Illinois statewide grade crossing study

Client: Illinois Commerce Commission and Illinois Department of Transportation
Location: Statewide

The Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Department of Transportation teamed up to initiate a statewide grade crossing and grade separation inventory project that included more than 12,000 public at-grade crossings and grade separations across Illinois. 

The goal of the ICC project was to identify, verify, measure, photograph and compile data for Illinois' public grade crossings and grade separations. This involved field inventories, data input, digital photographs, CADD sketches and database design. By addressing how approaches, crossings and signals were maintained and operated, the ICC examined ways to improve its communications and operations regarding crossing safety, including the creation of a database containing information about the state's crossings.

Hanson's staff developed a GIS database, which provided accurate information on the geographic location of each grade crossing and grade separation. The project team and ICC/IDOT used the GIS database to keep updated on the project's status, maintain the data's integrity, and conduct quality reviews as needed.