The 2006 Western Regional Grade-Crossing Safety Training Conference

• Presentations
• Sponsors
• Exhibitors
• Program Committee

"Northwest Crossings," the 2006 Western Regional Grade Crossing Safety Training Conference, was held June 5-7 in Vancouver, Washington. The conference provided updates on grade crossing regulations, legal proceedings, and technology, and allowed attendees to meet with experts from government agencies and industry, to hear different perspectives on rail safety topics, and to network and discuss experiences with colleagues.

Attendees learned about crossing design, rail security and quiet zones, preemption and sealed corridors, traffic control devices and liability, urban development and community outreach, transit and freight growth, native government concerns, diagnostics and pedestrian safety.

Presentation highlights included: Transit and Light Rail Best Practices, presented as case studies from Salt Lake City, Portland and Seattle; a discussion of Government to Government Relationships, to help cities, counties and railroads understand tribal governments and learn to appropriately and effectively engage tribes in decision making; and Freight Growth, a panel focused on the unique challenges presented by increases in freight traffic and the experiences of three regions that are already facing and addressing these challenges.

Attendees

The conference was attended by more than 200 rail industry professionals working for heavy and light rail operators, state DOTs and public utility commissions, city and county road and public works departments, rail, highway, and traffic engineering consulting firms, academia, and suppliers of crossing equipment.

Sponsors

Platinum Level
BNSF Railway Company
Union Pacific Corporation

Gold Level
Omega Industries

Silver Level
DMJM Harris/AECOM
Korve Engineering
Railway Supply Institute (RSI)

Bronze Level
Federal Railroad Administration
HDR Engineering
Operation Lifesaver - Region 8
Wilson & Co/Hanson Wilson

Exhibitors

DURA-Curb
Filtrona Extrusion
MJG Incorporated
PPI - Performance Polymers
Quixote Transportation
Qwick Kurb
Railroad Controls Limited
S & C Distribution Company
TKDA
Transpo Industries

Program Committee

Chris Adams, Committee Co-chair, Federal Railroad Administration; Chris Arvas, Operation Lifesaver - Idaho; Jalene Forbis, California Short Line Association; Ray Gardner, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission; Charlie Hagood, Federal Railroad Administration; Lori Halstead, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission; Thomas R. Lancaster, Lancaster Engineering; Ron Law, Idaho Public Utilities Commission; Ron Mathieu, Metrolink/SCRRA; Ahmer Nizam, Washington Department of Transportation; Brent Ogden, Korve Engineering; Donna Reid, Committee Co-chair, Technology Transfer Program; Jeffrey Schultz, Washington Department of Transportation; John Shurson, The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company; Carolyn Simmonds, Washington Department of Transportation; Jim Styron, North Dakota Department of Transportation; John Trumbull, Union Pacific; Deborah Wojnicz, Transportation Security Administration