(a) Purpose. This section provides the guidelines and
specifications for the installation and maintenance of reflecting
material at all public railroad grade crossings that are not protected
by active warning devices, as required by Transportation Code, §471.004.
(b) Installation.
(1) The department shall affix retroreflectorized material
to the back of crossbucks and support posts at all public railroad
grade crossings that are not protected by active warning devices in
a manner that reflects light from vehicle headlights to focus attention
on the presence of such a crossing.
(2) Each railroad company owning or operating a grade
crossing that is not protected by an active warning device shall permit,
by written agreement, department personnel to enter railroad company
property at that crossing to affix retroreflectorized material as
required under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) All new installations or replacements of crossbucks
and supports must meet the design standards and retroreflectorized
material requirements of the department and the Texas Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways that are applicable
at the time of the installation or replacement, as appropriate. The
design standards and retroreflectorized material requirements are
available free of charge on request from the department at: Texas
Department of Transportation, Rail Division, 125 East 11th Street,
Austin, Texas 78701-2483.
(c) Maintenance. Subject to subsections (d) and (e)
of this section, the maintenance of crossbucks, support posts, and
retroreflectorized material is the responsibility of the railroad
company owning or operating the crossing.
(d) Initial cost. The initial cost of affixing the
retroreflectorized material will be paid from money appropriated to
the department for the purpose of installing safety devices at public
grade crossings.
(e) Maintenance costs. The costs of maintaining the
retroreflectorized material installed under this section is the responsibility
of:
(1) the department if the crossing is on a public roadway
that is designated as part of the state highway system; or
(2) the city or county government that is responsible
for the maintenance of the public roadway if the crossing is on a
public roadway that is not designated as part of the state highway
system.
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