NR 6.40NR 6.40Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish maintenance, design and construction standards for snowmobile railroad crossings.
NR 6.40 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, May, 1995, No. 473, eff. 6-1-95.
NR 6.41NR 6.41Definitions. In this subchapter these definitions shall apply:
NR 6.41(1)(1) “Established snowmobile rail crossing” has the meaning given in s. 350.139 (1) (a), Stats.
NR 6.41(2)(2) “Rail authority” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (b), Stats.
NR 6.41(3)(3) “Snowmobile organization” has the meaning given in s. 350.138 (1) (f), Stats.
NR 6.41(4)(4) “The portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the rail authority has responsibility” means the area on the track and that portion of the crossing that extends outward 4 feet from each outer rail.
NR 6.41(5)(5) “The portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the snowmobile organization has responsibility” means the area of the crossing that is outside of the portion of the crossing that extends outward 4 feet from each outer rail.
NR 6.41 NoteNote: The following illustration graphically describes the areas defined in subs. (4) and (5).
NR 6.41 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, May, 1995, No. 473, eff. 6-1-95; CR 02-044: cr. (4) and (5) Register November 2002 No. 563, eff. 12-1-02.
NR 6.42NR 6.42Maintenance standards for established snowmobile rail crossing. A snowmobile organization shall assist a rail authority in maintaining an established snowmobile rail crossing in the following manner:
NR 6.42(1)(1) The snowmobile organization shall maintain adequate drainage along the snowmobile trail approaching the rail crossing and along the portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the snowmobile organization has responsibility, both in the snowmobile and non-snowmobile season, to prevent the pooling of water or saturation of the track subgrade.
NR 6.42(2)(2) The snowmobile organization shall be responsible for furnishing, installing and maintaining in a legible condition all signs at the crossing including crossbucks, crossing placards and snowmobile STOP signs, and all signs prior to the crossing including an advance railroad crossing caution sign. The snowmobile organization shall comply with the sign specifications and posting requirements described in s. NR 6.43 (3).
NR 6.42(3)(3) During the winter season, no snow may be compacted by snowmobile trail grooming machinery on the portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the rail authority has responsibility. Any snow deposited on this portion of the rail crossing by the grooming machinery shall be removed manually by the operator of the trail grooming machinery after the machinery is clear of this area of the crossing.
NR 6.42(4)(4) A snowmobile organization may not perform any maintenance work on the portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the rail authority has responsibility with the exception of the snow removal work required under sub. (3). The rail authority shall maintain the portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the rail authority has responsibility. The snowmobile organization shall maintain the portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the snowmobile organization has responsibility.
NR 6.42 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, May, 1995, No. 473, eff. 6-1-95; CR 02-044: r. and recr. Register November 2002 No. 563, eff. 12-1-02.
NR 6.43NR 6.43New snowmobile rail crossing standards.
NR 6.43(1)(1)Construction responsibility. All permitted snowmobile rail crossings shall be constructed in the following manner:
NR 6.43(1)(a)(a) The rail authority or its contractor shall construct the portion of the snowmobile rail crossing for which the rail authority has responsibility.
NR 6.43(1)(b)(b) All other construction of the snowmobile rail crossing shall be performed by the snowmobile organization or its contractor.
NR 6.43(2)(2)Design and construction standards.
NR 6.43(2)(a)(a) Horizontal alignment. The intersection between the snowmobile trail and the railroad track shall be as close to 90º as possible, but may not be less than a 70° angle on either side of the track. The alignment within 30 feet of the outside rail on either side shall be a straight line.
NR 6.43(2)(b)(b) Vertical alignment. The surface, without snow, of the snowmobile trail approaching the crossing for a distance of 26 feet from 4 feet outside the nearest rail may not be higher than one foot lower than the top of the nearest rail or 1.5 foot lower than the top of the nearest rail.
NR 6.43(2)(c)(c) Drainage. Where the grade of the snowmobile trail approach descends toward the crossing, provisions shall be made to intercept surface and subsurface drainage and discharge it laterally. Routing of drainage may require ditches, culverts, french drains, piping, geotextile fabrics or combinations of these improvements.
NR 6.43(2)(d)(d) Train speed. Public snowmobile trail crossings may not be sited across rail lines where the maximum allowable speeds through the section of track exceed 69 miles per hour.
NR 6.43(2)(e)(e) Sight distances. The snowmobile rail crossing shall be located so that when stopped on the crossing approach at the crossbuck and posted STOP sign, the snowmobile operator has a sight distance along the tracks in both directions, free of obstructions, to determine whether a train is approaching. The position from which the sight distance is measured is 15 feet outward from the nearest rail. The sight distances set forth in Table 1 for the corresponding maximum allowable train speeds shall be available in both directions from this position. Snowmobile rail crossings may not be sited at locations where sight distances are less than specified in Table 1.
- See PDF for table PDF
NR 6.43(3)(3)Signs.