Why are so few grade crossings protected by flashers or gates and flashers?
Although the railroads tend to dispute the findings, most studies seem to indicate that active protection (such as bells, flashing lights, and a metal arm descending to block the road) is much more effective than that provided exclusively by crossbucks (those railroad crossing signs in the shape of an "X"). This being the case, one might very well ask why more crossings are not protected by flashing lights or flashing lights and gates. The answer comes down to dollars and cents. The cost of a fully installed and operating set of flashing lights and crossing gates can run over $150,000, and that does not include the attendant annual maintenance costs. By comparison, a crossbuck can be installed from $200-$2000 and, of course, the maintenance costs of a crossbuck installation are practically nil.
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