New Jersey has more than 3,400 miles of railroad tracks, with nearly 44% of the state’s schools located within a half-mile of an active rail line. Nationally, about one-third of railroad incidents in the past decade have occurred at highway-rail grade crossings. These statistics highlight the importance of improving safety measures at railway crossings and educating road users on best practices.
Common hazards at these crossings include wheels from bicycles or wheelchairs getting stuck in flangeway gaps, limited visibility for crossing users, illegal track crossings, and a lack of crossing gates for vulnerable groups. Trespass-related events, including suicides, are also a concern; however, comprehensive data on such incidents is often unavailable.
Trains extend at least three feet beyond the rails on each side, making it necessary to keep a minimum distance of 25 feet from the tracks. “Trains can travel from either direction, at any time of day or night. You should always expect a train,” according to safety recommendations provided by authorities. Even after one train passes, another may be approaching. At signalized crossings, individuals are advised not to cross until signals stop flashing and barriers are raised. At unsignalized crossings, it is important to look both ways and always anticipate an oncoming train.
Modern trains are described as quiet and fast, requiring about a mile to come to a complete stop. Walking along active rail lines is considered trespassing—a leading cause of rail-related fatalities in the United States—and is illegal.
To address these risks, countermeasures can be passive or active. Passive devices do not warn users about approaching trains but instead direct attention to the crossing through sidewalks, fencing, pavement markings, swing gates, detectable warnings, and signage. Active devices provide alerts using flashing lights with audible signals and pedestrian gates.
Redesigning or reconfiguring grade crossings—such as through grade separation or right-angle realignment—can enhance safety but comes with higher costs and potential impacts like land acquisition needs or environmental concerns. Grade separation offers significant benefits but is expensive; realignment improves visibility but does not remove all conflicts between trains and other road users.
In 2023, the New Jersey Department of Transportation completed a study identifying grade crossings that could be eliminated based on factors like crash history and daily transit usage. While removing some crossings can lower crash risk between trains and road users, officials caution that closures may affect residents without cars and delay emergency response times. They recommend public participation in planning processes for crossing eliminations to ensure accessibility needs are met and risky behaviors are discouraged.
Education efforts led by organizations such as New Jersey Operation Lifesaver focus on public awareness campaigns for various groups—including students, first responders, law enforcement officers—and target outreach in neighborhoods near rail lines and among vulnerable populations like pedestrians with disabilities.
Bicyclists and wheelchair users face particular risks when their wheels get caught in track gaps. Safety guidance advises them to check traffic before approaching tracks and cross at a 90-degree angle—even if tracks are angled—to prevent wheels from getting stuck. Wheelchair users may need assistance or alternative routes; cyclists should consider dismounting when crossing wet tracks. Users are also encouraged to turn off music or remove earphones at railway crossings for better awareness.
Design improvements such as compressible rubber flangeway fillers offer safer surfaces for crossing while accommodating train weight. Configuring bike lanes so riders cross at right angles and installing warning signs can further promote safe behavior around railway crossings.
“It takes a combination of thoughtful design, targeted safety countermeasures, and ongoing public education to greatly reduce risks for all users at railroad crossings,” experts note. Decision-makers must balance costs with benefits when considering improvements such as warning systems or physical changes like grade separations.
