Non-Motorist Safety at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings: Developing a Crash Prediction Model with Integrated Non-Motorist Exposure – Year 3

The proposed research objective is to address the safety of non-motorists at highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs). In Phase III (Year 3), the research team will focus on a survey of pedestrians and bicyclists in Federal Region VII (NE, IA, KS, and MO) to investigate their characteristics, perceptions of safety at crossings, understanding and comprehension of traffic signs/signals at crossings, and their self-reported unsafe movements at HRGCs. The focus on this region ensures a representation of the Midwest, where the extensive rail network creates safety issues for non-motorists. Incidents involving non-motorist users at HRGCs are often underreported or overlooked, yet statistics reveal that they significantly contribute to overall fatalities and injuries at these locations. Pedestrians and bicyclists at HRGCs are particularly vulnerable due to the lack of adequate protective barriers or warning devices. In 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recorded 2,202 crashes at HRGCs, leading to 269 fatalities and 827 injuries nationwide. Furthermore, during the same year, there were 1,157 reported incidents of pedestrian rail trespassing, resulting in 606 fatalities and 551 injuries. These numbers emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with non-motorized users at HRGCs and identification of crossings where non-motorized users may be susceptible to crashes. This research will contribute to a deeper understanding of safety hazards associated with HRGCs and lead to the development of autonomous mitigation technologies for rail crossings.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.utrgv.edu/railwaysafety/research/operations/index.htm

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $195,445.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348340

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  Lincoln, NE  United States 
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  Lincoln, NE  United States 
• Project Managers:

  Stearns, Amy

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  Lincoln, NE  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Khattak, Aemal

  Aman, M

• Start Date: 20250601
• Expected Completion Date: 20260831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash risk forecasting; Pedestrian safety; Predictive models; Railroad grade crossings; Railroad safety
• Identifier Terms: Railroad Grade Crossing Characteristics
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01960676
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University Transportation Center for Railway Safety
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348340
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 14 2025 7:22PM