High-speed Rail Raises Concerns

WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of people die each year at railroad crossings. Some recklessly try to outrun trains, others never see danger coming, a wire service reports.

Now, with Amtrak pushing to introduce high-speed trains in densely populated areas, grade-crossing safety has become a more pressing issue.

The federal government is steering money toward crossings where fast trains might operate, and state of ficials are scrambling for ways to improve safety.

"High-speed [rail] corridors are where you have lots of traffic, pedestrians, highway users and lots of trains," said Gerri Hall, president of Operation Lifesaver, a private organization that seeks to reduce train-car and train-pedestrian accidents. "It's a mix that warrants all of our attention."

There were 259,554 grade crossings in the United States in 1999, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, and they were the sites of 402 fatalities. By comparison, 83 people died in commercial airline crashes last year.

In Virginia, there were 217 incidents and nine deaths at the state's 4,849 crossings from 1997 to 2000.

In most areas of the country, the maximum speed for passenger trains is 79 mph. But Amtrak and many state governments are contemplating speeds of 100 to 150 mph for new high-speed trains. Amtrak's new Acela Express already hits a top speed of 150 mph during its Washington-to-Boston trip.

Where speeds exceed 125 mph, the Federal Railroad Administration requires that grade crossings be eliminated.

But that is expensive. Building a bridge to separate rail from road can cost $2 million to $4 million, said Randy Wade, a rail planner with Wisconsin's Department of Transportation.

For now, the federal government is distributing $5.2 million a year for grade-crossing improvements in 10 rail corridors designated for future high-speed service.

Amtrak has asked Congress for permission to raise an additional $12 billion over 10 years for high-speed rail, much of it to improve grade crossings.

Meanwhile, states interested in developing high-speed rail are exploring different approaches.