Improving Safety at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings in Florida while Maintaining Continuity of Passenger and Freight Flows: A Multi-Objective Approach

Considering the importance of rail transportation in the State of Florida, large number of highway-rail grade crossings, fairly frequent occurrence of accidents at highway-rail grade crossings, and traffic delays caused by warning devices at highway-rail grade crossings, this project will assist Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) with the following primary objectives: (1) Develop a multi-objective optimization model that can assist the FDOT personnel with identification of highway-rail grade crossings that have to be upgraded and selection of the appropriate upgrading type, considering the existing budget constraints. (2) Analyze resource allocation decisions under conflicting objectives (i.e., minimize the overall hazard severity at highway-rail grade crossings vs. maximize passenger and freight flows). (3) Develop a standalone application, which deploys the proposed multi-objective optimization model, in order to facilitate decision making. (4) Conduct a set of case studies to demonstrate some important managerial insights from resource allocation among the highway-rail grade crossings in the State of Florida, given conflicting nature of the objectives considered. (5) Improve safety of highway travelers in the State of Florida by reducing the potential hazard of highway-rail grade crossings. (6) Ensure continuity of passenger and freight flows, reduce delays at highway-rail grade crossings, support economic development, and ensure prosperity of the state.

Language

English

Project

Status: Active
Funding: $215000
Contract Numbers:
BDV30 977-33
Sponsor Organizations:
Florida Department of Transportation

605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, FL United States 32399-0450
Managing Organizations:
Florida Department of Transportation

Research Center
605 Suwannee Street MS-30
Tallahassee, FL United States 32399-0450
Project Managers:
Fitzgerald, Rickey

(850) 414-4720

rickey.fitzgerald@dot.state.fl.us
Performing Organizations:
Florida State University, Tallahassee

217 Westcott Building
Tallahassee, FL United States 32306-
Principal Investigators:
Dulebenets, Maxim A

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU–FSU College of Engineering
Start Date: 20200604
Expected Completion Date: 20211231
Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Case studies; Decision making; Highway safety; Optimization; Railroad grade crossings; Railroad safety; Resource allocation; Upgrades (Roads)
Geographic Terms: Florida
Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01742518
Record Type: Research project
Source Agency: Florida Department of Transportation
Contract Numbers: BDV30 977-33
Files: RIP, STATEDOT
Created Date: Jun 16 2020 1:50PM