This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.,

 

The issue of the Quiet Zone for the railroad crossing on Portland Street continues.

 

The City Council took one positive step recently when they approved the construction of a traffic light at the Portland California Parkway.   The fact that ODOT will put up the necessary $850,000 for that project mayhave helped that decision.

 

But the question of silencing those rattling nighttime honks remains and it concerns the thousands of residents in that portion of the city. Some may feel that it’s simply a matter of the city putting up signs in that area that say “Quiet Zone” perhaps from 10 p.m., to 7 a.m. but unfortunately it isn’t quite that simple,

First there are two choices.   One would be to so fix the crossing that it met all the federal standards that are needed to proclaim it a Quiet Zone and keep the crossing open since it is one of the few that permit crossing from one side of the community to another.   The second option is to close Portland Street on the West side completely. There are some criteria for keeping the street open and yet hoisting that Quiet Zone.

 

Supplemental safety measures include:  Four-Quadrant gate systems, Medians or channelization devices, one way streets with gates and permanent closure. Estimated  costs of some of these items by the Union Pacific range from $300,000 to $500,000 for the four quadrant gate system, $185,000 to $400,000 for the basic active warning system which includes flashing lights and Gates, Constant warning time, power out indicator and cabin, Actual maintenance of the system was listed at $4,000 to $10,000 per year.

Now…..those are costs that the city must pay.

 

Before even filing an intent to post a Quiet Zone….a city must contact first the Union Pacific Railroad , Engineering Department, Re: Quiet Zone Establishment, 1400 Douglas Street, STOP 0910 , Omaha , NE 68179-0910. There are also a number of companies whose specialty is evaluating such crossings and informing the city how to proceed.

 

The recently passed Federal Railroad Administration  (FRA)   The federal rule pre-emts all other state laws.  To qualify communities wishing to establish Quiet zones must equip proposed grade crossings with adequate safety measures  to overcome the decrease in safety created by silencing the train horn,. 

So one can  see that the solution is not simply posting Quiet Zone around the approaches to the Portland Street crossing, but meeting the requirements set up by the Federal government.

 

Let’s hope, however that the City Council continues its pursuit of a Quiet Zone at that crossing.

 

This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.    

 

 Click to Listen to this "View"

 

Text Box:   This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.,   The issue of the Quiet Zone for the railroad crossing on Portland Street continues. The City Council took one positive step recently when they approved the construction of a traffic light at the Portland California Parkway.   The fact that ODOT will put up the necessary $850,000 for that project mayhave helped that decision. But the question of silencing those rattling nighttime honks remains and it concerns the thousands of residents in that portion of the city. Some may feel that it’s simply a matter of the city putting up signs in that area that say “Quiet Zone” perhaps from 10 p.m., to 7 a.m. but unfortunately it isn’t quite that simple, First there are two choices.   One would be to so fix the crossing that it met all the federal standards that are needed to proclaim it a Quiet Zone and keep the crossing open since it is one of the few that permit crossing from one side of the community to another.   The second option is to close Portland Street on the West side completely. There are some criteria for keeping the street open and yet hoisting that Quiet Zone. Supplemental safety measures include:  Four-Quadrant gate systems, Medians or channelization devices, one way streets with gates and permanent closure. Estimated  costs of some of these items by the Union Pacific range from $300,000 to $500,000 for the four quadrant gate system, $185,000 to $400,000 for the basic active warning system which includes flashing lights and Gates, Constant warning time, power out indicator and cabin, Actual maintenance of the system was listed at $4,000 to $10,000 per year. Now…..those are costs that the city must pay. Before even filing an intent to post a Quiet Zone….a city must contact first the Union Pacific Railroad , Engineering Department, Re: Quiet Zone Establishment, 1400 Douglas Street, STOP 0910 , Omaha , NE 68179-0910. There are also a number of companies whose specialty is evaluating such crossings and informing the city how to proceed. The recently passed Federal Railroad Administration  (FRA)   The federal rule pre-emts all other state laws.  To qualify communities wishing to establish Quiet zones must equip proposed grade crossings with adequate safety measures  to overcome the decrease in safety created by silencing the train horn,.  So one can  see that the solution is not simply posting Quiet Zone around the approaches to the Portland Street crossing, but meeting the requirements set up by the Federal government. Let’s hope, however that the City Council continues its pursuit of a Quiet Zone at that crossing. This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.            

Text Box: 7/15/07