Quiet Zones are a very large topic of discussion – namely – how do we get them and where are they?
Existing Quiet Zones
Process to Establish Quiet Zones
Establishing a quiet zone is a process that involves specific steps and coordination between the City of Houston, Federal Railroad Authority, and railroad operators – usually Union Pacific since they own the majority of the lines in the area.
Here is a general outline of the process:
Evaluate Safety Requirements: Before establishing a quiet zone, a thorough assessment of the existing railroad crossings is conducted to determine if they meet the necessary safety requirements. Factors such as sightlines, crossing signals, gates, signage, and train speeds are evaluated to ensure that the crossings can safely operate without the routine use of train horns.
Develop Safety Improvements: If the existing crossings do not meet the safety requirements, necessary improvements must be identified and implemented. This usually involves adding or upgrading safety measures such as additional gates, medians, channelization devices, improved signage, or enhanced warning systems. These enhancements are aimed at compensating for the absence of train horn usage.
Supplementary safety measures to be added. Examples include:
- Four-quadrant gates that block all lanes
- Medians or channelization devices to prevent driving around gates
- One-way streets with gates
- Temporary closure systems during nighttime hours
In this case, a budget is prepared by our district council member and presented to council to make the necessary upgrades. Historically speaking it has come to $128k per intersection to make the necessary safety upgrades in order to meet the FRA requirements for a quiet zone.
Prepare Documentation: Local authorities must compile a comprehensive documentation package that includes an engineering study, a risk assessment, and a legal agreement with the railroad operator. The engineering study demonstrates that the proposed safety improvements meet the required standards, while the risk assessment assesses potential safety risks associated with implementing a quiet zone. The legal agreement outlines the responsibilities and liabilities of all parties involved.
Submit Documentation and Obtain Approvals: The documentation package is submitted to the appropriate regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in the United States. The regulatory agencies review the documentation, ensuring that the proposed quiet zone complies with safety regulations and guidelines.
Implementation and Notification: Once the necessary approvals are obtained, the identified safety improvements are implemented at the designated railroad crossings. The local community is informed about the establishment of the quiet zone through public announcements and signage indicating the absence of routine train horn usage.
These take many years to obtain, as you can imagine. They also get stopped at various points in the process.
The key difference from other quiet zones is that these are specifically regulated by the FRA under the Train Horn Rule, and they require significant infrastructure investment to ensure safety without the traditional warning horns.