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ballast, and are separated from the roadway pavement by a curb or other such border
or divider.
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Instructions for Completing the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form
4. Is Crossing Illuminated? (street lights within approx. 50 feet from nearest
rail)
Figure 2-82: U.S. DOT-FRA Crossing Inventory Form Part IV, Item 4
Enter a check in the “Yes” box if the crossing is illuminated. Enter a check in the “No”
box if the crossing is not illuminated. An illuminated crossing is defined as having
overhead street lighting that provides reasonable illumination of trains present at the
crossing and is located within approximately 50 feet of the crossing. Since streetlamp
light intensity can vary, sufficient lighting may be provided by streetlights located up to
100 feet from the crossing, in which case, the “Yes” box may be checked.
5. Crossing Surface (on Main Track, multiple types allowed)
Figure 2-83: U.S. DOT-FRA Crossing Inventory Form Part IV, Item 5
Enter a check in the box which most closely fits the following descriptions. If there are
multiple main line tracks that have different types of surfaces, indicate all types on the
Inventory Form.
1. “Timber” – Includes sectional treated timber and full wood plank.
 Sectional treated timber consists of prefabricated units approximately 8 feet in
length of treated timber individually installed and removable for maintenance
and replacement purposes.
 Full wood plank consists of a timber surface that covers the entire crossing
area above the crossties, made of ties, boards, bridge ties, etc.
2. “Asphalt” – Asphalt surface over the entire crossing area.
3. “Asphalt and Timber” – Asphalt surface in the area between flange timber planks
or other material forming flangeway openings that may include the use of rubber.
4. “Concrete” – Includes concrete slab and concrete pavement.
 Concrete slab consists of pre-cast concrete sections that are usually
individually installed and removable for maintenance and replacement
purposes.
 Concrete pavement is a concrete surface that is continuous over the track
area and is not removable except by destruction of the surface.
5. “Concrete and Rubber” – An installed crossing surface that consists of both
concrete and rubber materials.
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Instructions for Completing the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form
6. “Rubber” – Preformed rubber sections that are usually individually installed and
removable for maintenance and replacement purposes.
7. “Metal” – Sections of steel or other metal that are usually individually installed
and removable for maintenance purposes and provide complete coverage of the
crossing area within the track.
8. “Unconsolidated” – Ballast or other unconsolidated material placed over
crossties, with or without planks, on one or both sides of the running rails.
9. “Composite” – An engineered material formed from two or more distinct materials
generally incorporating a polymer binder with reinforcing fibers and/or fillers to
contribute enhanced properties and/or other property modifiers in a polymer
matrix, typically post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene, or HDPE,
that are usually individually installed and removable for maintenance and
replacement purposes .
10. “Other (Specify)” – Surfaces other than the previously described surfaces,
including structural foam, plastic, “high-tech,” etc.
Note: This data field has been assigned to the State for updating. However, if
the railroad installs a new crossing surface, the railroad must report that change.
Enter the month and year that the crossing surface was originally installed and opened
to vehicular traffic in “MM/YYYY” format. Also, enter the width of the crossing, and the
length of the crossing. For new and updated crossing surfaces, the date and
measurements are required. These are optional fields for existing crossings that are
already reported, but encouraged to be submitted by State entities.
 “Width” – The width of the crossing surface is measured in feet perpendicular to
the railroad tracks and is the distance between the outermost edges of the
crossing surface (including multiple tracks if present). In the event that the
crossing surface is indistinguishable from the roadway approach, the width is the
distance between the outermost rails of the crossing plus 4 feet.
 “Length” – The length of the crossing surface is measured in feet parallel to the
tracks, along the improved surface of the crossing, which may extend beyond the
edges of highway pavement and any sidewalks that may be present. In general,
the crossing surface material will extend approximately 3 feet on each side
beyond the roadway/pathway.
Refer to the width and length diagram below:
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Instructions for Completing the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form
Figure 2-84: Width and length measurement diagram
6. Intersecting Roadway Within 500 Feet?
Figure 2-85: U.S. DOT-FRA Crossing Inventory Form Part IV, Item 6
Enter a check in the “Yes” box if the street or highway for this crossing is intersected by
another street or highway within 500 feet, and indicate the estimated distance from the
crossing. Check “No” when no intersection exists within 500 feet. If the street or
highway is intersected by another street or highway on both sides of the crossing,
indicated the estimated distance from the closest intersection.
7. Smallest Crossing Angle
Figure 2-86: U.S. DOT-FRA Crossing Inventory Form Part IV, Item 7
Enter a check in the box that most closely describes the smallest angle between the
roadway and the track.
8. Is Commercial Power Available?
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Instructions for Completing the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form
Figure 2-87: U.S. DOT-FRA Crossing Inventory Form Part IV, Item 8
Enter a check to indicate whether there is commercial electric power available within
500 feet of the crossing. This field is optional.
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Instructions for Completing the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form
6. Part V – Public Highway Information
Figure 2-88: U.S. DOT-FRA Crossing Inventory Form Part V, Public Highway Information, and Submission