R930-5-5. Diagnostic Team

(1) The role of the Diagnostic Team is to make recommendations to the Department for needed safety improvements at a Crossing.

(2) The Diagnostic Team reviews and evaluates proposed improvements for all Section 130 Crossing Projects and Non-Section 130 Crossing Projects. The Diagnostic Team reviews a Crossing when requested by a Highway Authority, Railroad, or Company when changes in Highway traffic patterns are proposed, when proposed Railroad traffic is determined to increase significantly, when complaints are made about a Crossing, when safety concerns arise, or when the Department receives a closure request. The Department will consider all recommendations made by the Diagnostic Team and, if appropriate, input received from the public at large (in accordance with Section R930-5-13) before issuing orders for the improvement of Crossings.

(3) The Department may also make formal findings and rulings as part of its process for evaluating Crossing improvements or during routine inspection of Crossings, independent of the Diagnostic Team.

(4) The Diagnostic Team is usually composed of the following team members:

(a) Chief Railroad Engineer for the Department;

(b) Representative from the Railroad;

(c) Representative from the appropriate Company, if applicable; and

(d) Representative from the Highway Authority (preferably from engineering or public works), and when available, and where appropriate public school district, law enforcement agency and invites with an interest in the Crossing.

(5) The role of the Diagnostic Team is to:

(a) Recommend the elimination of a Crossing;

(b) Recommend the type of safety improvements including, but not limited to Passive Warning Devices, Active Warning Devices, the type of Crossing material, improvements to Highway approaches, removal of foliage and brush, pedestrian facilities (including compliance with ADA requirements), and improvements to street lighting;

(c) Review all requests for a new Crossing;

(d) Review all requests to reclassify a Crossing from private to public;

(e) Recommend the Department conduct an engineering study to evaluate the need for a new overpass or other grade separation structure(s); and

(f) Recommend any other safety related changes to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety.

(6) Duties of Diagnostic Team members generally include participating in Crossings reviews and providing input into the Diagnostic Team recommendations. Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following:

(a) The Chief Railroad Engineer will, when applicable:

(i) Select a Section 130 Crossing Project from a corridor study, or based on a Highway Authority, Railroad, or Company request;

(ii) Schedule and notify Diagnostic Team members, and the FHWA, of the date and time of an upcoming review;

(iii) Conduct Crossing review and issue related reports in a reasonable time after the review and send copies to all those attending the review;

(iv) Review and approve Crossing improvements recommended by the Diagnostic Team;

(v) Determine Section 130 apportionments for Crossing projects;

(vi) Initiate all Notices of Intended Action for Crossing projects, as appropriate;

(vii) Review and approve the contractual requirements for Crossing projects using Section 130 Program funding;

(viii) Review all necessary field data obtained for the Crossing, including but not limited to site plan maps and photographs of the existing Crossing conditions.

(b) The Railroad representative shall provide all relevant data related to the Crossing, including, but not limited to train volumes, accident data and any other pertinent data regarding the Crossing;

(c) The Highway Authority representative shall:

(i) Provide relevant data regarding the Crossing including, but not limited to Highway traffic volumes, planned road construction activities, and an approved master street plan for the Highway;

(ii) Invite local school district if appropriate and request that the local school district representative provide child access and bus routing plan information; and

(iii) Invite local law enforcement agency if appropriate and request that the law enforcement agency provide relevant data, including, but not limited to any safety concerns about the Crossing.