Gate skirts
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- Description
- Notable Practices
- Advantages
- Drawbacks
- Images
- References
A gate skirt refers to a horizontal hanging bar attached to the pedestrian gate arm to reduce the probability of pedestrian gate violations. This treatment, along with pedestrian channelization, has shown to be effective at deterring pedestrians from going under a gate and violating the grade crossing [1] [2]. Demonstration tests at crossings near train station platforms and near schools, where pedestrian traffic tends to be high, have shown positive results of installing this measure. This additional gate also benefits blind or low-vision pedestrians since the lower gate can be detected by mobility aids such as canes [3].
Gate skirts should be considered for gated grade crossing locations where pedestrians regularly violate the warning devices. These may also be more useful in urban locations where grade crossings tend to be closed for an extended period [4].
- Pedestrian channelization should be implemented with gate skirts, so pedestrians do not have an opportunity to walk around the gate. [2]
- Gate skirts should be considered for gated grade crossing locations where pedestrians regularly violate the warning devices or at crossings that many children use. [1]
- Gate skirts may be most useful in urban locations where grade crossings tend to be closed for an extended period of time. [4]
- Gate skirts increase a pedestrian’s compliance with activated pedestrian gates. [1] [2] [3]
- Gate skirts are a low-cost measure.
- Installation of gate skirts may increase frequency of pedestrians using the roadway to circumvent the pedestrian gate. [1]
- Hinged pedestrian gate skirts may require regular inspection.
[1] Chase, S., Gabree, S. H., & daSilva, M. P. (2013). Effect of Gate Skirts of Pedestrian Behavior at Highway-Rail Grade Crossing.
Abstract: The Federal Railroad Administration was interested in evaluating one type of pedestrian safety device, commonly known as gate skirts, that consists of a secondary horizontal hanging gate under the existing pedestrian gate to better block access to the crossing by pedestrians who gain unauthorized entry by going under the down gates. The Volpe Center participated in a New Jersey Transit rail pilot project to evaluate a prototype design installed at a grade crossing in Matawan, NJ, on May 30, 2012. The purpose of this evaluation was to determine if the addition of gate skirting would result in fewer pedestrians attempting to violate the crossing on the sidewalk after the gates began to descend. Data were collected over a 2-week period before and a 2-week period after the installation of the gate skirts. Pedestrian actions were coded during all train activations that occurred during this 4-week period. The research team found that the total number of pedestrian violations decreased while the gates were descending (78 percent reduction) and horizontal (55 percent reduction), but increased while the gates were ascending (12 percent increase). Additionally, after the installation of the gate skirts, more pedestrians who violated while the gates were descending or horizontal chose to do so in the adjacent street where there were no gate skirts, as opposed to on the sidewalk where the safety enhancement had been added.
[2] daSilva, M. (2020). Gate Skirts Research at a Highway-Rail Grade Crossing in Ramsey, NJ.
Excerpt: Results of the gate skirts design tested during this study, along with ROW fencing, indicate a positive safety benefit of this improvement. Violations were completely eliminated on the crossing’s northeast quadrant after the fencing addition.
[3] US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. (2019). Noteworthy Practice: Improving Pedestrian Rail-Crossing Safety with Hinged Pedestrian Gate Skirts.
Excerpt: Both Connecticut and New Jersey have installed hinged pedestrian gate skirts to better block access to crossings, deterring pedestrian violations.
[4] SAFER-LC. (2022, March 29). Skirts Under the Barriers. SAFER-LC Toolbox.
Description: This webpage provides information on implementing skirts under the crossing gates in Europe, including recommendations, considerations for implementation, and relevant research results.
Additional Resources
U.S. Department of Transportation. (2019). Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Handbook – Third Edition.
Abstract: The purpose of the Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook, 3rd Edition is an information resource developed to provide a unified reference document on prevalent and best practices as well as adopted standards relative to highway-rail grade crossings. The handbook provides general information on highway-rail crossings; characteristics of the crossing environment and users; and physical and operational changes that can be made at crossings to enhance the safety and operation of both highway and rail traffic over such intersections. The guidelines identified and potential alternative improvements presented in this handbook reflect current best practices nationwide.