Detecting vehicles at railroad crossings is important for several reasons. Certain High-Speed Rail and Quiet Zone corridors use four-quadrant gate railroad crossings, where there are entrance and exit gates for each lane of traffic. In the preferred operating mode, exit gates do not descend until it is verified that it would not trap a vehicle on the tracks, inside the crossing. Using buried loop vehicle detection is common but presents two problems: they do not cover the entire crossing and are prone to failure. When replacement is necessary, railroads must restrict train speeds until the loops are replaced and the road surface is reworked, generally by non-railroad contractors. Alternatively, radars mounted above and outside the crossing, monitors the entire crossing and provide redundant coverage by utilizing two radars positioned on opposite sides of the crossing.

System Costs

Typical inductive loop vehicle detection system installation cost for a dual track crossing is approximately $36,680. Dual radar vehicle detection system installation cost for a dual track crossing is estimated at $27,500. Each estimate included materials, installation labor, underground boring for cable, and in the case of inductive loops, roadway milling and surfacing.