Abstract This project studies the potential of optimizing preemption strategies to maximize the separation of traffic hazards between highway-rail grade crossings and intersections in adjacent arterials. It tries to answer the research question, does preemption optimization have engineering significance for improving the safety and mobility of highway-rail grade crossings and the parallel highways. The results provide technical guidance for improving the safety of highway-rail grade crossings and the adjacent intersections on the parallel highway, which is a critical goal that Mid-America Transportation Center pursues.
Objective Three objectives are pursued in this project. (1) The project will start with reviewing and identifying key limitations and conflicts in the current preemption operations. (2) The project will verify the effectiveness of signal preemptions and the interconnections between highway-rail grade crossings on a railway corridor and the nearby intersections on an arterial. (3) The project will develop a standard optimization process for designing preemption plans with the goal to maximize the safety and mobility at the highway-rail grade crossings and nearby intersections.
Impacts/Benefits The benefits of this project are twofold. First, it will provide a standardized process of evaluating the effectiveness of the preemption control at highway-rail grade crossings and confirm the cost-benefit threshold that warrants the application of preemption strategies. Second, the resulting guideline will provide technical support on the preemption control strategies and also bridge gaps in understanding concepts, facilitating implementation, and improving coordination between railway and highway agencies.
Deliverables
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