详情

原文传递 Pilot Programs for Emergency Notification Systems at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.

题名：	Pilot Programs for Emergency Notification Systems at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.
关键词：	*Railroad-grade-crossings.;Texas-; Modernization-; Recommendations-; Telephone-communication.
摘要：	In 1983, Texas established the first toll-free call-in program for the public to notify a State call center of problems at highway-rail crossings (crossings) equipped with automated warning devices. The State Call Center in turn notified the railroad involved. The call-in system required that a sign be posted at the crossing with the crossings unique identifying number under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Crossing Inventory (Inventory), as well as a toll-free 1-800 telephone number. At the States Emergency Management Center there was a dedicated computer with a modified inventory data base that facilitated the call recipients identification of the relevant crossing and railroad. The Center operator then called the railroad and relayed the reported problem. Today, the Texas system handles more than 1,200 calls per month for the States public and private crossings, even though only those crossings equipped with active warning devices are equipped with the signs containing the call centers toll-free telephone number. Following the successful establishment of this program in Texas, at the urging of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), our Nations major railroads have adopted similar systems for their crossings, sometimes including all crossings, i.e., not limited to just public crossings or to just those equipped with active warning devices. Currently, approximately 50 percent of all crossings are included in such a system. Over 90,000 crossings belonging to our Nation's 600 short line railroads are not included, however. Most of these railroads do not have 24-hour operations, and most do not have the resources to establish such a call-in program. In 1994, Congress directed FRA to conduct pilot emergency notification system (ENS) projects in at least two States to demonstrate the efficiency of such programs. Funding for this effort was provided in Fiscal Year 1997. Initial efforts were spent in a cooperative effort with the Texas Department of Emergency Management evaluating the Texas system. Texas was designated one of the pilot States, and an extensive list of software, hardware, and operating improvements was developed.
报告类型：	科技报告