With more than 217,000 railroad crossings in the U.S., a jarring, rattled passage over the tracks is not unusual for motorists. Some crossings are smooth; others are in poor repair and consequently hazardous. Because poorly-maintained crossings can damage vehicles, it helps to know who is responsible and who covers the cost - and it is a complicated situation.
How often do railroads cross our roads?
Of the more than 200,000 railroad crossings in the U.S., more than half (about 134,000) intersect with public roads. These conditions exist across the 49 continental states, but in the highest concentrations in Texas, Illinois, California, Kansas and Ohio.
The railroads are largely owned by private companies, with the exception of quasi-public Amtrak. These intersections are prone to accidents and draw much scrutiny from public safety officials. Over the past decade the accident and fatality rate dropped sharply - from 3,237 accidents and 421 deaths in 2001 to 2,004 accidents and 261 deaths in 2010, according to the Federal Railroad Administration - helped by fewer crossings overall and more gated crossings replacing flasher-only ones.
Who maintains the pavement, and why does it break up?
Smooth pavement leading to a crossing may suddenly break up within 30 feet or fewer, just before, between and past the tracks. Ultimately, maintaining those last few yards is the responsibility of the railroad company that owns the tracks, often in a cooperative arrangement with the municipality the railway runs through.
Crossing construction differs from the rest of the road: the weight of freight trains requires a certain flex, traditionally via timber ties or rubber-based systems between the rails. Track systems are often raised, subjecting the embankment to more freeze-thaw cycles - and moisture under the pavement is the classic cause of potholes.
The Challenge of Distance from Asphalt Plants
Many at-grade railroad crossings are located in suburban and rural areas, often miles from the nearest hot mix asphalt plant. For small, isolated repairs, that distance can create a logistical challenge.
Hot mix has a limited working window. A crossing repair may require only a small amount of material, making it difficult to justify a full load. And when crews travel from crossing to crossing, time and temperature are working against them.
EZ STREET® Ambient® Asphalt Technology changes that equation.
Engineered for use at ambient temperature, EZ STREET® can be stored and kept ready until the repair calls for it. There's no need to coordinate production schedules or race against cooling material. Crews take what they need, when they need it.
EZ STREET® is performance-proven, thermally resilient, works in water, and is instantly ready for traffic after compaction. Available in 50 lb bags, 1-ton large format sacks, and loose large format, it gives railroad maintenance crews the flexibility to handle everything from individual crossing repairs to larger maintenance programs.
For railroads managing crossings across hundreds or thousands of miles, that means dependable asphalt technology can be positioned closer to where the work actually happens—ready when crews are.
