Reflectorization rulemaking process begins. - Rail Update - Federal Railroad Administration FRA - Brief Article

Railway Age, Dec, 2003

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Reflectorization of Freight Rolling Stock. "We believe this proposal can help increase train conspicuity at poorly illuminated crossings ... during periods of darkness or limited visibility," FRA Administrator Allan Rutter told the Texas Transportation Institute's 2003 National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Planning Institute in San Antonio.

Rutter also reported on the agency's progress in drawing up a new Highway-Rail Crossing Safety Action Plan to replace one announced by the U.S. DOT in July 1994. The new plan is to be submitted with the DOT's FY 2005 budget request. Among the engineering improvements under consideration are encouraging the use of four quad gates; standardizing innovative devices using symbols, text, legends, and flash modes that are universally understood by highway users; and encouraging the use of pre-emptive signals.