Grade crossings: from concrete and wood to rubber, steel and composite, manufacturers continue to look for new materials and new products to make crossings better

Railway Track and Structures, June, 2004 by Mischa Wanek

Effect on railroads

"For the railroads, the rule brings one set of rules nationwide for the use of whistles," said Michael Barron, counsel at Canadian National. "It also has some strong protections for the railroads in terms of liability for operating through quiet zones.

"My belief is there is going to be some burden on communities to come up with money if they want a quiet zone. They may try to shift some of that cost to the railroads and, to the extent that state law allows them, they may have some success. On the other hand, the railroads may agree to contribute some cost if the communities agree to close certain crossings, make changes to other crossings, etc. It may be a way for railroads to leverage even more safety benefits," said Barron.

by Mischa Wanek, assistant editor