The 2008 Rail Corridor Safety Conference:
A Railroad Runs Through It
Working together for Mobility & Safety

The Rail Corridor Safety Conference 2008 (Western Region) was held May 12 - May 14, 2008 at the Marriott Ventura Beach, in Ventura California.

2008 Program [PDF, 1.2M]

Presentations from the 2008 conference are now available.

This conference focused on the latest developments in rail corridor safety issues, highway-rail grade-crossing safety improvements, and planning and construction around rails by local agencies. This conference brought together all of the parties working together to improve mobility and safety in rail transportation corridors: state and federal regulators; cities, counties, and transit agencies; heavy rail, light rail and short line operators. Attendees heard the latest updates on regulations, legal precedents, technology, and jurisdictions and to be part of the ongoing dialogue on the best ways to maintain and improve conditions. This was an important venue to meet the experts, debate the issues, and network with peers, colleagues and partnering agencies.

The conference was co-organized by the Federal Railroad Administration and the University of California Berkeley's Institute of Transportation Studies

Topics Discussed
Rail Corridor Safety Conference 2008 Program [PDF, 1.2M]

• The Corridor Perspective
• National Updates
• Development Around the Rails
• Crossing Diagnostics - The Big Picture
• Rail Safety, Security & Preparedness
• Grade Crossing Design and Practices
• Pedestrian Crossings & Trespass
• Corridors/Shared Use
• Local Agency Policy Workshops
• Private Crossings
• Funding Sources
• Community Outreach
• Innovations for Rail Safety

Speakers included:

• Federal Railroad Officials
• State Regulators
• Safety Advocates
• Consultants
• Representatives from Local, Federal and State Transportation and Planning Agencies
• Transit Agencies

Attendees included:

• Heavy and light rail operators, including freight, commuter, and passenger lines
• State DOT and public utility staff with rail or highway oversight responsibility
• City and county engineers and managers responsible for roadway with at-grade rail crossings
• Local elected officials concerned about rail intersection safety
• Rail, highway, or traffic engineering consultants
• Academics and researchers
• Suppliers of crossing equipment

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