SECTION 21.910. Utilities Crossing Railroad Property

(a) General provisions. Installations crossing railroad property, to the extent feasible and practical, are to be perpendicular to the railroad alignment and preferably at not less than 45 degrees to the centerline of the track. Utilities shall not be placed within culverts or under railroad bridges, buildings, or other important structures. Utilities will be located so as to provide a safe environment and shall conform to the current National Electrical Safety Code, American Waterworks Association Specifications, Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations, and The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance Association Specifications. If laws or orders of public authority prescribe a higher degree of protection, then the higher degree of protection prescribed shall supersede the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) Overhead installations.

(1) A minimum of four feet clearance is required above signal and communication lines.

(2) Poles must be located 50 feet from the centerline of the railroad main, branch, and running tracks, CTC sidings, and heavy tonnage spurs. Poles located adjacent to industry tracks must provide at least a 10 foot clearance from the centerline of the track when measured at right angles. If located adjacent to curved tracks, then the clearance must be increased at a rate of one and one-half inches per degree of curved track.

(3) Regardless of the voltage, unguyed poles shall be located a minimum distance from the centerline of any track, equal to the height of the pole above the ground-line plus 10 feet. If guying is required, the guys shall be placed in such a manner as to keep the pole from leaning or falling in the direction of the tracks.

(4) Poles, including steel poles, must be located a minimum distance from the railroad signal and communication line equal to the height of the pole above the ground-line or must be guyed at right angles to the lines. High voltage towers, 34.5kV and higher, must be located off state railroad right of way.

(5) Crossings shall not be installed under or within 500 feet of the end of any railroad bridge, or 300 feet from the centerline of any culvert or switch area.

(6) Complete spanning of the property is encouraged with supportive structures and appurtenances located outside state railroad right of way. For electric supply lines, the crossing span shall not exceed 150 feet with adjacent span not exceeding one and one-half times the crossing span length. For communication lines, the crossing span shall not exceed 100 feet in heavy loading districts, 125 feet in medium loading districts, and 150 feet in light loading districts. The adjacent span shall not exceed one and one-half times the crossing span length. For heavier type construction, the district engineer may allow longer spans.

(7) Joint-use construction is encouraged at locations where more than one utility or type of facility is involved. However, electricity and petroleum, natural gas, or flammable materials shall not be combined. Pipe truss design and layout are subject to review and approval by the district engineer.

(8) To ensure that overhead wire crossings are clear from contact with any equipment passing under the wires, communication lines shall be constructed with a minimum clearance of 24 feet above the top of the rail, and electric lines with a minimum clearance of 26 and one-half feet or greater above the top of the rail when required by the National Electric Safety Code or state and local regulations. Electric lines must have a fluorescent ball marker on low wire over the centerline of the track.

(9) The utility owner will label the posts closest to the crossing with the owner's name and telephone number for emergency contact.

(10) All overhead flammable and hazardous material lines require district engineer approval.

(11) For proposed electrical lines crossing tracks, the department may require that an inductive interference study be performed at the expense of the utility owner. Inductive interference from certain lines has the potential to disrupt the signal system in the track, causing failures in the track signals, and highway grade crossing warning devices. The district engineer may require an inductive interference study based on the proposed proximity of high voltage lines to other utility lines.

(c) Underground installations.

(1) General.

(A) All underground utility crossings of railroad trackage shall be designed to carry Cooper's E-80 (Railroad) live loading with diesel impact (AREMA, Cooper's loading Section 8-2-8). This 80,000 pound axle load may be distributed laterally a distance of three feet, plus a distance equal to the depth from structure grade line to the base of the rail, on each side of the centerline of single tracks, or the centerline of outer track where multiple tracks are to be crossed. In no case shall railroad loading design extend less than 10 feet laterally from the centerline of the track. Longitudinally, the load may be distributed between the five-foot axle spacing of the Cooper configuration. Railroad loading criteria will also apply where future tracks on state railroad right of way are contemplated, to the extent this information is available.

(B) All utility crossings under ditches and railroad trackage shall have a minimum depth of cover of three feet below the flow line of the ditch or ground surface and five and one-half feet from the base of the rail. In fill sections, the natural ground line at the toe of the slope will be considered as ditch grade. The depth of cover shall not be less than that meeting applicable industry standards.

(C) For all boring and jacking installations under main and passing tracks greater than 26 inches in diameter and at a depth of between five and one-half feet and 10 feet below top of tie, a geotechnical study must be performed to determine the presence of granular material and high water table elevation, at the sole expense of the utility. The study will include recommendations and a plan for a procedure to prevent failure and a collapse of the bore. Generally, core samples are to be taken near the ends of tie at the proposed location, at least as deep as the bottom of the proposed horizontal bore. Core sample results must be reviewed and approved by the department prior to beginning boring activities. Based on core sample results, the department may require additional engineering specifications be implemented, at the sole expense of the utility, or may require the utility to select an alternate location.

(D) The use of plastic carrier pipe for sewer, water, natural gas, and other liquids is acceptable under specific circumstances. The use of plastic pipe is satisfactory if the pipe is designed to meet all applicable federal and state codes, and if the carrier pipe is properly encased within a steel casing pipe per AREMA standards. This casing must extend the full width of the right of way. Casing may be omitted only for gaseous products if the carrier pipe is steel and, at a minimum, is placed 10 feet below the base of the rail per AREMA standards.

(2) General design and construction requirements.

(A) If the minimum depth is not attainable because of existing utilities, water table, ordinances, or similar reasons, the line shall be rerouted.

(B) Locations that are considered unsuitable or undesirable are to be avoided. These include deep cuts in wet or rocky terrain or where it will be difficult to obtain minimum depth.

(C) Underground installations may be made by open-trenching from the property line to the toe of the fill slope in fill sections, and to the toe of the shoulder slope in cut sections, but to no closer than 30 feet of the centerline of the track. The remainder will be tunneled, augured, jacked, or directional-bored through the roadbed.

(D) Manholes shall be located outside railroad right of way property, when possible. Manholes will not be located in the shoulder, shoulder slope, ditch, or backslope, or within 25 feet of the centerline of track, and shall not protrude above the surrounding ground without the approval of the department.

(E) Jacking pits shall be located a minimum of 30 feet from the centerline of the track.

(3) Pipeline requirements.

(A) Pipeline designs are to specify the type and class of material, maximum working pressures, and test and design pressure. Pipelines that are not constructed, operated, and maintained under regulations established under the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations Board shall, upon revisions in the class of material or an increase in the maximum operating pressure, obtain department approval.

(B) Pipelines carrying oil, liquefied petroleum gas, natural or manufactured gas, or other flammable products shall conform to the requirements of the current AREMA; ANSI/ASME B 31.4 Code for pressure piping - Liquid Petroleum Transportation Piping Systems; ANSI B 31.8 Code for pressure piping - Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems; other applicable ANSI codes; and 49 C.F.R. Part 192 - Transportation of Natural or Other Gas by Pipeline, or Part 195 - Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline, except that the maximum allowable stress of design of steel pipe shall not exceed the percentages of the specified minimum yield strength (multiplied by longitudinal joint factor) of the pipe as defined in the ANSI codes.

(C) Pipelines under railroad tracks and across state railroad right of way property shall be encased. Casings shall extend from right of way line to right of way line unless otherwise approved.

(D) Pipelines and casing pipes shall be suitably insulated from underground conduits carrying electric wires on railroad property.

(E) Reinforced concrete pipe must be encased for a distance as wide as the embankment at the utility crossing in order to protect against track failure due to joint separation.

(4) Encasement of utilities.

(A) Casings may be omitted for gaseous products only under the following circumstances.

(i) Carrier pipe must be steel and the wall thickness must conform to Cooper E-80 loading for casing pipe shown in the tables included in the AREMA manual Chapter 1, Part 5 for Pipeline Crossings. The length of thicker-walled pipe shall extend from railroad right of way line to right of way line. This will result in thicker-walled pipe on state railroad right of way.

(ii) All steel pipes shall be coated and cathodically protected.

(iii) The depth from base of rail to top of pipe shall not be less than 10 feet below base of rail. The depth from ditches or other low points on railroad right of way shall not be less than six feet from ground line to top of pipe.

(B) In circumstances where it is not feasible to install encasement from right of way line to right of way line, casing pipe under railroad tracks and across railroad property shall extend to the greater of the following distances, measured at right angles to the centerline of the track:

(i) two feet beyond toe of slope;

(ii) three feet beyond ditch line;

(iii) 25 feet from centerline of outside track when casing is sealed at both ends;

(iv) 45 feet from centerline of outside track when casing is open at both ends; or

(v) if additional track is planned for future construction, casing must extend far enough to meet above distances given the additional track requirement.

(C) Pipelines and casing pipe shall be suitably insulated from underground conduits carrying electric wires on railroad property.

(D) Casing pipe and joints shall be made of metal and of leak proof construction. Casings shall be capable of withstanding the railroad loadings and other loads superimposed upon them.

(E) Wall thickness designations for steel casing pipe for Cooper E-80 loading including impact are as follows:

Attached Graphic

(i) Steel pipe shall have a minimum yield strength of 35,000 pounds per square inch.

(ii) All metallic casing pipes are to be designed for effective corrosion control and long service life and relatively free from routine servicing and maintenance. Corrosion control measures must include cathodic protection.

(iii) Cast iron may be used for casing and shall conform to ANSI A21. The pipe shall be connected with mechanical-type joints. Plain-end pipe shall be connected with compression-type couplings. The strength of the cast iron pipe to sustain external loads shall be computed in accordance with the most current ANSI A21.1 Manual for the Computation of Strength and Thickness of Cast Iron Pipe.

(F) The inside diameter of the casing pipe shall be such that the carrier pipe can be removed without disturbing the casing. All joints or couplings, supports, insulators, or centering devices for the carrier pipe shall be considered in the selection of the casing diameter.

(G) For flexible casing pipe, a minimum vertical deflection clearance of the casing pipe shall be three percent of its diameter plus one-half inch so that no loads from the roadbed, track, railroad traffic, or casing pipe are transmitted to the carrier pipe. When insulators are used on the carrier pipe, the relationship of the casing size to the size of the carrier pipe is as follows:

Attached Graphic

(5) Casing and pipeline installation.

(A) Casing and pipeline installations must be accomplished by directional boring, jack-and-bore, tunneling, or other approved methods. Tunneling construction under tracks will be permitted only under direct supervision of the department. Tunneling procedures and equipment, as well as structural design, must have department approval prior to starting any work on state railroad right of way. Generally, tunneling will not be considered where less than six feet of cover exists, or where excessively sandy, loose, or rocky soils are anticipated. Rail elevations over the work must be monitored at intervals prescribed by the department to detect any track movement. Movements of over one-quarter inch vertically shall be immediately reported to the department. The following requirements shall apply to these construction methods.

(i) The use of water under pressure jetting or puddling will not be permitted to facilitate boring, pushing, or jacking operations. Some boring may require water to lubricate cutter and pipe, and under such conditions, is considered dry boring.

(ii) Where unstable soil conditions exist, boring or tunneling operations shall be conducted in such a manner as not to be detrimental to the railroad.

(iii) If excessive voids or too large a bored hole is produced during casing or pipeline installations, or if it is necessary to abandon a bored or tunneled hole, prompt remedial action shall be taken by the utility.

(iv) All voids or abandoned holes caused by boring or jacking are to be filled by pressure grouting. The grout material shall be sand cement slurry with a minimum of two sacks of cement per cubic yard and a minimum of water to assure satisfactory placement.

(v) The hole diameter resulting from bored or tunneled installations shall not exceed the outside diameter of the utility pipe, cable or casing including coating, by more than one and one-half inches for pipes with an inside diameter of 12 inches or less, or two inches for pipes with an inside diameter greater than 12 inches.

(vi) Pits for boring, tunneling, or jacking will not be permitted within 30 feet of the centerline of the track or closer to the track than the toe of fill slopes in fill sections, or toe of shoulder slopes in ditch sections when pipes are allowed on the railroad property.

(B) Vents. In casing pipe installations, vents are appurtenances by which fluids or gases between carrier and casing may be inspected, sampled, exhausted, or evacuated.

(i) Vents shall be located at the high end of short casings and at both ends of casings longer than 150 feet.

(ii) Vent standpipes shall be located and constructed so as not to interfere with maintenance of the railroad or to be concealed by vegetation. Where possible, they shall be marked and located at the property line. The markers shall give the name and address of the owner, and a phone number to contact in case of an emergency.

(iii) Casing pipe shall be properly vented when sealed. Vent pipes shall be of sufficient diameter, but in no case less than two inches in diameter, and shall be attached near each end of the casing, projecting through the ground surface at property lines.

(iv) Vent pipes shall extend not less than four feet above ground surface. The top of a vent pipe shall be fitted with a properly screened down-turned elbow or a relief valve.

(v) For pipelines carrying flammable materials, vent pipes on casings shall be at least 16 feet vertically from aerial electric wires. Casings shall be suitably insulated from underground conduits carrying electric wires on railroad right of way.

(C) Shut-off valves.

(i) The utility shall install accessible emergency shut-off valves within effective distances on each side of the railroad track. Where pipelines are provided with automatic control stations, no additional valves will be required.

(ii) Shut-off valves may not be placed on the right of way unless approved by the district engineer. If approval is acquired, a guardrail must protect the shut-off valve.

(iii) When a guardrail is required, its height shall be four feet above the ground line. All four corner posts shall be driven to a minimum depth of four feet below ground line. There shall be a minimum clearance of two feet from the valve to the guardrail. The steel pipes for the four corner posts and guardrail shall have a minimum diameter of four inches. All joints will be welded with a one-quarter inch fillet weld all around.

(6) Water lines.

(A) Where casing pipe is used, venting is not required. Sealing will be required if the ends of the casing are not above high water.

(B) Where non-metallic pipe is permitted and installed, steel casings are required from right of way line to right of way line.

(C) Manholes must be located outside the right of way, if possible. Manholes shall not be located within 25 feet of railroad trackage in the shoulder, shoulder slope, ditch or backslope, and shall not protrude above the surrounding ground without the approval of the department.

(D) The utility shall place a readily identifiable and suitable marker at each railroad property line where it is crossed by a water line.

(7) Sewer lines.

(A) New and relocated sewer lines shall be constructed with satisfactory joints, materials, and designs that will provide protection and resistance to damage from sulfide gases and other corrosive elements to which they may be exposed.

(B) Where casing pipe is used, venting and sealing of casing will be required.

(C) Where non-metallic pipe is permitted and installed, a durable metal wire shall be concurrently installed or other means shall be provided for detection purposes.

(D) Manholes must be located outside the right of way, if possible. Manholes shall not be located within 25 feet of railroad trackage in the shoulder, shoulder slope, ditch or backslope, and shall not protrude above the surrounding ground without the approval of the department.

(8) Electric power lines.

(A) Lines must remain at a minimum depth of five and one-half feet below the base of rail (BBR).

(B) Lines must remain at a minimum depth of three feet BNG for 750 volts and less, and four feet BNG for greater than 750 volts.

(C) The wireline must be encased completely across the state railroad right of way with a rigid metallic conduit.

(D) Crossings must not be installed under or within 50 feet of the end of any railroad bridge, centerline of any culvert, or switch area.

(E) Department personnel must be present during installation if railroad signals are in the vicinity of wireline crossings, unless otherwise authorized by the department.

(F) Markers that identify the utility shall be placed at both property lines for utilities crossing the railroad property. For parallel lines, markers shall be placed above the cable at intervals no less than 300 feet apart. The markers shall identify the owner, type of cable, and an emergency telephone number. A six-inch wide warning tape shall be installed, one foot BNG directly over the underground power line where located on state railroad right of way outside the track ballast sections.

(G) Above-ground utility appurtenances installed as a part of an underground installation shall be located at or near the railroad property line and shall not be any closer than 25 feet to the centerline of track.

(9) Fiber optic lines. The same requirements for electric power line crossings as outlined in paragraph (8) of this subsection will apply for fiber optic line crossings except that:

(A) a minimum depth of four feet BNG is required for fiber optic cable wirelines;

(B) the department must approve any specialized equipment used to install cable; and

(C) no rail plow will be allowed for installation purposes.

Source Note: The provisions of this §21.910 adopted to be effective April 20, 2006, 31 TexReg 3273