Just came across this video of an Amtrak train rolling through a grade crossing in Windsor Locks, CT. A fairly normal occurrence. The crossing is to the right of the intersection. Everything seems in order except for what happens starting at 0:41.
https://youtu.be/eE1GXsxs69g?t=41 (https://youtu.be/eE1GXsxs69g?t=41)
Is it normal for this to happen at grade crossings adjacent to an intersection?
For reference, the light at this intersection is single-direction permissive phases across (from the perspective of the video), one protected phase oncoming, then a bi-directional permissive phase. Also, there is no left turn heading northbound (forward).
Since the signal for the right turn lane uses circular signals, not arrows, it's counter-intuitive and probably against MUTCD to show a red ball for right-turns and a green ball for straight-through traffic and have both signals viewable at the same time. The flashing ball for through traffic is probably the only way around that without having to change the right-turn signal to use arrows. Definitely an unusual setup and not one I've ever seen before, but that's my best explanation.
I've seen this a lot. In Toledo, OH, at the intersection of Kenwood Blvd. and Douglas, the traffic signal there went into all-red flash whenever the adjacent RR signals were activated. This section of track was ripped out in 2010, but a gravel path and pave-over is present. The grade crossing at Central Ave. north of there did the same thing.
https://goo.gl/maps/ggkHu9uPzPu (https://goo.gl/maps/ggkHu9uPzPu)
This was the former Toledo Terminal switching line, which literally made a complete loop around the city until 1982, when the Maumee River bridge just north of the Ohio Turnpike was damaged in a derailment. The bridge is currently being demolished.
The traffic signal still has a single stanchion east of the tracks so people waiting for a train to pass can see it. From what I remember, it flashed red as well, but I would expect that it turned solid red beforehand to clear the crossing. Note how the mast arms, which are unchanged since 1974 at the latest, essentially "simulate" a diagonal span-wire.
In downtown Fresno, all the signals near the rail line go to flashing red in all directions when a freight train goes by. As the trains can take 5+ minutes to clear the crossing, the entire area would get backed up if they used standard timings
This is a fairly common occurrence here in Columbus. Not quite the same setup (only one flashing), however. Usually it's all the way around the intersection.
So with the flashing red you could proceed straight after yielding (though everyone else has a red anyways). Yet the van driver just, well, does nothing?
Quote from: SectorZ on February 03, 2019, 04:43:29 PM
So with the flashing red you could proceed straight after yielding (though everyone else has a red anyways). Yet the van driver just, well, does nothing?
I do not understand why they couldn't have it work like this: