Grade Crossing Surface Repair

The grade crossing surface repair program participates in the cost to rebuild highway-railroad grade crossings. This program assists in maintaining safe and smooth crossing surfaces at highway-railroad crossings.

Only public crossings are eligible for assistance. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, railroads and spur track owners. Either a railroad owner or a roadway jurisdiction may initiate discussions regarding surface repair funding; however, the application must be initiated by the roadway jurisdiction and approved by the railroad.

Funding Availability

Nine hundred thousand dollars in an annual appropriation from Iowa's Road Use Tax Fund assists cities, counties and railroads with surface repairs. Projects selected for funding receive 60% of the cost of repairs from the Grade Crossing Surface Repair Fund. The highway authority and railroad must each agree to pay 20% of the total project cost. When a rail spur at a public crossing is owned by a private industry or agricultural cooperative, that entity assumes the costs normally paid by the railroad as owner of the track.

The available funding allows a limited number of surface improvements each year. Currently, there is a multi-year wait for funding. Roadway jurisdictions are encouraged to consider applying for funding before a crossing condition deteriorates significantly.

The Iowa DOT also allocates funds from the Primary Road Fund to rebuild and repair highway-railroad grade crossing surfaces on state primary roads. This allows the grade crossing surface repair fund to focus on city and county projects, reducing the existing backlog of projects.

Project Selection

Projects are selected from applications received for eligible projects.

A portion of the repair fund, not to exceed 50 percent annually, is set aside to meet critical or atypical needs. The criteria used to identify priorities for this portion of the funding include, but are not limited to:

• condition of the crossing;
• safety concerns;
• utilization of the rail line;
• train and motor vehicle traffic density at the site - special consideration may be given to heavy truck traffic; and
• recent or planned development or construction in the vicinity of the crossing

Remaining funds are allocated to eligible projects in the order completed applications are received by the department. Projects will be advanced if funding becomes available.

Recommendations are made annually to the Iowa Transportation Commission for funding approval.

Engineering Standards

If a railroad performing or contracting a highway-railroad grade crossing improvement lacks specific company standards, the joint BNSF/UP engineering crossing standards shall be used as guidance.

Application Forms and Information

An application for funding must be initiated by the roadway jurisdiction and approved by the railroad prior to submittal. Roadway jurisdictions can find contact information for the state's railroads here, if unsure of your local railroad contact.

Applications will be accepted on the forms provided by the department and are accepted throughout the year. Submit your application via e-mail to Kris Klop, crossing surface program manager.

Note: Application is best viewed in Internet Explorer. Contact Kris Klop at 515-239-1108 for any technical issues opening the form. The electronic form submission system is temporarily out of service.

Additional Information

Iowa Administrative Rule 761--821 is the implementing directive for Iowa Code sections 312.2(2), 327G.29 and 327G.30

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD),2003 - Part 8, Traffic Controls for Highway-Rail Grade Crossings

Part 8 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices (MUTCD), published by the Federal Highway Administration contains guidance on the design and placement of traffic control at highway-railroad crossings.  Advance warning signs (circular signs) and pavement markings at a highway-railroad crossing are the responsibility of the highway authority (city, county or state).  Damaged or illegible signs or markings should be reported to the highway authority (the agency that maintains the roadway.)  Crossbucks, lights, lights and gates or other signage at the crossing are the responsibility of the railroad. Damaged or illegible signs or malfunctioning active warning devices (lights or lights and gates) should be reported to the railroad.

The Funding Guide provides information on this and a variety of other funding programs available for transportation projects.

Applications, Recommendations and Awards

Applications

Awards (Approved by the Iowa Transportation Commission)

Railroad Crossing Project Map

Crossing Safety Financial Assistance

Programs to provide financial assistance are available for safety improvements at highway-railroad crossings. A brief summary of each is included below with links to further information on eligibility and the application process.

Highway-railroad Crossing Assistance Programs

Grade Crossing Surface Repair Program

The Grade Crossing Surface Repair Fund will pay 60 percent of the cost of repairs, with the responsible roadway jurisdiction and the railroad company each paying 20 percent. Eligible projects are generally funded in the order applications are received by the department.

Federal-Aid Highway/Rail Crossing Safety Program

The Federal-Aid Highway/Rail Crossing Safety Program will pay 100 percent of the cost of safety improvements such as new crossing signal devices, upgrades to existing signals, improve crossing surfaces, and other low-cost improvements such as increased sight distance, widened crossings, increased signal lens size or crossing closures. A benefit-cost ratio is used to rank eligible projects for funding.

Iowa's Grade Crossing Safety Program

The Iowa Grade Crossing Safety Program assists railroads with funding for the maintenance of crossing signals installed since 1973.