WHAT IS A QUIET ZONE? A section of a rail line that contains one or - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

WHAT IS A QUIET ZONE?  A section of a rail line that contains one or more consecutive public crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded.

WHY HAS THE FRA ISSUED THE TRAIN HORN RULE?  To require trains to sound a locomotive horn at public grade crossings  To permit the creation of Quiet Zones  To promote quality of life without compromising safety

FRA FINAL RULE  Issued April 27, 2005  Rule became effective June 24, 2005  Requires horns to be sounded to warn motorists at public crossings  Provides exceptions where risk is minimized  Enables communities to establish quiet zones by reducing the risk caused by lack of horns

CHANGES IN TRAIN HORN REQUIREMENTS  Requires the sounding of locomotive horns when approaching every public crossing (replacing state law)  The horn shall be sounded no greater than ¼ mile from the crossing and at least 15 seconds, but no more than 20 seconds, prior to the train entering the crossing  Sec. 229.129 defines minimum and maximum train horn decibel levels (96dB-110dB)

WHO CAN ESTABLISH A QUIET ZONE?  Public authority with jurisdiction for the roadway at the crossing  If the Quiet Zone includes more than one public authority, all agencies must agree and actions must be taken jointly  Quiet Zones may be established irrespective of state law

HOW ARE QUIET ZONES CREATED?  Local governments will have two ways of creating a quiet zone: − Show that the lack of the horn does not pose a significant safety risk − Implement safety measures such as SSMs (Supplementary Safety Measure) or wayside horns to reduce excess risk associated with no horn

FOUR TYPES OF QUIET ZONES  Pre-Rule Quiet Zones: − Areas without train horns on October 9, 1996 and on December 18, 2003  Intermediate Quiet Zones: − Areas without train horns after October 9, 1996 and before December 18, 2003  New Quiet Zones: − Quiet Zones that do not qualify as Pre-Rule or Intermediate Quiet Zones  Partial Quiet Zones: − A Quiet Zone where the train horns are not routinely sounded for a specified period of time (10p.m.-7a.m.)

SSM – SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY MEASURES  Temporary Closures  Four-Quadrant Gates  Gates with Medians or Channelization Devices  One-way Streets with Gates

WHAT IS A WAYSIDE HORN?  A stationary horn located at a highway-rail grade crossing, designed to provide, upon the approach of a locomotive or train, audible warning to oncoming motorists of the approach of a train. − One-for-one substitute for the train horn − Can be used within or outside of a QZ − Simplest way to reduce train horn noise

CONSIDERATIONS FOR USE OF WAYSIDE HORNS  Temporary closure is not feasible  Not enough distance to implement raised medians  One-way street is not a viable alternative  Cost of four-quadrant gates is prohibitive  Cost effective for the community

FOUR-QUADRANT GATES -Block access from all lanes -Require additional railroad circuitry

MEDIAN DIVIDERS -At least 100 feet in length -60 feet if at intersection Either: -Non-mountable curbs -Mountable with channelization devices

WAYSIDE HORN -Quieter, but not silent -Reduce area impacted by sound of horn -Sound directed at roadway -Requires a pre-emption circuit from rail road

WAYSIDE HORN VS. TRAIN HORN -Directs sound toward roadway -Impacts a smaller area

ESTIMATED COST PER CROSSING (all crossing are required to have flashing lights and gates) Four-quadrant gates $200,000 Wayside horns $30,000 Median barriers $15,000

CITY OF O'FALLON QUIET ZONE PLAN

TO CREATE A QUIET ZONE  Select the appropriate safety devices for crossings  Run FRA Quiet Zone Calculator  Schedule any necessary railroad signal work with the railroad  Install the safety devices  Update the federal grade crossing inventory for the crossing  File notices with the federal and local agencies and railroad  Install “Horn Will Not Sound” signs for the motorists

The new QUIET ZONE regulations allow communities to maintain railroad crossing safety while reducing train noise. NOTE: Pictures and some illustrations from the Woodharbor Associates and the Railroad Controls Limited

RECOMMENDATIONS Divide into two phases: • Phase I. Include Main St., Sonderen, & Westholf • Phase II. Include Elaine Dr., Genteman Rd/Forest Acres, McGee Rd. & Hoff Rd.

PHASE I TREATMENT A  Main St. (wayside horn)  Sonderen (wayside horn)  Westhoff Rd. (closure)  Annual maintenance fee ??? With these qualifying devices, it would cost about $60,000 each crossing or $120,000

PHASE I TREATMENT B  Main St. (4 quadrant crossing)  Sonderen (medians)  Westhoff Rd. (closure)  No annual maintenance fee  With these qualifying devices, it would cost about$260,000 (4 quad.) plus $15,000 median for a total cost of $275,000.

PHASE I TREATMENT C  Main St. (median)  Sonderen (median)  Westhoff Rd. (closure)  No annual maintenance fee  With these qualifying devices, it would cost about $15,000 at each crossing for a total of $30,000.

WHY HAVE A QUIET ZONE?  Improves overall quality of Life: -good nights sleep, which helps heal ailments & illnesses and improves ones judgment -working environment  Improves property value: -Increases homeowner's equity -Increases city's coffer

FINANCING THE PROJECT  Form a Neighborhood Improvement District Area of about 2500 homes & would be bounded by: − North: Tom Ginnever − South: I-70 − East: TR Hughes − West: Woodlawn − NID put on ballot by city council or petition of 2/3 property owners within the proposed district.  City Coffer

COSTS TO HOMEOWERS  Wayside Horns: -Each home either pay one time fee of $60 or with a 20 year loan about $6 per year.  Medians: -Each home either pay one time fee of $30 or with a 20 year loan about $3 per year.  Mixed Devices: -Each home either pay one time fee of $120 or with a 20 year loan about $12 per year. ($300,000 project, 20 year loan at 6% would be $2,150)  All above costs does not include business.