Exploring the Equity Impact: Analyzing the Relationship between Railroad Safety and Sociodemographic Factors

Abstract

This study presents an analysis approach to demonstrate the patterns between railroad safety and sociodemographic factors such as income, race, education level, and age. The research aims to investigate railroad safety equity by considering the distribution of demographics in proximity to high-risk grade crossings (GX) (called “level crossings” in other countries) and rail lines, with emphasis on injuries related to trespassing. First, the change in demographic distributions across various risk levels was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn’s test. Next, a custom-designed dashboard was developed after fusing Federal Railroad Administration crash and injury data with sociodemographic information obtained from the U.S. census. The findings revealed a consistent pattern of disproportional sociodemographics residing near higher risk rail lines (based on crash frequency) and GX. From an equity perspective, the results demonstrate a significant disparity in the exposure of certain demographic groups to high-risk rail lines and GX. Disadvantaged communities were found to be more concentrated near high-risk rail lines and GX. This spatial concentration of vulnerable populations near high-risk areas emphasizes the need for targeted interventions and policy measures to mitigate the risks faced by disproportionately affected communities. The findings of this research underscore the significance of integrating demographic data into transportation safety risk assessment frameworks and safety planning. By taking into account the socioeconomic factors that influence safety risk exposure, transportation authorities and policymakers can develop focused strategies to address the unique needs and challenges of different communities.