Railroads

This is the MnDOT Office of Railroads and Waterways Strategic Plan for 1992-1997.

This Environmental Assessment (EA) provides background information for the proposed Willmar Rail Connector and Industrial Access project in the City of Willmar and Willmar Township (page ii). This document includes a discussion of:  Need for the proposed project  Alternatives considered  Environmental impacts and mitigation  Agency coordination and public involvement This EA was prepared as a part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process (42 U.S.C. § 4231 et seq.) and Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process (M.S. 116D). At the federal level, the EA is used to provide sufficient environmental documentation to determine the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate. At the state level, the EA is used to provide sufficient environmental documentation to determine the need for a state EIS or that a Negative Declaration is appropriate.

This project examined grade crossing safety and human factors through a variety of research methods: focus groups, a telephone survey, a literature review, and an analysis based on a new approach by Neil Lerner. Learner notes that drivers should not be treated as reckless, inattentive speeders. Instead, they should be considered decision makers who use information of limited quantity and quality against a background of knowledge shaped primarily by their experience of trains rarely appearing when they cross. Researchers found no evidence that additional education programs or public awareness campaigns had any lasting effect on the frequency of grade crossing accidents. Researchers also found no evidence suggesting that bigger or brighter or other modifications of traditional signs or signals led to favorable changes in drivers' behaviors at grade crossings. The report concludes that using available sensor-processor-message display technology, configured in a way to promote improved driver decision making, offers the potential for grade crossing accident reduction. Researchers recommend additional studies to investigate this potential for grade crossing accident reduction.

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of Minnesotans regarding the dangers of railroad crossings. This study used market research tools such as focus groups and a 500-person telephone survey to determine this information. Results indicated that most Minnesotans do not perceive railroad crossings as dangerous because they rely on the flashing red warning lights at the railroad crossings to inform them of an approaching train. At the same time, they view railroad crossing crashes as a serious safety issue. Installing street lights at dark crossings and installing a flashing light next to the railroad crossing stop sign and the railroads advance warning sign would help reduce railroad crossing crashes. The survey indicated that most Minnesotans would call a 1-800 number to report a railroad crossing problem. The most frequent problems Minnesotans experience at railroad crossings are being blocked by a train for an unreasonable amount of time, having difficulty judging how soon the train would be at the crossing and being stopped at a railroad crossing when no train was present. Lastly, Minnesotans support increasing railroad crossing safety education in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Motor Carrier Services (OMCS), issued a report entitled The Regulation of Passenger Services in Minnesota in 1993 which reviewed the operations of for-hire motor carriers who provide passenger services in Minnesota. This report also discussed the regulations under which they operate. When preparing this report, it became clear that carriers who provide regular route passenger service have experienced a sharp decline in their ridership and breadth of service. The OMCS decided it was necessary to investigate the reasons for this decline and document the level of regular route service currently provided. This report contains these findings.

This photo includes automobiles, river barges, trains, and an airplane, with downtown St. Paul in the background.

This photo includes automobiles, river barges, trains, and an airplane, with downtown St. Paul in the background.

This photo includes automobiles, river barges, trains, and an airplane, with downtown St. Paul in the background.

This photo includes automobiles, river barges, trains, and trucks, with downtown St. Paul in the background.

This Implementation Summary pertains to Report 2016-25, “Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Project Selection,” published June 2016.