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2009 National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Training Conference:
DRAFT Preliminary Program

[Updated October 1, 2009]

Sunday, November 15, 2009
 
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Exhibitor Set-up
(Iberville/Bienville)
2:00 - 7:00 p.m. Conference Registration Desk Open
(LaNouvelle Mezzanine)
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
(LaNouvelle E/W & Iberville/Bienville)
 
Monday, November 16, 2009
 
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Conference Registration Desk Open
(LaNouvelle Mezzanine)
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Area Open
(Iberville/Bienville)
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by BNSF
8:00 - 10:00 a.m. Welcome Session (General Session)
(LaNouvelle E/W)
Session Moderator: Steve Roop, Texas Transportation Institute

Presentation of the Colors - Orleans Parish Color Guard
Welcome from Orleans Parish Sherriff - (invited)
Welcome from Sheriff M. Gusman, Orleans Parish - (invited)
Welcome from LaDOTD - Janice Williams, Chief, Systems Engineering Div LaDOTD
Keynote Address from Honorable Bobby Jindal, Governor, Louisiana - (invited)
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Break
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by KCS
10:30 - 12:00 noon Rail Safety Improvement Act/FRA Initiatives (General Session)
(LaNouvelle E/W)
Session Moderator: Steve Roop, Texas Transportation Institute

Overview of RSIA, PTC, Fostering new technologies, grade separations
Jo Strang, FRA

National Inventory Updates and XML Reporting
Tom Woll, FRA
Arnel Rivera, FRA

North Carolina Inventory Guidebook
Ric Cruz, NCDOT

Mandates on the ENS
Beth Crawford, FRA
12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m. Lunch w/ Speaker
(Queen Anne)
Session Moderator: Steve Roop, Texas Transportation Institute

Mr. Rick Lifto and Mr. Gil Stricklin, Railroad Chaplains of America Program
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. 3 CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
Pedestrian Crossings
(Orleans)
Session Moderator: Bill Barringer, Norfolk Southern

RSIA & Guidance to RRs on Pedestrian Safety at Stations
Brian Gilleran, FRA

Railroad Perspectives on Pedestrian Crossings and Pathways
Tim Huya, BNSF

NS Pedestrian Crossing Program
Rick Ray, NS

Light Rail, Transit and Commuter Rail
(LaNouvelle E)
Session Moderator: Sam Bell, Amtrak

TRB Incompatible Uses for Encroachment
Dennis Kearns, BNSF

Safety Education Efforts/Updates
Alissa Schram, Capital Metro

Light Rail Collisions with Vehicles at Signalized Intersections
Kelley Pecheux, SAIC

PEERS Project Review
(LaNouvelle W)
Session Moderator: Suzanne Horton, Volpe

Safety Act Provisions and Update on Projects
Steve Laffey, Illinois Commerce Commission

Elmhurst PD Railroad Safety Program
Commander Jim Kveton, Elmhurst PD (invited)
3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Break
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by CN
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. 3 CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
Modeling Corridors
(Orleans)
Session Moderator: Darin Kosmak, TxDOT

GRADEC Update and Case Studies
Karen McClure, FRA

Case Studies from Louisiana and North Carolina

Modeling Rail Corridors
Joe Liliekis, HNTB

Passive Crossings
(LaNouvelle E)
Session Moderator: Trey Jesclard, LaDOTD

RSIA and Sight Distance Model Law
Brian Gilleran, FRA

Status of Stop and Yield Sign Program
Tim Huya, BNSF

Enforcement Issues
(LaNouvelle W)
Session Moderator: John Dining, CN

Video Monitoring Program
John Sharkey, CTC, Inc.
Melvin Thomas, BNSF

GCCI Training in Police Academies
Allen Pepper, KCS
Ralph Mitchell, LADPS

Law Enforcement and Judiciary Education Efforts
Jeff Warner, TTI
 
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
 
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Conference Registration Desk Open
(LaNouvelle Mezzanine)
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Area Open
(Iberville/Bienville)
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by RGPC & CTC, Inc.
8:30 - 10:00 a.m. 3 CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
Trespassing
(Orleans)
Session Moderator: Marco daSilva, Volpe

Safety Act Requirements & Update from Trespassing Workshops
Mike Grizkewitsch, FRA

OLI/Exit 10/CSX
Cliff Stayton, CSX

Transport Canada Trespassing Program
Daniel LaFontaine, Transport Canada

Human Factors
(LaNouvelle W)
Session Moderator: John Mounce, TTI

Countermeasures to Reduce Suicides on the Rails
Karen Marshall, American Association of Suicidology

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of Locomotive Engineers
Michael Coplen, FRA (invited)

Driver Conspicuity Issues
Sesto Vespa, Transport Canada

Complex Crossings
(LaNouvelle E)
Session Moderator: Tim Huya, BNSF

Troy, Alabama's Complex Crossing
Craig Thomas, Alabama DOT
Ronnie McKenzie, Gulf & Ohio Railway

Before & After Report on Troy, Al. Crossing
Jay Lindly, University of Alabama

Improving Complex Crossings
Darin Kosmak, TxDOT
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Break
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by Union Pacific
10:30 - 12:00 noon 3 CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
Private Crossings
(Orleans)
Session Moderator: Ken Rouse, Union Pacific

Closing Private Crossings
Tom Domres, TKDA
Patrick Halstead, Union Pacific

North Carolina Private Crossing Safety Initiatives
Paul Worley, NCDOT

FHWA Perspective
Betsey Tramonte, FHWA (invited)

Quiet Zones & Train Horns
(LaNouvelle W)
Session Moderator: Ron Ries, FRA

Orange County Quiet Zone Treatments and Applications
Eric Hankinson, RailPros
Darrell Johnson, Orange County Transportation Authority
Ron Mathieu, SCRRA

Ohio Safety Corridor Project
Susan Kirkland, OPUC (invited)

Evaluation of Safety Impacts on Quiet Zones
FRA

Aspects of Safety Operations
(LaNouvelle E)
Session Moderator: Bill Browder, AAR

Highway Pavement Marking Practices
Rick Campbell, RGPC

Rehabilitating Crossing Surfaces
Jerry Rose, University of Kentucky

Using LTAP to Communicate
Marie Walsh, LaTAP
12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m. Lunch
(on your own)
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Railroad Programs & Initiatives (General Session)
(LaNouvelle E/W)
Session Moderator: Cliff Stayton, CSX

Crossing Closure Guidelines
Beth Crawford, FRA

KCS and LaDOTD Corridor Updates
Allen Pepper, KCS
Trey Jesclard, LaDOTD

Pilot Program of Blinking Lights on Stop Signs
Lyn Hartley, BNSF
Rick Campbell, RGPC

New Orleans Rail Gateway
Dean Goodell, LaDOT
3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Break
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by Union Pacific
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Federal Initiatives (General Session)
(LaNouvelle E/W)
Session Moderator: Steve Roop, TTI

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Honorable Jeffery Paniati, FHWA (invited)

Section 130 Updates
Ken Epstein, Federal Highway Administration (invited)

Reauthorization Issues/Success and Importance of the Program
Panel discussion:
Paul Worley, North Carolina DOT
Steven Edwards, Mississippi DOT
Susan Kirkland, Ohio PUC
6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Dinner/Award Ceremony
(Queen Anne)
 
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
 
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Conference Registration Desk Open
(LaNouvelle Mezzanine)
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Area Open
(Iberville/Bienville)
7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast (in Exhibit Area)
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by NS
8:30 - 10:00 a.m. State Action Plans (General Session)
(LaNouvelle E/W)
Session Moderator: Carolyn Cook, FRA

Safety Act Requirements

Guidance from State's with Plan's in Place
Trey Jesclard, LaDOTD
Darin Kosmak, TxDOT
Steve Laffey, ICC
Tammy Wagner, FRA

Implications of Traffic Connections
Mark Morrison, Wisconsin DOT
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Break
(Iberville/Bienville)
Sponsored by RailPros
10:30 - 11:50 a.m. Research Updates (General Session)
(LaNouvelle E/W)
Session Moderator: Anya Carroll, Volpe

Review of Research Needs Workshop
Marco DaSilva, Volpe

Crossing Safety Research in Canada
Sesto Vespa, Transport Canada

Reliability of 4-Quad Gates on HSR Corridors
Adrian Hellman, Volpe

Train & Light-Vehicle Horns & RR Crossing Sound Levels
Matt Brach, Brach Engineering
11:50 - 12:00 noon Conference Close
(LaNouvelle E/W)
Session Moderator: Steve Roop, TTI

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