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Advanced Rail Crossing Equipment Package

Architecture Geographic Scope

Description:

This equipment package manages highway traffic at highway-rail intersections (HRIs) where operational requirements demand advanced features (e.g., where rail operational speeds are greater than 80 miles per hour). It includes all capabilities from the Standard Rail Crossing equipment package and augments these with additional safety features. The active warning systems supported by this market package includes positive barrier systems which preclude entrance into the intersection when the barriers are activated. Like the Standard package, the HRI equipment is activated on notification by wayside interface equipment which detects, or communicates with the approaching train. In this equipment package, additional information about the arriving train is also provided by the wayside interface equipment so that the train's direction of travel, its estimated time of arrival, and the estimated duration of closure may be derived. This enhanced information may be conveyed to the driver prior to, or in context with, warning system activation. This equipment package also includes detection capabilities which enable it to detect an entrapped or otherwise immobilized vehicle within the HRI and provide an immediate notification to the wayside interface equipment and traffic management.

 

Included in:

City of Harlingen Field Equipment

Processes:

1.1.1.1Process Traffic Sensor Data
1.6.1.1Detect Roadway Events
1.6.1.2.4Provide HSR Device Controls
1.6.1.4.1Generate Alerts and Advisories
1.6.1.4.3Report Alerts and Advisories
1.6.1.5Detect HRI Hazards
1.6.1.6.1Close HRI on Detection
1.6.1.6.2Detect Imminent Vehicle/Train Collision
1.6.3.1Interact with Wayside Systems
1.6.3.2Advise and Protect Train Crews
1.6.3.3Provide ATS Alerts
1.6.5.1Provide Interactive Interface
  

User Service Requirements (fully or partially addressed):

1.0TRAVEL AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
1.3ROUTE GUIDANCE
1.3.1RG shall include the capability to Provide Directions to travelers.
1.3.1.2The Provide Directions function shall issue directions to travelers based on information about current conditions of transportation systems.
1.3.1.2.1Current transportation system conditions upon which directions to travelers is based shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1.3.1.2.1(d)Events taking place that influence travel routes.
1.3.1.2.1(d).1Street closures.
1.6TRAFFIC CONTROL
1.6.2TC shall include a Traffic Surveillance function.
1.6.2.1Traffic Surveillance shall include a vehicle detection function with the capability of accurately detecting vehicles in a real-time fashion.
1.6.2.1.1Vehicle detection shall include the capability to determine those vehicles that are HOVs.
1.6.2.2Traffic Surveillance shall include a data collect function to provide the capability to collect data for determining traffic flow and prediction.
1.6.2.2.1The data collect function shall provide the capability to quickly feedback traffic data to the control processes.
1.6.2.3Traffic Surveillance shall include a wide-area surveillance capability to include several jurisdictions.
1.6.2.3.1The wide-area surveillance shall gather speed and flow information.
1.6.2.4TC shall provide the capability to acquire detailed traffic measurements at specific locations.
1.7INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
1.7.1Incident Management shall provide an Incident Identification function to identify incidents.
1.7.1.1The Incident Identification function shall include the capability to identify predicted incidents.
1.7.1.1.1The Incident Identification function shall use information from the following types of sources, where available, to identify predicted incidents:
1.7.1.1.1(a)Traffic flow sensors.
1.8TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT
1.8.0ITS shall include a Travel Demand Management (TDM) function. Travel Demand Management will generate and communicate management and control strategies that will support and facilitate the implementation of TDM programs, policies and regulations. It consists of two major functions, which are, (1) Increase Efficiency of Transportation System and (2) Provide Wide Variety of Mobility Options.
1.8.3TDM shall include a sensors/control function.
1.8.3.1The sensors/control function shall provide the capability to gather information needed for the generation of management and control strategies to include, but not be limited to the, following:
1.8.3.1(b)Usage levels.
1.10HIGHWAY RAIL INTERSECTION
1.10.0ITS shall include a Highway-Rail Intersection (HRI) function to control highway and rail traffic in at-grade HRIs. Two sub-services are supported: Standard Speed Rail Subservice which is applicable to light rail transit, commuter rail and heavy rail trains with operational speeds up to 79 miles per hour (MPH); and High Speed Rail Subservice which is applicable to all passenger and freight trains with operational speeds from 80 to 125 MPH.
1.10.1The Highway-Rail Intersection (HRI) function shall be applicable to operational, at-grade highway-rail intersections with train operational speeds up to 125 MPH.
1.10.1.1HRI users shall include light rail transit and rapid rail transit approaching and crossing HRIs.
1.10.1.2HRI users shall include commuter rail trains approaching and crossing HRIs.
1.10.1.3HRI users shall include freight and intercity passenger trains approaching and crossing HRIs.
1.10.1.4HRI users shall include highway vehicles approaching and crossing HRIs.
1.10.1.5HRI users shall include motor vehicle operators, bicyclists and pedestrians approaching and crossing HRIs.
1.10.1.6HRI users shall include train crews operating rail traffic while approaching and crossing HRIs.
1.10.1.7HRI users shall include rail maintenance and inspection vehicles approaching and crossing HRIs.
1.10.2HRI shall provide interfaces between highway and rail management functions.
1.10.2.1HRI shall provide information management interfaces between highway and rail to coordinate traffic, demand and schedules.
1.10.2.1.1HRI shall be capable of acquiring current train schedules from rail operations functions, and shall determine projected HRI closure times and duration.
1.10.2.2HRI shall provide the capability for interactive real-time interfaces.
1.10.2.2.1HRI shall provide the capability to interface with rail operations functions for rail traffic control information.
1.10.2.2.2HRI shall provide the capability to interface with traffic management functions for highway traffic coordination.
1.10.2.2.3HRI shall provide the capability to interface with trains approaching and crossing the HRI for traffic coordination.
1.10.3At all HRIs with active railroad warning systems, HRI shall manage the traffic in the intersection.
1.10.3.1HRI shall be capable of augmenting the intersection with standard highway traffic signal devices.
1.10.3.3HRI shall provide an Intelligent Intersection Controller (IIC) function to manage highway and rail traffic in the intersection.
1.10.3.3.3IIC function shall provide an intersection surveillance system to derive the real-time status of traffic in the intersection.
1.10.3.3.5IIC function shall report real-time HRI traffic status as advisories or alerts.
1.10.5HRI shall provide a High Speed Rail (HSR) Subservice for HRIs on rail lines with operational speeds between 80 and 125 MPH.
1.10.5.1HSR shall include active roadside message devices to provide highway closure information at HSR HRIs.
1.10.5.2HSR shall provide special safety features to enhance safety.
1.10.5.2.1HSR shall close the HRI to highway traffic at a predetermined time (up to three minutes) before train arrival or when directed by train operations.
1.10.5.2.2HSR shall include a positive barrier function (e.g. four quadrant gates) to close the intersection to highway traffic for rail lines operating at speeds over 110 MPH.
1.10.5.2.3HSR HRIs shall verify the intersection's status as either "OPEN" or "BLOCKED" for rail traffic by an immobile obstacle.
1.10.5.2.5HSR shall provide HRI status to the train as either a "PROCEED" or a "STOP" indication.
1.10.6At HRIs with active railroad warning systems, HRI shall provide the capability for automatic collision notification to rail operations and traffic management.
8.0MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
8.1MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS
8.1.3Maintenance and Construction Operations shall provide a Work Zone Management and Safety (WZMS) function, which provides support for the effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of roadway operations during all work zone activities. This function includes interactions among Traffic Managers, Supervisors, Dispatchers, Field Crews, Construction Crews, Public Safety Organizations, Information Service Providers, and Travelers.
8.1.3.1WZMS shall monitor, control, and direct activity in the vicinity of work zones.
8.1.3.1.3WZMS shall be able to divert vehicles around work zones via automated lane changing techniques.
8.1.3.1.3.1WZMS shall collect information used to support automated lane changing, including but not limited to:
8.1.3.1.3.1(a)Volume
8.1.3.1.3.1(b)Occupancy
8.1.3.1.3.1(c)Speed
8.1.3.1.3.1(d)Headways
8.1.3.1.3.1(e)Vehicle characteristics
8.1.3.1.3.1(f)Merging distance
  
The detailed process and user service requirement traceability information on this page was extracted from the National ITS Architecture. Consult the National ITS Architecture web site for more information.

Last updated on 07-16-2003 using Ronald C. Ice and Associates Web Spinner Technology.