Where can I locate information on how to petition the OCR for a new or altered crossing?
The OCR has jurisdiction to approve the establishment and alteration of a public highway railroad crossing under
Wis. Stat. § 195.29. For information on how to petition the OCR for a new or altered crossing, please click
here.
What types of changes at or near railroad crossings require approval under Wis. Stat. 195.29?
Alteration: Any action that changes the highway railroad crossing per Wis. Stat. 195.29. An alteration includes, but is not limited to:
- Installation of a new crossing
- Closure of an existing crossing
- Conversion of a crossing from vehicular to pedestrian use, or vice versa
- Relocation of a crossing
- Increasing or reducing the number of traffic lanes, not including bike lanes, unless adding bike lanes shifts the traffic lanes in a way that requires relocating warning devices
- Shifting of traffic lanes or widening the roadway approaches or crossing surface that alone, or in combination with other changes, requires the modification or relocation of railroad warning devices, results in noncompliance with minimum device offset, or creates secondary safety issues
- Addition of railroad track to an existing crossing
- Any project requiring relocation, replacement, or material modification of active or passive railroad warning devices
- Addition of sidewalk or pathway where the nearest edge is located more than 25 feet from the nearest traffic control warning device
- Any other combination of physical or operation changes that, in the determination of the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) results in a substantial or substantive change to the crossing.
Alterations do not include the following:
- Addition of a sidewalk or pathway that shares existing warning devices and is located within 25 feet of the nearest traffic control warning device.
- Relocation of a sidewalk solely to accommodate installation or relocation of warning devices.
What is the process for rehearing or appeal?
Please refer to the
Notice to the Parties, for information on how to appeal an OCR decision or request a rehearing.
Where can I find a sample resolution?
Alteration of an at-grade crossing
Alteration and improvement of an at-grade crossing
Closure of an at-grade crossing
Establishment of a new at-grade crossing
Exemption of an at-grade crossing
Petition to determine adequacy of warning devices (signals)
Rough crossing process and sample resolution
How do I use the OCR electronic filing system (ERF)?
The
ERF Mini Upload is for municipalities electronic submission of filed documents and online access of these documents including those submitted in formal cases before the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads. This includes petitions and exhibits for railroad crossing alterations, changes, new crossings, adequacy of warning devices and rough crossings. ERF Mini Upload can be used for the electronic filing of intervention and data requests, testimony, comments, correspondence, legal briefs, exhibits, and motions. Please refer to the
Quick Reference Guide for instructions on how to upload documents, as well as on how to subscribe to a docket and how to search ERF.
We encourage users to open and upload documents using an individual ERF account rather than using the ERF Mini Upload. See the following link for instructions on how to open an individual ERF account and upload documents to ERF:
OCR ERF Instructions.