Orami01/Test3 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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dependent upon the number of hardcopy submissions received and the amount
of time to conduct manual data entry.
Q 17. What is the best way to get started updating records for a State or Railroad
that has thousands of crossings?
For States and Railroads with a large number of crossings, the best way to get
started updating the Crossing Inventory is to first determine which crossings have
been entered into the Crossing Inventory. This can be accomplished by
verification of the Inventory number in both the Crossing Inventory and the
respective State or Railroad File. Compare only the Inventory Numbers, and then
resolve the status of those that don’t match (Open or Closed, or non-existent in
either file). Next, carry the comparison further by verifying Public versus Private
crossing type, and then State or Operating Railroad. Once there is agreement
with regards to the existing number of crossings, Open or Closed status, Public
or Private crossing type, and in which State or on which Operating Railroad, then
the balance of the information can be checked, verified, and updated.

Q 18. How do I get the most current Crossing Inventory data for our State or
Railroad?
The most current Crossing Inventory data is available for download from FRA’s
Safetydata Web site.
Q 19. We are planning to develop our own database software for our own
crossing inventory file. Are there consultants that have done this before
that we can contact, and is there anything specific that we should know or
do before we get started?
There are several States and Railroads who have hired consulting firms to
develop electronic databases for their crossing inventory records and for
managing their crossing improvement program and contracts. You will need to
contact the individual States or Railroads to determine which firms have
performed in a satisfactory manner. However, if you decide to contract with a firm
directly, you should instruct them to develop their data file structure to be
compatible with the FRA data file so that data can be directly transferred to FRA
without conversion. The consultant should use the Electronic Submission
Instructions when developing the software. The Electronic Submission
Instructions can be found on the Grade Crossing Inventory System (GCIS)
secure site.
Q 20. Where can I find information regarding the Format and Description of the
Crossing Inventory Data Fields for electronic submissions?
Appendix E-6
Information regarding the Format and Description of the Crossing Inventory data
fields can be found in the Electronic Submission Instructions. The Electronic
Submission Instructions can be found on the GCIS secure site.
Q 21. How do I get crossing inventory data and information for my locale?
Crossing records can be accessed from FRA’s Safetydata Web site.
Q 22. Who is responsible for reporting a closed crossing in the Inventory and
how is it done?
The primary operating railroad must report the closure of a highway-rail or
pathway crossing to the Crossing Inventory, but the State may also report the
closure of a public crossing.
Reporting a closed a crossing in the Crossing Inventory is a very simple process.
A closed crossing can be reported by completing the Header information and
checking “closed” in section C, “Reason for Update”, in the Header of the
Inventory Form. The date of the closure, if known, may be shown in Part I.30 or
Part I.31, as appropriate.
A crossing that is closed remains in the Crossing Inventory forever. The
Inventory number remains with that location forever, and the number cannot be
reused at a different location. However, a crossing that has been closed can be
reopened in the Crossing Inventory at any time in the future by simply updating
the inventory record.
Q 23. How do I report a crossing that has previously been closed and is now reopened?
Complete all of the data fields in the Header and check the “Re-Open” box in
Item C of the Header of the Inventory Form. The reporting agency should
coordinate with the other agency to update all of the data fields on the Inventory
Form that have been assigned to the State and railroad for updating by Appendix
B to the Inventory Guide.
Finally, if a hardcopy Inventory Form update will be submitted to the Crossing
Inventory, the Submission Information section of the Inventory Form will also
need to be completed.
Q 24. How do I report the sale of a highway-rail or pathway crossing to the
Crossing Inventory?
First, complete all of the data fields in the Header of the Inventory Form. If the
sale of the highway-rail or pathway crossing will result in a new primary operating
Appendix E-7
railroad, check the “Change in Primary Operating RR” box in Item C of the
Header of the Inventory Form. However, if the sale of the Highway-Rail or
Pathway Crossing will not result in a new primary operating railroad, check
“Change in Data” box in item C of the Header of the Inventory Form.
In addition, if the sale of the crossing will result in a change to any of the
following data fields, update the changed field:
 Item 1 in Part I of the Inventory Form (“Primary Operating Railroad”)
 Item 15 in Part I of the Inventory Form (“Parent RR”)
 Item 16 in Part I of the Inventory Form (“Crossing Owner”)
Finally, if a hard-copy Inventory Form update will be submitted to the Crossing
Inventory, complete the Submission Information section of the Inventory Form as
well.
Q 25. Who needs to provide Latitude / Longitude data and in what format?
For new or previously unreported crossings, the primary operating railroad is
required to obtain and provide this information when submitting the initial
Inventory Form to the Crossing Inventory. By design, data cannot be added to
the Crossing Inventory without all applicable information being provided for a new
or previously unreported crossing.
States are expected to provide updates for latitude and longitude data for public
highway-rail crossings, including those that are grade-separated, and all public
pathway crossings. Railroads are to provide updates for latitude and longitude
data for private highway-rail crossings, including those that are grade-separated,
and all private pathway crossings.
The FRA Office of Safety uses the WGS-84 (World Geodetic System 1984)
datum standard. The Crossing Inventory requires Latitude and Longitude to be
submitted in “Degrees.Digital Degrees” (DDD) format. The coordinates are to be
measured at the center of the crossing. The measurement values are to be
entered in decimal (DDD) format as (nn.nnnnnnn) for Latitude and as (-

dependent upon the number of hardcopy submissions received and the amount

of time to conduct manual data entry.

Q 17. What is the best way to get started updating records for a State or Railroad

that has thousands of crossings?

For States and Railroads with a large number of crossings, the best way to get

started updating the Crossing Inventory is to first determine which crossings have

been entered into the Crossing Inventory. This can be accomplished by

verification of the Inventory number in both the Crossing Inventory and the

respective State or Railroad File. Compare only the Inventory Numbers, and then

resolve the status of those that don’t match (Open or Closed, or non-existent in

either file). Next, carry the comparison further by verifying Public versus Private

crossing type, and then State or Operating Railroad. Once there is agreement

with regards to the existing number of crossings, Open or Closed status, Public

or Private crossing type, and in which State or on which Operating Railroad, then

the balance of the information can be checked, verified, and updated.

Q 18. How do I get the most current Crossing Inventory data for our State or

Railroad?

The most current Crossing Inventory data is available for download from FRA’s

Safetydata Web site.

Q 19. We are planning to develop our own database software for our own

crossing inventory file. Are there consultants that have done this before

that we can contact, and is there anything specific that we should know or

do before we get started?

There are several States and Railroads who have hired consulting firms to

develop electronic databases for their crossing inventory records and for

managing their crossing improvement program and contracts. You will need to

contact the individual States or Railroads to determine which firms have

performed in a satisfactory manner. However, if you decide to contract with a firm

directly, you should instruct them to develop their data file structure to be

compatible with the FRA data file so that data can be directly transferred to FRA

without conversion. The consultant should use the Electronic Submission

Instructions when developing the software. The Electronic Submission

Instructions can be found on the Grade Crossing Inventory System (GCIS)

secure site.

Q 20. Where can I find information regarding the Format and Description of the

Crossing Inventory Data Fields for electronic submissions?

Appendix E-6

Information regarding the Format and Description of the Crossing Inventory data

fields can be found in the Electronic Submission Instructions. The Electronic

Submission Instructions can be found on the GCIS secure site.

Q 21. How do I get crossing inventory data and information for my locale?

Crossing records can be accessed from FRA’s Safetydata Web site.

Q 22. Who is responsible for reporting a closed crossing in the Inventory and

how is it done?

The primary operating railroad must report the closure of a highway-rail or

pathway crossing to the Crossing Inventory, but the State may also report the

closure of a public crossing.

Reporting a closed a crossing in the Crossing Inventory is a very simple process.

A closed crossing can be reported by completing the Header information and

checking “closed” in section C, “Reason for Update”, in the Header of the

Inventory Form. The date of the closure, if known, may be shown in Part I.30 or

Part I.31, as appropriate.

A crossing that is closed remains in the Crossing Inventory forever. The

Inventory number remains with that location forever, and the number cannot be

reused at a different location. However, a crossing that has been closed can be

reopened in the Crossing Inventory at any time in the future by simply updating

the inventory record.

Q 23. How do I report a crossing that has previously been closed and is now reopened?

Complete all of the data fields in the Header and check the “Re-Open” box in

Item C of the Header of the Inventory Form. The reporting agency should

coordinate with the other agency to update all of the data fields on the Inventory

Form that have been assigned to the State and railroad for updating by Appendix

B to the Inventory Guide.

Finally, if a hardcopy Inventory Form update will be submitted to the Crossing

Inventory, the Submission Information section of the Inventory Form will also

need to be completed.

Q 24. How do I report the sale of a highway-rail or pathway crossing to the

Crossing Inventory?

First, complete all of the data fields in the Header of the Inventory Form. If the

sale of the highway-rail or pathway crossing will result in a new primary operating

Appendix E-7

railroad, check the “Change in Primary Operating RR” box in Item C of the

Header of the Inventory Form. However, if the sale of the Highway-Rail or

Pathway Crossing will not result in a new primary operating railroad, check

“Change in Data” box in item C of the Header of the Inventory Form.

In addition, if the sale of the crossing will result in a change to any of the

following data fields, update the changed field:

 Item 1 in Part I of the Inventory Form (“Primary Operating Railroad”)

 Item 15 in Part I of the Inventory Form (“Parent RR”)

 Item 16 in Part I of the Inventory Form (“Crossing Owner”)

Finally, if a hard-copy Inventory Form update will be submitted to the Crossing

Inventory, complete the Submission Information section of the Inventory Form as

well.

Q 25. Who needs to provide Latitude / Longitude data and in what format?

For new or previously unreported crossings, the primary operating railroad is

required to obtain and provide this information when submitting the initial

Inventory Form to the Crossing Inventory. By design, data cannot be added to

the Crossing Inventory without all applicable information being provided for a new

or previously unreported crossing.

States are expected to provide updates for latitude and longitude data for public

highway-rail crossings, including those that are grade-separated, and all public

pathway crossings. Railroads are to provide updates for latitude and longitude

data for private highway-rail crossings, including those that are grade-separated,

and all private pathway crossings.

The FRA Office of Safety uses the WGS-84 (World Geodetic System 1984)

datum standard. The Crossing Inventory requires Latitude and Longitude to be

submitted in “Degrees.Digital Degrees” (DDD) format. The coordinates are to be

measured at the center of the crossing. The measurement values are to be

entered in decimal (DDD) format as (nn.nnnnnnn) for Latitude and as (-