05-14-2014 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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The FRA rules provide a mechanism to evaluate how the City may minimize the noise caused by the trains. The rules provide for communities to create quiet zones where trains are exempt from horn regulations. There can be multiple quiet zones in a Community provided that each zone meets the criteria in the rules. This allows for phasing of quiet zones based on funding, local development, and jurisdictional issues. There are three basic options for the City to reduce noise. 1. Permanently close or grade separate (bridge) the roadways from the tracks 2. Install wayside or stationary horns at a crossing. 3. Comply with the FRA rules for a full -time or a nighttime quiet zone. Wayside or stationary horns are a relatively new technology that has recently been approved for general installation. The wayside horn replaces the train mounted horn with a horn mounted at the crossing. The wayside horn is activated by the crossing signal system. The Road Authority is generally responsible for installation and maintenance of the system. The noise level is comparable to a train horn, but it decreases the noise impact area. The stationary hom works well in non - residential areas, because the immediate area near the crossing is subjected to the full noise of the hom for 25 seconds, rather than a gradual increase as the train approaches. Although the wayside horn was authorized in the quiet zone rule packet, it is technically not in a quiet zone. It is considered the same risk level as a train mounted horn. The FRA quiet zone rules allow a community to establish a quiet zone, provided a series of conditions are met. The community has the option of a 24 -hour per day zone or a nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) zone. The process of obtaining either one is the same. 3.0 Background on FRA Rules The FRA was directed in the early 1990s to establish national standards for locomotive horns at public grade crossings. After careful research, the FRA released draft rules in 2000. In December 2003, Interim Final rules were Issued, and on April 27, 2005, the Final Rules were adopted. These rules preempt any state or local laws related to locomotive train horns. The Final Rules have four distinct parts. Quiet zone issues dominate the rules and are of most interest to local communities, even though the three other parts will help to reduce noise impacts. The four sections are: 1. Railroads must sound the hom 15 to 20 seconds prior to a train's arrival at a grade crossing, but not more than one - quarter mile in advance of the crossing. 2. The rules describe a minimum and maximum volume level for a train hom. (96 dB (A) and 110dB (A)). 3. The rules outline a new test procedure to determine hom compliance. 4. The rules have provisions for local communities to establish quiet zones, where railroads are exempt from blowing the locomotive horns. There are six types of quiet zones. Four of these quiet zone types provide for a transitional process for preexisting train horn bans. The City does not meet these requirements. The two types of zones that the City meets are 1) a 24 -hour quiet zone or 2) a partial nighttime quiet zone. The partial quiet zone would run from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The requirements for either a full -time or partial nighttime quiet zones are the same. The City can choose which Railroad Quiet Zone Report City of Little Canada 8 LITTC 126672 Page 3