Visibility

Subp. 3.  Visibility standards.  Possible visibility
 obstructions include, but are not limited to, trees, vegetation,
 snow, crops, structures, utility poles, parked vehicles, parked
 rail equipment, signs other than those needed for traffic
 control, stockpiles of materials, and angle of crossing. 
 Visibility obstructions must be removed according to the
 following: 

      A.  For a grade crossing or private crossing with
 active warning devices and gates, the road authority or private
 crossing owner shall clear visibility obstructions so that all
 railroad advance warning signs are clearly visible from the
 roadway and the active warning devices are visible to a driver
 that is approaching the crossing at a distance from the crossing
 in which the vehicle can safely be brought to a stop before
 reaching the crossing.  The rail carrier shall not park rail
 equipment on the portion of the track that would activate the
 active warning devices. 

      B.  For a grade crossing or private crossing with only
 active warning devices or stop signs, the road authority or
 private crossing owner shall clear visibility obstructions as
 described in item A.  The rail carrier and road authority or
 private crossing owner shall clear their respective
 rights-of-way within the stopped vehicle sight triangle as
 determined by the AASHTO design manual for a train traveling at
 the highest allowable speed at the crossing.  The rail carrier
 shall not park rail equipment on the portion of the track that
 would activate the active warning devices. 

      C.  For a grade crossing with crossbucks only, the
 road authority shall clear visibility obstructions as described
 in item A, and clear remaining right-of-way that is within the
 moving vehicle sight triangle as determined by the AASHTO design
 manual for trains and vehicles traveling at their highest
 allowable speed at the crossing.  The rail carrier shall also
 clear its right-of-way that lies within the determined sight
 triangle.  The sight triangle may contain property other than
 that belonging to the road authority and the rail carrier.  This
 property must be cleared by the property owner in order to
 provide an adequate view of oncoming trains.

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