MADISON - The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Railroads has ordered the railroad crossings barrier gates on Wisconsin 69 in Monroe be replaced. But don't look for the change-over to happen soon.
The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad LLC has until Dec. 31, 2017, to finish the job.
Acting on a petition filed by the WSOR in January, the OCR determined Thursday that warning devices at four railroad crossings in the state have to be replaced for the good of public safety. The other three barrier gate crossings are in Dane County.
WSOR will pay 29 percent of the cost of replacing the gates in Monroe, and the OCR will provide funds for the remaining 71 percent. The railroad's portion approximates its labor costs to complete the project. The OCR will use federal and state safety funds to pay its portion of the cost of the signal materials and labor.
According to the OCR orders, WSOR shall remove the barrier gates, maintain the existing automatic flashing lights, and install and maintain conventional gates and other appropriate appurtenances in accordance with their plans that were filed with and approved by the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads. To the extent feasible, the railroad is to re-use the existing signal equipment.
The crossing at Wis. 69 consists of two traffic lanes in each direction divided by a raised median. The crossing warning devices currently consist of cantilevered 12-inch LED, mast-mounted, automatic flashing lights behind the outside curb, with barrier gates in the median for both the northbound and southbound approaches.
Barrier gates were installed to prevent an impact of motor vehicles and trains; conventional signals are meant to act as a warning. There is no delay between warning flashing lights starting and barrier gates beginning to descend. Conventional gates do not begin to descend until three to five seconds after the signals begin to flash.
Conventional gates can break away in a motor vehicle crash. Barrier gates do not meet break-away standards.
The barrier gate arm "locks" in place when in the full down position, allowing the gate to become a barrier capable of stopping a motor vehicle from breaking through the arm and impacting the train passing through the grade crossing. Cables incorporated into the gate arm help "catch" a motor vehicle.
The roadway is completely closed to traffic when barrier gates fail in the down position or are struck by motor vehicles. Unlike conventional gates, they cannot be manually raised by law enforcement personnel before the signal maintainer fixes the problem. Barrier gates sometimes fail in the upright position also. Snow must be kept away from counterweights for them to function properly. There is no permanent method for a gate heater to keep frost off contacts, which can cause the barrier gates to malfunction.
WSOR noted additional labor, equipment and costs to maintain barrier gates and the problems with limited availability, transportation and storage of spare parts.
The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad LLC has until Dec. 31, 2017, to finish the job.
Acting on a petition filed by the WSOR in January, the OCR determined Thursday that warning devices at four railroad crossings in the state have to be replaced for the good of public safety. The other three barrier gate crossings are in Dane County.
WSOR will pay 29 percent of the cost of replacing the gates in Monroe, and the OCR will provide funds for the remaining 71 percent. The railroad's portion approximates its labor costs to complete the project. The OCR will use federal and state safety funds to pay its portion of the cost of the signal materials and labor.
According to the OCR orders, WSOR shall remove the barrier gates, maintain the existing automatic flashing lights, and install and maintain conventional gates and other appropriate appurtenances in accordance with their plans that were filed with and approved by the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads. To the extent feasible, the railroad is to re-use the existing signal equipment.
The crossing at Wis. 69 consists of two traffic lanes in each direction divided by a raised median. The crossing warning devices currently consist of cantilevered 12-inch LED, mast-mounted, automatic flashing lights behind the outside curb, with barrier gates in the median for both the northbound and southbound approaches.
Barrier gates were installed to prevent an impact of motor vehicles and trains; conventional signals are meant to act as a warning. There is no delay between warning flashing lights starting and barrier gates beginning to descend. Conventional gates do not begin to descend until three to five seconds after the signals begin to flash.
Conventional gates can break away in a motor vehicle crash. Barrier gates do not meet break-away standards.
The barrier gate arm "locks" in place when in the full down position, allowing the gate to become a barrier capable of stopping a motor vehicle from breaking through the arm and impacting the train passing through the grade crossing. Cables incorporated into the gate arm help "catch" a motor vehicle.
The roadway is completely closed to traffic when barrier gates fail in the down position or are struck by motor vehicles. Unlike conventional gates, they cannot be manually raised by law enforcement personnel before the signal maintainer fixes the problem. Barrier gates sometimes fail in the upright position also. Snow must be kept away from counterweights for them to function properly. There is no permanent method for a gate heater to keep frost off contacts, which can cause the barrier gates to malfunction.
WSOR noted additional labor, equipment and costs to maintain barrier gates and the problems with limited availability, transportation and storage of spare parts.