Advantages and Disadvantages of Closing Rail Crossings: A Case Study From Louisiana

Abstract

Road-railroad crossings are where different modes of transportation meet, which brings safety concerns and the potential for hampering transportation efficiency and creating other issues. By surveying and interviewing professionals in Louisiana, this study aims to investigate incentive programs and their effectiveness in reducing the number of at-grade crossings for policy implementation. The results show that most agencies in Louisiana were concerned about safety at railroad crossings with one third supporting closing crossings to alleviate their concerns. In addition, stakeholders were also concerned about the condition and maintenance of crossings, traffic management, and access for active transportation. Among five identified programs, road improvement was ranked as the most effective program, and the combination of multiple programs may be more effective than any individual program. This study recommends that context-sensitive, accessible, and transparent policies, public education, and stakeholder engagement may help to improve safety and efficiency at road-railroad crossings overall.