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Looking for information regarding whether Town of Morrisville, NC has established a railroad speed limit by ordinance for the segment of track crossing Morrisville Carpenter road near 54 Chapel Hill Road. If so, what is it and where can I find this. Town of Morrisville City Code is not available online. Thanks for any information.
Mike is right, I think the railroads set the speed limit? There are a number
of factors that determine the speed limit as well. You might be able to see
what it is yourself because they have signs beside the tracks stating what
the speed limits are...
Last edited by builder24car; 06-18-2017 at 03:51 PM..
I believe that you will find that Morrisville can attempt to negotiate a speed limit, but cannot unilaterally set a speed limit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by builder24car
Mike is right, I think the railroads set the speed limit? There are a number
of factors that determine the speed limit as well.
Yes, rail speeds are regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration (fra.dot.gov). In addition, railroads themselves can attach further restrictions on their infrastructure based on a variety of factors. Cities/towns can attempt to suggest recommendations in their jurisdictions, but at the end of the day they don't have the authority to impose limits.
Track speed through "downtown" Morrisville is 79 mph for passenger trains and 50 mph for freight trains. However, passenger trains can't always run that fast because there is a 65 mph curve on one side of downtown and a 60 mph curve on the other.
The railroad and NCDOT would love to close every grade crossing in that area. They've closed several of them already. But the one in downtown Morrisville would be difficult to close without building an unsightly and expensive bridge or causing all east-west traffic to detour to an existing bridge.
The railroad and NCDOT would love to close every grade crossing in that area. They've closed several of them already. But the one in downtown Morrisville would be difficult to close without building an unsightly and expensive bridge or causing all east-west traffic to detour to an existing bridge.
The "54 & More" study does recommend grade separating all of that with a loop in the "northeast" quadrant to provide access between 54 and Aviation/M-C. The roadway would be lowered by about 10 feet while the railroad would be raised by about 14 feet. Putting the road over the railroad was also considered, but raising the road 30 feet is less than ideal.
Cost estimate for grade separating was put at $20 million. That's in addition to the $73 million estimate for realigning 54 between Airport and Weston to get the road out of the railroad right-of-way, with the high price tag there mostly due to property acquisition. Up to 66 homes and 23 business would be displaced.
It's a very long term goal though and would come after the McCrimmon/54 grade separation is done. Possibly after Airport is extended across 54 and the tracks with its own grade separation as well.
I didn't know there was a limit. I've noticed most people drive over tracks very slow but I don't see any reason to go less than 30 over them even in the rain.
I didn't know there was a limit. I've noticed most people drive over tracks very slow but I don't see any reason to go less than 30 over them even in the rain.
LOL ...we’re (I think!) discussing the speed limits for the trains, not the cars driving through the crossing.
Speed limits on the road are whatever the limit is for that stretch of road (35 in this case), but many people are obviously cautious.
I didn't know there was a limit. I've noticed most people drive over tracks very slow but I don't see any reason to go less than 30 over them even in the rain.
I witness the opposite. Usually I see most drivers driving so fast crossing the tracks they launch like the Duke boys driving the General Lee. Unless, of course, the stop light is red then they stop right on the tracks oblivious to the obvious.
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