1. Grade Crossing Safety Jason l. sanchez manager public projects
SAN BERNARDINO, CA
BNSF is, by some measures, the United States’ largest freight railroad.
September 19,2017
Scort annual meeting
Oakland, ca

2. Agenda BNSF Overview BNSF Grade Crossing Statistics
The Three E’s of Safety
Grade Crossing Safety Initiatives
Crossing Closures
Interconnected Crossings
Coordination Opportunities
BNSF and State DOT Coordination
Quiet Zones
Trespassing

3. BNSF Railway 160 Year History BNSF Ships: Agricultural Consumer
BNSF Master Template
BNSF Railway
160 Year History
BNSF Ships:
Agricultural
Consumer
Industrial
Coal
28 States
43,000 Employees
32,500 Track Miles
13,000 Bridges (306 Miles)
89 Tunnels (34 Miles)
30,000 Crossings
1,600 Trains Per day
BNSF is, by some measures, the United States’ largest freight railroad.
BNSF operates in 28 states and three Canadian provinces and has more than 32,500 route miles of railroad.
Each day more than 1,600 trains operate over the BNSF network.

4. BNSF Grade Crossing Statistics
30,186 Total Crossings
17,084 Public At-Grade (8,691 with active warning devices)
8,460 Private At-Grade (160 with active warning devices)
188 Pedestrian At-Grade
2,302 Overpasses
2,152 Underpasses

5. The Three E’s of Safety
BNSF views grade crossing safety through 3 lenses:
Engineering
Safety upgrades (Section 130, signal and surface upgrades)
Grade separations
Quiet Zones
Pedestrian Crossings
Education
Community Safety Events
Operation Lifesaver
Level Crossing Awareness Day
Enforcement
Officer on the train
Targeted enforcement with local public safety officers at high incident areas

6. Grade Crossing Safety Initiatives

7. Crossing Closures
Corporate initiative started in 2000 to eliminate redundant or unnecessary crossings
6210 Crossings Closed LTD (public and private)
BNSF has closed crossings that are redundant, in railroad sidings, as part of a grade separation, quiet zones, etc.

8. Interconnected Crossings
576 Interconnected Crossings on BNSF
BNSF has ongoing initiative to work with agencies to bring crossings up to current MUTCD standards.
Each interconnected crossing has been evaluated by BNSF and status report was sent to each agency.
Reinforced emphasis from FRA (2016) to State DOT’s and Railroads to review interconnected crossings and address gaps.
In 2010 a Safety Advisory ( ) was released by the FRA to all road authorities and railroads, it recommended all road authorities/railroads perform a comprehensive joint inspection of the crossing.
As a result, BNSF partnered with Campbell Technology Corp. (CTC) to work with every road authority of the BNSF network to perform a joint inspection.

9. BNSF Coordination with Public Agencies
Opportunities for Collaboration

10. BNSF and State DOT Coordination
Systematic review of long range roadway and rail projects by State DOT and BNSF
Goal: Identify “win-win-win” opportunities that benefit the road authority, traveling public and BNSF in safety.
Focus areas:
Road crossings in rail sidings
Grade separations
Highway projects adjacent to (or over) rail facilities

11. Quiet Zones 191 Total Quiet Zones on BNSF
21 Pre-rule, 170 New Rule, Representing 690 total crossings
BNSF strongly recommends agencies interested in QZ’s to:
Perform on-site diagnostic process with BNSF, Local Agency, State DOT, Regional FRA rep to review all crossings included in proposed QZ
Consider SSM’s at all crossings included in QZ to discourage motorist from driving around gates (i.e. raised concrete medians)
Include public awareness campaign with QZ plan to educate community about QZ
BNSF has dedicated legal counsel to review all NOI’s and NOE’s for compliance with Train Horn Rule

12. BNSF and Public Agencies
Trespassing
Pedestrian trespassing incidents are on the rise
BNSF continues to work with agencies to educate and discourage trespassing
BNSF is working with local agencies on fencing
projects in high incident areas
BNSF Police constantly inspect and monitor high
incident areas and homeless encampments
Continue our relationship with Operation Lifesaver