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

• f a locomotive or train, audible warning to
• ncoming 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.