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Public Utilities Commission of the
State of California

RULES GOVERNING THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CROSS-
INGS AT GRADE OF RAILROADS WITH PUBLIC STREETS, ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Adopted May 22, 1973. Effective June 21, 1973.
(Decision No. 81410, Case No. 9454)

Amended September 25, 1990; Effective October 25, 1990
Resolution No. SR 21 *

Amended April 10, 1991; Effective April 10, 1991
Resolution No. SR 25 +

IT IS ORDERED by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of
California, that the following rules governing construction standards
and maintenance responsibilities at railroad grade crossings with
public streets, roads and highways are approved for use in this State,
unless otherwise ordered or directed by the Commission:

I Purpose of Rules:

The purpose of these rules is to formulate in the State of California,
uniform standards for grade crossing construction in the interests of
greater safety to the public.

II Scope of Rules:

These rules are not intended as complete construction or mainte-
nance specifications but embody requirements which are most im-
portant from the standpoint of public safety. Construction should be
according to accepted good practice for the given local conditions in
all particulars not specified herein.

III Width of Public Crossings:

Grade crossings shall be a width not less than the traveled approach
portions of the adjacent sections of the road, highway or street,
including usable shoulders and sidewalks, if any. If both approaches
are widened the crossing shall also be widened. If only one approach
is widened, an appropriate taper shall be constructed to channelize
traffic over the crossing. Political bodies shall not widen any approach
to a grade crossing beyond the width of existing pavement at the rails
without permission of the Commission.

IV Minimum Width:

Unless the Commission otherwise authorizes, public crossings here-
after constructed shall be not less than twenty-four (24) feet in
effective roadway width measured at right angles with the center line
of the roadway.

V Deceleration and Acceleration Lanes:

Deceleration and Acceleration Lanes for vehicles required to stop
at railroad grade crossings should be provided where public agencies
determine such lanes are necessary.

VI Rail Joints in Crossing Area:

Whenever practicable, rails, switches and frogs should be so placed
or relocated as to avoid switch points, frogs and switches or bolted rail
joints in the paved area of a crossing.

VII Maintenance of Crossing in Track Area:

It shall normally be the responsibility of each railroad corporation to
maintain the crossing area between lines two (2) feet outside of the
rails of each track. When two or more tracks are involved, the railroad
shall maintain the area between the tracks where the distance
between the center lines of tracks is fifteen (15) feet or less measured
at the center line of the road or highway normal to the tracks.

VIII Maintenance of Approaches:

It shall ordinarily be the responsibility of the political subdivision
having jurisdiction over the roadway to maintain the approaches and
those portions of the crossing not included under railroad responsi-
bility above.

IX Work in Track Area:

All work in connection with the construction or alteration of a
crossing at grade between lines two (2) feet outside of the outside
rails shall be performed under the supervision of the railroad.

X Surface of Crossings:

At the time of construction the surface of the highway shall be
installed to conform substantially to the plane of the rails for the
entire area between rails and between tracks and to lines two (2) feet
outside the rails. The alignment and profile of each grade crossing
shall be substantially maintained as constructed.

Where crossings involve two or more tracks, the top of rails for all
tracks shall be brought to the same plane where practicable. The
surface of the highway shall be at the same plane as the top of rails for
a distance of at least two feet outside of rails for either multiple or
single-track crossings. The top of rail plane shall be connected with
the grade line of the highway each way by vertical curves of such
length as is required to provide riding conditions and sight distances
normally applied to the highway under consideration.

Unless special conditions so require, such as curvature and / or train
speeds, the rails of spur or secondary tracks shall not be substantially
superelevated within the limits of the crossing.

XI Approach Grades:

In general, approach grades not in excess of six percent are
desirable, but where not reasonably obtainable due to local topo-
graphical conditions the gradients in the vicinity of the rails shall be
kept as low as feasible.

XII This Order shall not be Retroactive:

This Order shall not be retroactive with respect to grade crossings
lawfully existing on its effective date, except that the Commission
reserves the right to require, by appropriate proceedings, alterations
or improvements at any such grade crossing.

XIII Illustrations:

The illustrations attached hereto are hereby declared to be a part of
this General Order and shall be known as Commission Standards.

XIV Exemptions:

In particular a case, a written request may be made for an
exemption from any of the requirements of standards herein. Such a
request should be accompanied by a full statement of the conditions
existing and the reasons relied on to justify the exemption. It is to be
understood that any exemption so granted shall be limited to the
particular case covered by the request.

Nothing herein shall be construed as limiting the trial installation of
experimental types of grade crossing construction, provided the
Commission has approved such plan in advance of the time the
crossing is constructed.

The Commission reserves the right to modify any of the provisions
of these rules in specific cases, when, in the Commission's opinion,
public interest or safety would be served by so doing.

Compliance with these rules shall not relieve a railroad from any
statutory requirement.

This order shall be effective on and after the 21st day of June, 1973.

Approved and dated at San Francisco, California, this 22nd day of May, 1973.

Filling Material: Asphaltic concrete or other equally suitable paving material, laid flush with top of rails and of thickness corresponding to height of top of rail above the crossties.

Filling Material: Asphaltic concrete or equally suitable paving material.

Plankings: Vertical grain timber of good wearing and decay resisting qualities shall be used, laid with grain vertical.

Planks at ends of crossing to be beveled.

Planks to be substantially secured to ties.

Planking: Vertical grain timber of good wearing and decay resisting qualities shall be used, laid with grain vertical.

Planks at ends of crossing to be beveled.

Planks to be substantially secured to ties.

Filling material: Asphaltic concrete or other equally suitable paving material.

Guard Rail: Tee rail secured to rail or ties by proper fastening forming a flangeway not exceeding 2½ inches in width. Above diagram illustrates suggested methods of installation only.

Planking: Vertical grain timber of good wearing and decay resisting qualities shall be used, laid with grain vertical.

Planks at ends of crossing to be beveled.

Planks to be substantially secured to ties.

Guard Rail: Special rolled guard section or lightweight Tee rail laid on side to provide flangeway not more than 2½ inches wide. Top of flangeway to be substantially same height as top of running rail. Guard rail to be secured to rail or ties by proper fastening.

Planking: Vertical grain timber of good wearing and decay resisting qualities shall be used, laid with grain vertical.

Planks at ends of crossing to be beveled.

Planks to be substantially secured to ties.

Filling Material: Asphaltic concrete or equally suitable paving material.

Guard Rail: Special rolled guard section or lightweight Tee rail laid on side to provide flangeway not more than 2½ inches wide. Top of flangeway to be substantially same height as top of running rail. Guard rail to be secured to rail or ties by proper fastening.

For use in municipalities requiring girder rail construction. Pavement between rails and two feet outside to be consistent in type with adjacent pavement or as specified by local authorities.

Rubber Panels: This type of crossing surface consists of molded rubber panels usually shimmed, steel-reinforced and with a patterned surface, but some are full depth rubber. The panels can be removed and/ or replaced for track maintenance. Flangeway shall not be more than two and one half (2½ ) inches wide.

High Density Polyethylene Modules: This type of crossing surface consists of molded panels, usually with recesses to serve as openings for lag screws or drive spikes. Panels are usually full depth, but some require wood shims. Flangeway shall not be more than two and one-half (2½) inches wide.

Concrete Slabs: This type of crossing surface consists of precast or cast in place reinforced concrete panels that may be removed and reinstalled for maintenance and replacement purposes. These panels are usually placed and removed by powered mechanical equipment because of their weight. Flangeway shall be not more than two and one-half (2½) inches wide.

Steel Sections: This type of crossing surface consists of prefabricated steel sections of an open grating type that may be installed and removed individually for maintenance and replacement purposes. Flangeway shall not be more than two and one-half (2½ ) inches wide.

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