Effect of Detector Placement, Train and Traffic Characteristics on Operational Performance of At-Grade Railroad Crossing

Abstract

This paper focuses on modeling and evaluating the effect of detector placement (distance), train, and traffic characteristics on operational performance of at-grade railroad crossings. Train and vehicular traffic related data were collected at an at-grade railroad crossing in the city of Charlotte, NC, USA. The collected data was then loaded into VISSIM traffic simulation software to develop a calibrated model and compute operational performance measures such as delay, the number of stops, and queue length. In addition, VISSIM traffic simulation software has an essential tool to place the detector on the track within a certain distance from the road. This tool was used to compute operational performance measures by detector placement (distance from the road). The results obtained by detector placement, the length of the train, speed of the train, and traffic volume are summarized. The findings help engineers and practitioners to place detectors on the track, within an ideal distance, for reducing delay and congestion without compromising on safety and flow of the traffic passing an at-grade railroad crossing.