LIGHT RAIL THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY
Q-Is there not a required
Decibel Level requirement? Is there federal mandates as to decibel
level? Also length of arm drop before & after train passing?? Seems
WES got a pass ONLY after making very specific changes, and expensive at
that..
A-90 decibles at the walkway
because the gong is for pedestrian warning. Crossings have federal
regulations and ODot is the agency responsible. Heres the warning time
line....Bell and lights start. After 4 seconds gates begin descent, 7
seconds to drop, lead trucks of train enter crossing at 21 seconds from
initiation of warning. Regulated by ODOT. Wes got a varience but strict
criteria was required.
Trimess
2 comments:
MAX is not federally regulated, so ODOT can essentially make up whatever rules it wants. Thus, MAX trains do not blow their whistles through railroad crossings - even those that appear to be any other railroad crossing (crossbucks, flashing red lights, gates, bells).
WES is federally regulated by the FRA.
I posted video of a WES train in clear violation of 49CFR234.225 in which the crossing signal at S.W. Hall Boulevard in Tigard provided less than a full 20 seconds warning time for vehicles before the train entered the crossing.
I got one very angry response (from a P&W employee) but it appears that the signal was retimed - because the fine for such a failure is in the thousands of dollars.
49CFR234.223 covers the requirements of a gate arm, which must begin to lower less than three seconds after the flashing lights activate, and must be fully horizontal across the vehicular lanes at least five seconds before a "normal train movement" into the crossing.
That's also why WES trains are "overbuilt" - they must basically be able to survive a head-on collision with a freight train. MAX trains are not required to meet the same requirement; and if you've seen how a MAX train is built, you'd see that a locomotive would easily slice a MAX train like a warm knife to room temperature butter.
Sorry to dispute you Erik but the gated crossings on max do fall under Odot. and fed regs. It is the only thing at light rail that does. Look at the crossing bungalow and you will see a dot crossing inventory placard.
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