Federal-Aid Highway/Rail Crossing Safety Program

Rail crossing The crossing safety program participates in the cost of safety improvements at highway-railroad grade crossings. These funds are used to install new crossing signal devices, to upgrade existing signals, to improve crossing surfaces, and to provide low-cost improvements; such as increased sight distance, widened crossings, increased signal lens size, or crossing closures. However, the available funding allows only a limited number of safety improvements each year.

Either a railroad or a roadway jurisdiction may apply for crossing safety funding using the
project request form and also completing the Minority Impact Statement. Ninety percent of approved projects are funded, with the remaining 10 percent paid by the highway authority, the railroad, or most commonly, a portion paid by each. Applications are due by July 1 to be considered for the next annual funding cycle.

Priorities for this funding are determined through a PDF benefit cost analysis. This analysis takes into consideration the extent of vehicle and train traffic at the crossing, speed of trains, certain characteristics of the crossing, effectiveness of the proposed improvement, estimated cost of the improvement and other factors. Generally, those crossings with a high probability for a serious crash with a proposed improvement anticipated to be effective and cost efficient will receive the highest priority.

Safety improvements funded under this program are approved annually by the Iowa Transportation Commission.

Projects will be advanced if funding becomes available.

PDF PPM 500.09 is the directive for implementing these funds. For additional information contact Jim Gibson, 515-239-1549, james.gibson@dot.iowa.gov.

The Guide to Transportation Funding Programs (Funding Guide) provides information on this and a variety of other funding programs available for transportation projects.

Office of Rail Transportation

Federal-Aid Highway/Rail Crossing Safety Program