FRA Requirements, Updates and RIMS Ric Cruz

March 29-30, 2017

FRA Requirements, Updates and RIMS

The NPRM states: “in order for the Crossing Inventory to serve as an effective database, States and railroads need to exchange information with each other and promptly update the crossing data records as changes occur.” Docket No. FRA–2011–0007, National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory Reporting Requirements

Ideal Goals of National Database:

Incorporate national policies, protocols and processes

Source of statistical analysis for safety trends

Source of statistical analysis for crossing project selection,

infrastructure analysis and project prioritization

Source of validation, transparency for funding allocation

PURPOSE

PROCESS

PROPOSE

• Funding constraints and a new approach.

• Benefit cost (NCDOT) model.

• Affirming field practice.

• Aiding planning group.

ANALYSIS – MODELS – PROJECT SELECTION PRIORITIZATION - STUDIES

Scarcity of funding requires a

new approach to data

collection, data sharing and

decision-making

The developed process uses available data and best practices to: Combine databases and processes with external best practices to

identify high-risk at-grade crossings for further investigation based on expected crash costs.

State Funding Initiatives &

Corridor Prioritization

Approach

Expected annual crash cost at

crossings

Prioritized list of Crossings

List of feasible projects

FRA, RIMS, FAF, AAR…

BCA Guidelines, Historical Maintenance and

Implementation Costs

Crash Cost & Screening Benefit Cost Analysis

Crossing Safety Engineering

Studies

Comprehensive Rail Plan

PURPOSE PROCESS PROPOSE

Rail Information Management System - RIMS

RIMS - Getting Started

rims.tavlasolutions.com

Search Page Customization

Crossing No. Search

Search Results

Draft in Progress

Inventory Management Tag

Incomplete Import

• Notes a record that has not been approved for FRA submittal.

• Drafts were created during the initial LADOTD import when records failed FRA validation rules.

• Drafts are also created when data in a current record is changed.

• Notes a record imported from LADOTD that is not listed in the FRA database.

• These records have no railroad submitted data.

Download as KML

Download as Full CSV

Historical Inventories

FRA Model

National Rail Highway Database System- Scarcity of funding requires a new approach to decision-making

Project Identification

Project Evaluation

Project Selection and Prioritization

Rail Plan and State Action Plan Factors

Examples of what we can use from State Rail Plans and State Action Plans: Definition and designation of corridors;

• Volume projections • Their relative importance (as a qualitative measure if identified in the rail or

action plans). We combine this information with the latest data (FRA/RIMS) on crossing and crash inventories to create a prioritized list of projects which would maximize the system improvement under budget constraints. Submit SAP reports based on additional identified criteria unique to state, (i.e. multiple collision crossings, crossing closure initiatives, etc.)

Applied Modeling – Spatial Analytics

Selection and Prioritization process uses available data and best practices

Approach combines databases and processes with external best practices to: Prioritize high-risk at-grade crossings for further investigation based

on expected crash costs. Use the prioritized list and engineering input to create a list of safety

improvement actions with Benefit Cost Ratios of higher than one. Prioritize the list of safety improvement actions with Benefit Cost

Ratios of higher than one to optimize rail system performance.

State & Corridor

Prioritization Approach

Prioritized list of places to visit

Cost & Impact estimates

List of feasible projects

FRA, RIMS, FAF, AAR…

BCA Guidelines (STATE, FRA,

TIGER)

Crash Cost & Screening

Crossing Safety

Engineering Studies

Benefit Cost Analysis

Comprehensive Rail Plan

State Action Plan

Optimization Model:

How it all comes together…

FRA Requirements, Updates and RIMS

The NPRM states: “in order for the Crossing Inventory to serve as an effective database, States and railroads need to exchange information with each other and promptly update the crossing data records as changes occur.” Docket No. FRA–2011–0007, National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory Reporting Requirements

Ric Cruz Tavla Solutions Moffatt & Nichol 4700 Falls of Neuse, Suite 340 Raleigh, NC 27609 P 919.781.4626 RCruz@tavlasolutions.com