"Exempt" RR Xing?

[Peter T. Daniels]

Where NJ-17 crosses I-80 (the northbound goes over it, the southbound
goes under it), there's a single-track railroad crossing, which
presumably is still active because the pavement markings are freshly
painted and there appear to be working red flashing lights (though no
barriers). This morning I noticed that (on the northbound side, at
least) there's a yellow sign reading "Exempt" on the arch carrying
some of the warning lights.

What does that mean?

[Peter T. Daniels]

On Jun 30, 1:01*pm, Stephen Sprunk <step...@sprunk.org> wrote:
> Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> > Where NJ-17 crosses I-80 (the northbound goes over it, the southbound
> > goes under it), there's a single-track railroad crossing, which
> > presumably is still active because the pavement markings are freshly
> > painted and there appear to be working red flashing lights (though no
> > barriers). This morning I noticed that (on the northbound side, at
> > least) there's a yellow sign reading "Exempt" on the arch carrying
> > some of the warning lights.
>
> > What does that mean?
>
> Normally, commercial vehicles (e.g. buses, semis) must stop before
> proceeding across a RR crossing, even if the lights are off and the
> gates are up.

That would definitely not be a good place for every truck to have to
stop.

> The "Exempt" sign means that commercial vehicles are exempt from that
> requirement at that particular crossing. *IIRC, at such a crossing,
> trains must send out a flag man to stop traffic (even if the crossing is
> active) before crossing the road at Restricted speed. *Due to the
> obvious expense and hassle, it's usually only done for branch, spur, and
> yard lines that cross major highways but which don't have the traffic
> levels to warrant the cost of grade separation.

So what sort of traffic _does_ that line have? Even a ten-minute
closure of the road could back up traffic on the GWB and the Lincoln
Tunnel.

[Bolwerk]

Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> So what sort of traffic _does_ that line have? Even a ten-minute
> closure of the road could back up traffic on the GWB and the Lincoln
> Tunnel.

I often wondered that myself. I suspect only night moves.

Or perhaps the line is out of use, but not yet legally abandoned?

[Stephen Sprunk]

Bolwerk wrote:
> Peter T. Daniels wrote:
>> So what sort of traffic _does_ that line have? Even a ten-minute
>> closure of the road could back up traffic on the GWB and the Lincoln
>> Tunnel.
>
> I often wondered that myself. I suspect only night moves.
>
> Or perhaps the line is out of use, but not yet legally abandoned?

It doesn't appear that's the case in this instance, but that's another
use for Exempt signs in general. As long as there are rails in the
pavement or any RR-related equipment (e.g. a crossing signal hut) is
visible, commercial vehicles are required to stop unless there an
"Exempt" sign.

There's one crossing near me where the rails have been paved over but
stick out the sides to the next joint; the rest of the track has been
ripped up, and the crossing equipment is all gone. There's still an
"Exempt" sign posted -- with no cross bucks, other RR-related signs, or
pavement markings.

S

--
Stephen Sprunk "Stupid people surround themselves with smart
CCIE #3723 people. Smart people surround themselves with
K5SSS smart people who disagree with them." --Isaac Jaffe

[Jimmy]

Stephen Sprunk <step...@sprunk.org> wrote:
> As long as there are rails in the
> pavement or any RR-related equipment (e.g. a crossing signal hut) is
> visible, commercial vehicles are required to stop unless there an
> "Exempt" sign.

Cite?

How is a bus driver supposed to distinguish a crossing signal hut from
any other small roadside shed, if there are no rails or railroad
crossing warning signs present?

Jimmy