Is There An “At-Grade” Crossing Near You?
An “at-grade” crossing is one where a train crosses a street on the same level as the street — as opposed to crossing via a bridge over the street or through a tunnel under the street. Each such crossing contains a barrier that come up and down and rings a loud bell. Traffic will be interrupted for 50 seconds while the train crosses. At-grade crossings increase the chances of vehicle collisions with trains, as well as pedestrian accidents.
To minimize the likelihood of collisions with cars, barriers and bells will be installed at each of DOLRT’s at-grade crossings. See this video of an at-grade crossing in Denver. Note that a bell rings for 50 seconds while car traffic is held up. An idling engine can produce up to twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter affecting the air quality of the surrounding environment and the air we breathe.
The Durham Orange Light Rail Transit (DOLRT) has numerous at-grade crossings – see the list below – and there will be 150 trains crossings at each one every day, 24 hours a day. That equates to two hours of traffic blocking and noise at each at-grade crossing each day. That’s a lot of snarled traffic and noise on already congested intersections. The 150 number may actually be low, because on January 24, 2017 GoTriangle’s Danny Rogers told the BOCC that train intervals may be lowered from every 10 minutes to every 7.5 minutes to compensate for the proposed reduction in the size of a train.
It should be noted that one of the main arguments in favor of the light rail is that it will attract investment, adding density and jobs along the DOLRT route. That’s all the more reason to worry about at-grade crossings. Higher density will increase the likelihood of accidents. The only way to avert accidents is to not build aerial bridges or tunnels instead. That result is called “grade separation.”
This is the safest crossing, because there is no interference between trains and cars. However, that design change would further escalate costs. GoTriangle has discovered they need a tunnel and an additional bridge in downtown Durham to keep streets open. That change is currently estimated at 100 million additional dollars. The Light Rail project already exceeds 3.4 billion dollars. Because so much money is borrowed into the future, all of Orange County;s transit tax is obligated until 2064, removing the options of other forms of transit without raising more taxes.
Because of the hazards associated with at-grade crossings, the NC DOT (Department of Transportation) is working to remove at-grade crossings for railroads.
[View the details from this report here.]
Here are the train/car intersection portions of the DOLRT: [It’s based on this map which can be zoomed in on to show streets.]
| # | Location | Type |
UNC/NC 54 |
||
| 1 | Mason Farm Road | at-grade crossing |
| 2 | UNC Hibbard Drive | bridge |
| 3 | Baity Hill Drive | at-grade crossing |
| 4 | Manning Drive | bridge |
| 5 | Carmichael Street | bridge |
| 6 | Fordham Blvd (15-501) | bridge |
| 7 | Finley Golf Course Road at its intersection with Prestwick Road | at-grade crossing |
| 8 | Friday Center Drive #1 (south of 54) | at-grade crossing |
| 9 | Friday Center Drive #2 (south of 54) near the park and ride lot | at-grade crossing |
| 10 | Barbee Chapel Road south of NC 54 | at-grade crossing |
| 11 | Little John Road south of NC 54 | at-grade crossing |
| 12 | Downing Creek Parkway south of NC 54 | at-grade crossing |
| 13 | Route 54 | bridge |
| 14 | George King Road (Realigned) west of New North-South Connector | at-grade crossing |
| 15 | Wendell Road | at-grade crossing |
| 16 | Crescent Drive | at-grade crossing |
| 17 | Farrington Road south of Wendell Road | at-grade crossing |
| University Drive/US 15-501 | ||
| 18 | Farrington Road (2nd crossing) | at-grade crossing |
| 19 | Pope Road (a rotary will be built at intersection with Old Chapel Hill Road) | at-grade crossing |
| 20 | Old Chapel Hill Road | at-grade crossing |
| 21 | I-40 plus 2 exit ramps | bridges |
| 22 | Mt. Moriah Road | bridge |
| 23 | McFarland Drive | bridge |
| 24 | Duke Med Drive (two of them) | bridge |
| 25 | Honeycutt Drive | bridge |
| 26 | Witherspoon Boulevard | at-grade crossing |
| 27 | Southwest Durham Parkway | at-grade crossing |
| 28 | Garrett Road | bridge |
| 29 | unnamed road which runs from Garrett Road to Durham Chapel Hill Blvd | bridge |
| 30 | Snow Crest Trail at University Drive | at-grade median-running |
| 31 | University Drive (from Ivy Creek Blvd to Shannon Road)
Along the way it crosses:
|
at-grade median-running |
| 32 | Shannon Road | runs along north side |
| 33 | Mayfair Street | bridge |
| 34 | Durham Chapel Hill Blvd | bridge |
| 35 | Conifer Glen Lane | at-grade crossing |
| 36 | Pickett Road | at-grade crossing |
| 37 | Western Bypass Road | at-grade crossing |
| 38 | West Cornwallis Road | bridge |
Erwin Road |
||
| 39 | Cameron Blvd | at-grade crossing |
| 40 | Erwin Road (beginning at Cameron blvd)
Along the way it passes intersections from:
|
at-grade median-running |
| 41 | Route 147 | bridge |
| 42 | Erwin Road / 9th Street | bridge |
| 43 | Case Street | bridge |
| 44 | Swift Avenue | bridge |
| 45 | Powe Street | bridge |
| 46 | Campus Drive | bridge |
Downtown Durham |
||
| 47 | South Buchanan Boulevard | at-grade crossing |
| 48 | Wilkerson Avenue south of Pettrigrew Street | bridge |
| 49 | South Gregson Street south of Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 50 | South Duke Street north of Memorial Street | at-grade crossing |
| 51 | West Chapel Hill Street at Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 52 | West Pettigrew Steet | at-grade crossing |
| 53 | Blackwell Street / Corcoran Street at Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 54 | South Mangum Street at Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 55 | South Roxboro Street at Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 56 | South Dillard Street at Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 57 | Fayetteville Street at Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 58 | Ramseur Street /Grant Street | at-grade crossing |
| 59 | East Pettigrew Street | at-grade crossing |
| 60 | Colfax Street | at-grade crossing |
| 61 | Murphey Street | at-grade crossing |
| 62 | I-147 | bridge |
| 63 | Linwood Avenue | at-grade crossing |
| 64 | Massey Avenue | at-grade crossing |
| 65 | Price Avenue | at-grade crossing |
| 66 | Cox Avenue | at-grade crossing |
| 67 | Dupree Street | at-grade crossing |
Crossing Type Definitions
“Bridge” = bridge over road (aka “aerial”). This is the best crossing, because there is no interference between trains and cars.
“At-grade Crossing” = Light rail crosses a street. Each such crossing will have barriers and a bell. Traffic will be interrupted for 50 seconds while train crosses. Cars must not pause in such an area, because a train may come by at any time.
“At-grade Median-Running” = Light Rail runs down a median strip in a street. It’s at street level. Erwin Road will be widened on both sides to accommodate light rail in the middle.
“Street-Running” = Light Rail runs along a street and shares the street with pedestrians, cars, and trucks. It’s similar to median-running.
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