated Railroad Costs 2008 Steel Deck Girder =$350 / SF with Steel Deck Steel Thru Girder =$450 / SF with Steel Deck Prestressed Beam =$225 / SF with Concrete Deck

Estimated Railroad Costs 2008 ShooFly Bridge with Open Deck = $350,000 / EA Temp Special Shoring = $60 / SF

Estimated Railroad Costs 2008 Ballasted Track =$240 / LF with 1 ft Raise Ballasted Track =$170 / LF No Raise Ballasted Track =$45 / LF Removal

Estimated Railroad Costs 2008 Turnout / Switch =$85,000 / EA Signal for Switch =$50,000 / EA Including Circuit

Estimated Railroad Costs 2008 Engineering Design Review = $ ,000 And Construction Inspection Railroad Flagging =$900 / Day

Mainline Track Raise at Turnout

Mainline Track Raise with Ballast Retainer