Section 415-6-002 - CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR NEW PUBLIC HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSINGS002.01 DIAGNOSTIC TEAM REVIEW A Diagnostic Team Review will be completed to determine the final design for the approach roadway, grade crossing and type of traffic control devices including active warning devices. The determination of the Diagnostic Team Review shall be final. The following minimum design standards shall apply to new public highway-rail grade crossings.
002.01A APPROACH ROADWAY/CROSSING SURFACING. The approach roadway and crossing surfacing shall be constructed to conform to the design standards for new construction applicable to the State functional classification of the public roadway, or the following standards, whichever are more stringent.002.01B CROSSING SURFACING - WIDTH. The crossing surfacing, from end of tie to end of tie, shall extend at least two feet beyond the outside edge of the highway surfacing, but in no case shall the crossing width be less than 20 feet.002.01C CROSSING SURFACING - HEIGHT. The surface elevation of the roadway and the top of the railroad tracks shall be within 1/2 inch of each other, measured between the top of the railroad track and the plane of the approach roadway 2 feet outside the near rail.002.01D CROSSING SURFACING - BETWEEN RAILS. The highway-rail grade crossing must be solidly constructed with no openings except as necessary for operation of the railroad track. The crossing surfacing shall be made of durable material. Durable material shall mean timber, asphalt, concrete or equivalent. 002.01D1 The following types of crossing surface systems between rails shall be the minimum required at all public highway-rail crossings: | Exposure Factor | Surfacing |
| 0-3000 | Timber or Asphalt |
| 3000 & Above | Concrete or Equivalent |
002.01E ROADWAY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT. The crossing surface shall be on the same plane as the top of the rails for a distance of 2 feet outside the rails. The surface of the approach roadway shall not be more than 3 inches higher or lower than the top of the nearest rail at a point 30 feet from such rail. Vertical curves shall be used to traverse from the roadway grade to a level plane at the elevation of the rails.002.01F TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. Traffic control devices must be placed as shown in the MUTCD, and such devices shall be of a type, size, and construction that conform to MUTCD requirements. Active warning devices shall be considered the minimum required devices necessary for any location with a Class 3 or greater track. Active warning devices shall be considered the minimum required devices necessary for any location with a Class 2 or lower track when any one of the following conditions is present: 002.01F1 Anticipated exposure factor of 3000 or above.002.01F2 Train count of 2 or more trains a day.002.01F3 Sight or visibility triangle not meeting the requirements of Section 002.01G.002.01F4 Multiple tracks.002.01F5 Approach angle of roadway and tracks greater than 15 degrees.002.01G SIGHT DISTANCE. Sight distance for new public highway-rail grade crossings shall be determined according to the following table. The sight triangle must be clear of all permanent obstructions such as buildings, structures or topography. The Diagnostic Team shall evaluate obstructions such as haystacks, crops or other vegetation, continual or seasonal. Click here to view
002.01H HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT. Public highway-rail crossings shall, whenever practicable, be constructed so that the highway intersects the tracks at a right angle (90 degrees) with no public highway intersections or driveways on railroad property or within 100 feet of the outside rail. Railroad access drives and maintenance of way service roads are excluded from this requirement.002.02 RELAXATION OF STANDARDS A relaxation of the standards set out in Section 002.01 will be considered only if a written request is submitted to the Department by a professional civil engineer licensed to practice in the State of Nebraska. The engineer shall state in writing that the engineer is familiar with the standards set out in these rules and with all the relevant aspects of the proposed crossing necessary to design a crossing that would operate safely. The engineer shall also provide: (1) a detailed explanation of why the standard for which a relaxation is requested is not practicable or economically feasible and why the standard should not apply to the proposed crossing, and (2) a statement that the design of the crossing to be constructed has been examined by the engineer and the engineer believes that the crossing will function safely as designed.415 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 6, § 002