{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/33.2-903.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/33.2-903.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/33.2-903.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/33.2-903.html"}],"law_id":80931,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80931,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-903","catch_line":"Grade crossing closing and safety","history":"1996, cc. 114, 157, \u00a7 33.1-145.1; 2014, c. 805.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is the public policy of the Commonwealth to enhance public safety by establishing safe highway-rail grade crossings, to consolidate and close unsafe, unnecessary, or redundant crossings, and to limit the establishment of new crossings. The Board has the authority to close public highway-rail grade crossings on all systems of state highways for which it has responsibility.B\n\nThe Commissioner of Highways on his own motion or by request of any interested landowner, railroad corporation, or local governing body may petition the Board to close a highway-rail grade crossing as a public crossing.C\n\nPrior to petitioning the Board to close a highway-rail grade crossing, the Commissioner of Highways shall conduct a traffic engineering study to determine the validity of closing the crossing. The traffic engineering study shall consider all factors, including (i) the number of freight and passenger trains passing the crossing and their timetable speeds, (ii) the distance to an alternate crossing, (iii) the availability of alternate access, (iv) the crossing’s accident history during the five-year period immediately prior to the study, (v) the number of vehicles per day using the crossing, (vi) the posted speed limit at the crossing, (vii) the type of warning devices present at the crossing, (viii) the alignment of the roadway and railroad and their angle of intersection, (ix) the number of trucks per day carrying hazardous materials through the crossing, (x) the number of vehicles per day carrying passengers for hire through the crossing, (xi) the number of school buses per day using the crossing, and (xii) the use of the crossing by emergency vehicles.D\n\nThe results of the traffic engineering study shall be made public in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 33.2-902. The Commissioner of Highways shall present his findings and recommendations to the Board, and the Board shall decide what actions to take regarding the railroad crossing at issue.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":290117,"text":"It is the public policy of the Commonwealth to enhance public safety by establishing safe highway-rail grade crossings, to consolidate and close unsafe, unnecessary, or redundant crossings, and to limit the establishment of new crossings. The Board has the authority to close public highway-rail grade crossings on all systems of state highways for which it has responsibility.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":290118,"text":"The Commissioner of Highways on his own motion or by request of any interested landowner, railroad corporation, or local governing body may petition the Board to close a highway-rail grade crossing as a public crossing.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":290119,"text":"Prior to petitioning the Board to close a highway-rail grade crossing, the Commissioner of Highways shall conduct a traffic engineering study to determine the validity of closing the crossing. The traffic engineering study shall consider all factors, including (i) the number of freight and passenger trains passing the crossing and their timetable speeds, (ii) the distance to an alternate crossing, (iii) the availability of alternate access, (iv) the crossing’s accident history during the five-year period immediately prior to the study, (v) the number of vehicles per day using the crossing, (vi) the posted speed limit at the crossing, (vii) the type of warning devices present at the crossing, (viii) the alignment of the roadway and railroad and their angle of intersection, (ix) the number of trucks per day carrying hazardous materials through the crossing, (x) the number of vehicles per day carrying passengers for hire through the crossing, (xi) the number of school buses per day using the crossing, and (xii) the use of the crossing by emergency vehicles.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":290120,"text":"The results of the traffic engineering study shall be made public in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 33.2-902. The Commissioner of Highways shall present his findings and recommendations to the Board, and the Board shall decide what actions to take regarding the railroad crossing at issue.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13180,"edition_id":1,"name":"Abandonment and Discontinuance of Highways in Primary State Highway System","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13179,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","permalink":{"id":206335,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13180,"identifier":"1","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1","url":"\/33.2\/II\/9\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13179,"edition_id":1,"name":"Abandonment and Discontinuance of Highways and Roads","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12830,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","permalink":{"id":206333,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13179,"identifier":"9","token":"33.2\/II\/9","url":"\/33.2\/II\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12830,"edition_id":1,"name":"Modes of Transportation: Highways, Bridges, Ferries, Rail, and Public Transportation","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12806,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":205369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12830,"identifier":"II","token":"33.2\/II","url":"\/33.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12806,"edition_id":1,"name":"Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems","identifier":"33.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":204785,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12806,"identifier":"33.2","token":"33.2","url":"\/33.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68569,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-900","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/33.2-900\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-900","metadata":false},{"id":76913,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-901","catch_line":"Discontinuance of a section of a highway or railroad crossing","url":"\/33.2-901\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-901","metadata":false},{"id":62954,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-902","catch_line":"Abandonment of highway or railroad crossing; procedure","url":"\/33.2-902\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-902","metadata":false},{"id":80931,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-903","catch_line":"Grade crossing closing and safety","url":"\/33.2-903\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-903","metadata":false},{"id":83588,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-904","catch_line":"Effect of abandonment","url":"\/33.2-904\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-904","metadata":false},{"id":80846,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-905","catch_line":"Appeal to circuit court","url":"\/33.2-905\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-905","metadata":false},{"id":54195,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-906","catch_line":"Alternative procedure for abandonment of old highway or railroad crossing to extent of alteration","url":"\/33.2-906\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-906","metadata":false},{"id":83395,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-907","catch_line":"Conveying sections of highways or other property no longer necessary","url":"\/33.2-907\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-907","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62954,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-902","catch_line":"Abandonment of highway or railroad crossing; procedure","url":"\/33.2-902\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-902","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":83588,"structure_id":13180,"section_number":"33.2-904","catch_line":"Effect of abandonment","url":"\/33.2-904\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-904","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-903\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1996. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 114<\/a> and 157<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2014, chapter 805<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":62954,"section_number":"33.2-902","catch_line":"Abandonment of highway or railroad crossing; procedure","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-902\/"}],"permalink":{"id":206349,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80931,"identifier":"33.2-903","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-903","url":"\/33.2-903\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-903\/","token":"33.2\/II\/9\/1\/33.2-903","dublin_core":{"Title":"Grade crossing closing and safety","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-903","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is the public policy of the Commonwealth to enhance public safety by establishing safe highway<\/span>-rail grade crossings, to consolidate and close unsafe, unnecessary, or redundant crossings, and to limit the establishment of new crossings. The Board<\/span> has the authority to close public highway<\/span>-rail grade crossings on all systems of state highways<\/span> for which it has responsibility. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Commissioner of Highways<\/span> on his own motion<\/span> or by request of any interested landowner, railroad corporation, or local governing body may petition<\/span> the Board<\/span> to close a highway<\/span>-rail grade crossing as a public crossing. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Prior to petitioning the Board<\/span> to close a highway<\/span>-rail grade crossing, the Commissioner of Highways<\/span> shall conduct a traffic engineering study to determine the validity of closing the crossing. The traffic engineering study shall consider all factors, including (i) the number of freight and passenger trains passing the crossing and their timetable speeds, (ii) the distance to an alternate crossing, (iii) the availability of alternate access, (iv) the crossing’s accident history during the five-year period immediately prior to the study, (v) the number of vehicles per day using the crossing, (vi) the posted speed limit at the crossing, (vii) the type of warning devices present at the crossing, (viii) the alignment of the roadway<\/span> and railroad and their angle of intersection, (ix) the number of trucks per day carrying hazardous materials<\/span> through the crossing, (x) the number of vehicles per day carrying passengers for hire through the crossing, (xi) the number of school buses per day using the crossing, and (xii) the use of the crossing by emergency vehicles. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The results of the traffic engineering study shall be made public in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 33.2-902<\/a>. The Commissioner of Highways<\/span> shall present his findings<\/span> and recommendations to the Board<\/span>, and the Board<\/span> shall decide what actions to take regarding the railroad crossing at issue<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGRADE CROSSING CLOSING AND SAFETY (\u00a7 33.2-903)\n\nA. It is the public policy of the Commonwealth to enhance public safety by\nestablishing safe highway-rail grade crossings, to consolidate and close unsafe,\nunnecessary, or redundant crossings, and to limit the establishment of new\ncrossings. The Board has the authority to close public highway-rail grade\ncrossings on all systems of state highways for which it has responsibility.\n\nB. The Commissioner of Highways on his own motion or by request of any\ninterested landowner, railroad corporation, or local governing body may petition\nthe Board to close a highway-rail grade crossing as a public crossing.\n\nC. Prior to petitioning the Board to close a highway-rail grade crossing, the\nCommissioner of Highways shall conduct a traffic engineering study to determine\nthe validity of closing the crossing. The traffic engineering study shall\nconsider all factors, including (i) the number of freight and passenger trains\npassing the crossing and their timetable speeds, (ii) the distance to an\nalternate crossing, (iii) the availability of alternate access, (iv) the\ncrossing’s accident history during the five-year period immediately prior\nto the study, (v) the number of vehicles per day using the crossing, (vi) the\nposted speed limit at the crossing, (vii) the type of warning devices present at\nthe crossing, (viii) the alignment of the roadway and railroad and their angle\nof intersection, (ix) the number of trucks per day carrying hazardous materials\nthrough the crossing, (x) the number of vehicles per day carrying passengers for\nhire through the crossing, (xi) the number of school buses per day using the\ncrossing, and (xii) the use of the crossing by emergency vehicles.\n\nD. The results of the traffic engineering study shall be made public in\naccordance with the procedures set forth in § 33.2-902. The Commissioner of\nHighways shall present his findings and recommendations to the Board, and the\nBoard shall decide what actions to take regarding the railroad crossing at\nissue.\n\nHISTORY: 1996, cc. 114, 157, \u00a7 33.1-145.1; 2014, c. 805.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}