I. Bridge Safety Survey
FRA counted the approximate number of bridges that carry railroad track in the United States, and then surveyed the safety of those bridges. The count revealed that:
a. b. c.
Approximately 100,700 bridges carried railroad tracks in 1991, Approximately 10 bridges exist for every 14 miles of railroad, and Approximately 120 feet of track per mile is located on a bridge.
The safety survey accomplished several objectives. It determined whether the condition of railroad bridges posed a significant hazard to the safety of the public. It documented the methods used by the railroad industry for the inspection, management and assurance of safety of those bridges. It provided information with which FRA could evaluate the need for federal action to improve the safety of railroad bridges. The survey assessed the policies and practices used by 80 railroads to ensure the integrity of their bridges. The railroads surveyed included 21 major railroads (including 14 class I railroads and seven major passenger or commuter railroads), 20 class II regional railroads, and 39 class III shortline railroads. The 21 class I and passenger railroads are termed ``major railroads'' because they own most of the railroad bridges and handle the majority of freight and passenger traffic. In the course of the survey, FRA inspectors observed railroad inspections of more than 8,000 bridges. The survey showed that all of the 21 major railroads have conducted comprehensive, effective bridge inspection programs for several decades. The survey demonstrated that these railroads are acting to safeguard the integrity of their bridges. The railroad managers know the condition of their bridges, and they are taking appropriate action to prevent structural failure. The findings for the 20 regional railroads were similar to those of the major railroads. The survey showed the major and regional railroads use a variety of methods to inspect and manage their bridges. The degree to which inspectors are supervised, the levels at which certain decisions are made, and the methods used to record and report inspections vary considerably among railroads. Nevertheless, these programs share certain basic principles that characterize effective bridge management practices. The consistency of findings among the Class I and II railroads, passenger operators, and many smaller railroads indicates that railroads are following a course of action that corresponds with the public interest in prevention of bridge failures. The railroads' actions are driven by a need to prevent the significant economic harm that result from the loss of a valuable bridge and the cost of associated casualties. On shortline railroads, however, FRA found considerable variation in the quality of bridge management programs and bridge conditions. Many shortlines have exemplary programs, well-suited to their size and the nature of their structures and traffic. A few, however, did not address all of their responsibilities for the safety of their bridges. These smaller railroads with minimal bridge management programs typically move low levels of traffic over a small number of bridges. Nevertheless, the consequences of a bridge failure on one of these railroads could be as severe as a failure occurring anywhere. The risk of human casualty or environmental damage would be the same for each, and the cost of the failure could be ruinous to a railroad with limited resources. This finding indicates a situation that FRA must address.
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