- 18. Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing Sign
- 19. Interconnection of Traffic Signals with Warning Systems
- 20. Interconnected Devices - Inspection and Testing
18. Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing Sign
18.1 The Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign must be as shown in A3.6.6 of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (cited in Part A), must meet the applicable specifications in article A1.6 of that Manual, and must operate:
- in advance of the activation of the light units of the warning system and:
- during the time of the operation of the light units of the warning system.
18.2 The advance activation time must be the greater of the time it takes a vehicle travelling at the road crossing design speed to pass a deactivated Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign and the vehicle to:
- clear the grade crossing before the arrival of railway equipment at the crossing surface where there is a warning system without gates; or
- clear the grade crossing before the gate arms start to descend where there is a warning system with gates.
18.3 Where a Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign is installed, 4 hours continuous battery back-up power must be provided for the Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing signs.
19. Interconnection of Traffic Signals with Warning Systems
19.1 Interconnection is to be provided at grade crossings where the railway design speed is 25 km/h (15 mph) or more and where there is less than 30 m between the nearest rail of a grade crossing and the travelled way of an intersection with traffic signals.
19.2 Except as otherwise specified in these standards or in the Grade Crossings Regulations, the design and operation of the interconnection of traffic signals with a warning system, at a grade crossing that corresponds to the specifications of 19.1, must be in accordance with Part 3.1.10 of the AREMA Communications and Signals Manual (cited in Part A).
19.3 The interconnection of traffic signals with a warning system must:
- provide sufficient time for vehicles to clear the grade crossing before the arrival of railway equipment at the crossing surface.
- prevent movement of road traffic from the intersection towards the grade crossing.
19.4 Where traffic signals are interconnected by warning systems, 4 hours continuous battery back-up must be provided for the traffic signals.
20. Interconnected Devices - Inspection and Testing
Table 20-1 – Required Frequencies of Inspections and Tests for Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing Signs or an Interconnected Traffic Signal
| Item | Elements and Inspection and Testing requirements | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign: for visibility of light units | Annually |
| 2 | Traffic Signals installed at a grade crossing in lieu of a warning system: for cleanliness, visibility of signal heads, and physical damage | Annually |
| 3 | Traffic signal interconnection activation and operation with warning systems | Annually |
| 4 | Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing Sign activation and operation | Annually |