What does Exempt really mean at RR Crossings

[wxfree]

I seem to remember, from many moons ago, the Texas driver handbook saying that a rail crossing could be marked as either "exempt" or "closed."  I'm not certain about the second one, but it's what I remember.

In Texas, a school bus is not required to stop at:

"(1)  an abandoned railroad grade crossing that is marked with a sign reading "tracks out of service";  or
(2)  an industrial or spur line railroad grade crossing that is marked with a sign reading "exempt.""

The rule for explosives is different.

"Before crossing a railroad grade crossing, an operator of a vehicle that has an explosive substance or flammable liquid as the vehicle's principal cargo and that is moving at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour:
(1)  shall reduce the speed of the vehicle to 20 miles per hour or less before coming within 200 feet of the nearest rail of the railroad..."

The driver is required to look and listen and not proceed unless it's safe.  This rolling stop is not allowed on a highway within a municipality, where a complete stop is required 15 to 50 feet from the track.

The requirement to slow or stop does not apply to "an abandoned or exempted grade crossing that is clearly marked..."

"Tracks out of service" is the closest thing to "closed" that I found.

I know of an old track that is physically excluded from service, with tracks torn out on both ends, and paved over at some crossings.  The crossing on a major road (this crossing is not paved over) has "exempt" signage now, but didn't for a long time after it became impossible for trains to use the crossing.  Other crossings, including ones that are paved over, have the railroad crossing warning, but no exemption or closure signage.  I think that means certain vehicles have to stop, even though it's impossible for a train to use the rail there.  Taking the signs down (or putting up "exempt" signs) seems to be a smaller project than paving over the crossing, but for some reason it was never done.

[kphoger]

The freshest example in my memory of an [Exempt] crossing on a busy highway was on otherwise-a-freeway US-60 on the south side of Springfield MO, before they redid the US-60/US-65 interchange.

Before:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PaxfJ1YsBoJ6zMwZA
After:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/z9GaSRuWvmVUskCW6

The other direction, mid-project:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PQUUQWgrJJvf4Xjb8

[Rothman]

FSS 316.159
(2) No stop need be made at any such crossing where a police officer, a traffic control signal, or a sign directs traffic to proceed. However, any school bus carrying any school child shall be required to stop unless directed to proceed by a police officer.

Heh.  Interesting that in Florida, it may be the case that school buses have to stop at exempt crossings but regular buses and HAZMATs and the like do not, if I understand what you're saying?

It's not just what I'm saying:  it's what the law says that was already cited.

That clip of it, anyway...

So much easier when state law and standard signage aren't at odds with each other...

[Revive 755]

The freshest example in my memory of an [Exempt] crossing on a busy highway was on otherwise-a-freeway US-60 on the south side of Springfield MO, before they redid the US-60/US-65 interchange.

Before:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PaxfJ1YsBoJ6zMwZA
After:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/z9GaSRuWvmVUskCW6

The other direction, mid-project:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PQUUQWgrJJvf4Xjb8

And going off the 2026 imagery from the second link, it's another example where the track was later abandoned.

[mgk920]

A couple of years ago a bunch of level crossings here in Appleton were marked with 'EXEMPT' signs, even though the line is very much used (also a very likely soon-to-be Amtrak route) and has a decent railroad speed limit.  It was done simply to cut down on street traffic congestion.

Mike

[kphoger]

And going off the 2026 imagery from the second link, it's another example where the track was later abandoned.

I wonder how far north it's been abandoned.  The next major crossing to the north doesn't say [Exempt].

[Dirt Roads]

A couple of years ago a bunch of level crossings here in Appleton were marked with 'EXEMPT' signs, even though the line is very much used (also a very likely soon-to-be Amtrak route) and has a decent railroad speed limit.  It was done simply to cut down on street traffic congestion.

Mike

I'm not familiar with WisDOT's relationship with railroads, but it is fairly commonplace for a State Agency to approach the smaller railroads with a variety of requests related to traffic congestion in/around railroad crossings.  If the railroad is able to impose a permanent "stop-and-flag order" in its timetable, the crossing can be retrofit with "Exempt" signage. 

On crossings equipped with simple flashing light signals (FLS) where the railroad operations are frequent enough that rail conditions aren't so rusty yet, the train crew can determine that the FLS is properly functioning and the brakeman can ride on the front of the hood as still serve as "flagman".  On crossings equipped with flashing light signals and gates (FLS&G) with the same rail conditions, the train crew can determine that the gates are down (as well as the FLS are properly functioning); in such cases, many railroads allow the brakeman to stay in the locomotive and allow the FLS&G to serve as the the "flagman".

So therefore (huffing up in pontification mode), many of the major railroads push for all of the crossings on a particular branch line (with modest traffic) be fully equipped with FLS&G so that train crews can be reduced to a two-man crew to allow the conductor to serve as the "flagman" in those rare instances where they need to get out of the cab and "ride front-end", then all of those affected crossings can get the "Exempt" signage.  Unless the DOT is either (a) flush with lots of crossing improvement cash; or (b) desperate; the railroad's bubble gets burst and life goes back to normal.  Most shortlines can't operate with more than two-man crews.  And most mainlines are properly equipped to allow two-man crews.  By the way, Federal regulations regarding train crew size are in the process of changing (see 49 CFR Part 218 effective June 18, 2024), but most of the changes are the rare instances of "One Person Operation" which certainly doesn't allow for any "Exempt" signage.

Obviously, crossings with severe rusty rail conditions are subject to loss-of-train-detection at any time (particularly problematic for shorter trains).  In such cases, the railroad must implement temporary "stop-and-flag" orders and most railroads required the brakeman to walk ahead of the train into the middle of the crossing and flag it the "ole' fashioned way".

[Revive 755]

I wonder how far north it's been abandoned.  The next major crossing to the north doesn't say [Exempt].

The Battlefield Road crossing is missing the eastbound cantilever though.  Could be a sign that section is planned for removal (going off of the progession for the CN crossing of IL 104 near Divernonhttps://maps.app.goo.gl/q9QNpGTg5JUyouQa9).

Going off of Streetview, the BNSF line is probably gone to at least near the new Galloway/Lone Pine roundabout, https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZPpXyoSPsSWc7Bzk7

[Dirt Roads]

I wonder how far north it's been abandoned.  The next major crossing to the north doesn't say [Exempt].

The Battlefield Road crossing is missing the eastbound cantilever though.  Could be a sign that section is planned for removal (going off of the progession for the CN crossing of IL 104 near Divernonhttps://maps.app.goo.gl/q9QNpGTg5JUyouQa9).

Somebody must think it is abandoned here.  Notice that the FLS cantilever for the opposing direction of traffic is missing at the time of GSV (as are most of the signage leading up to the crossing).  Looks like something big wiped everything out.  If the crossing is still active, it either needs to be continuously guarded by police or temporarily guarded with an R1-1 Stop sign (and eventually with appropriate MUTCD-compliant railroad signage, probably an R15-1 crossbuck with a R1-2 Yield sign).  Note that some states require other forms of temp signage.

[kphoger]

Did some reading up...

That rail line fed coal to the James River Power Station, which closed down in January–February 2021 but had already transitioned away from coal 5½ years earlier.  By that time, running coal to the plant was the only use for the Kissick Branch (other than storing railcars).  The tracks are being ripped up for conversion to the Chadwick Flyer Trail up to around Sunshine Street, but the portion of the line north of Bennett St is still used for service to/from the Kraft–Heinz factory there.

[kphoger]

I found this regarding the Chadwick Flyer Trail in Springfield, MO:

BNSF plans to keep ownership of track and right of way north of Sunshine