Grade Crossing Accidents Kill
230 People Every Year
The Challenge
Signal timing tests documented inconsistently
Gate deployment time, warning time calculations, and train detection distance all require testing and documentation. Different signal crews use different forms and different measurement methods.
Surface condition baseline missing
New crossing surfaces need documented baseline conditions — flangeway width, surface height relative to rail, and approach grade. Paper baselines get lost before the first maintenance cycle.
Sight distance measurements not linked to design
Sight distance calculations determine where signs and signals go. Paper measurements cannot prove the as-built sight distances match the engineering design for each approach.
FRA crossing inventory data outdated
Every public crossing has an FRA inventory record. Construction changes require inventory updates. Paper-based change tracking means inventory records lag months behind actual conditions.
The POD Advantage
Voice-captured signal test data
Speak signal test results as you perform them — gate timing, constant warning time, island circuit resistance. POD structures the data for FRA signal test record requirements.
Photo-documented surface conditions
Baseline crossing surface conditions documented with measurements and photos. Future maintenance inspections compared against the as-built baseline automatically.
Sight distance verification
Measured sight distances for each approach linked to the engineering design calculations. POD flags when as-built measurements do not meet design requirements.
Inventory update tracking
Every construction change to a grade crossing tracked against the FRA inventory record. POD generates the inventory update data when construction is complete.
Grade Crossing Safety Documentation
“A gate arm was not deploying at the correct advance time after our signal work. Our paper test records showed it passed but the timestamps did not match the train speed calculations. POD would have flagged the timing discrepancy.”
— Signal Engineer, Railroad Construction Firm
Industry-Specific KPIs That Update Themselves
POD tracks hundreds of KPIs from a 5-minute voice report. Here are just 2 of them.
Safety Performance
Earned Value Performance
Both cost and schedule under pressure
These update in real time from a 5-minute voice report. No spreadsheets. No data entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Document Grade Crossings That Save Lives
See how POD captures every grade crossing test and measurement for FRA compliance.