Railroad crossing safety is an area where high attention has been devoted in recent years by affected communities and the railroads. The results have been positive and dramatic. Since 1992 WSDOT has closed, upgraded or grade-separated approximately 250 railroad crossings in Washington State. Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF), Washington’s largest railroad, has worked to improve safety at its 35,000 railroad crossings. Since 2000, BNSF has closed over 1500 crossings throughout its 33,500-mile network spanning large areas of the United States. As a result, BNSF has one of the lowest rates of grade crossing collisions in the rail industry.
Nearly all crossings on busy main line tracks in Washington are now protected by investment in equipment, including flashing lights and gates at railroad crossings that have upgraded passive “crossbuck” highways signs. Diagnostic teams have utilized industry “best practices” and state design criteria to recommending crossing upgrades. Using potential exposure factors as number of tracks, trains, roadway traffic levels, and available funding, the appropriate safety upgrade has been recommended for the crossing.
The chart below shows the number of injury and fatal collisions at railroad crossings has steadily dropped in recent years. In 1992 there were 35 fatal or injury collisions, in 2002 there were 4. While the positive long-term trend is clearly shown in the accompanying chart, 2003 did see a reversal – temporary, it is hoped – as the number of fatal and disabling injury accidents at rail crossings reached 14, a number last seen in 1998.
Rail Road Collisions, Injuries and Fatalities at Crossings in Washington
1991 - 2004
