Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Jonathan Douglass, Management Analyst

 

CC:

Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager

 

DATE:

June 13, 2007

 

RE:

Review of train horn quiet zone process

 

 

Normally, trains must sound their horns 15-20 seconds prior to arrival at a public road-rail grade crossing, but not more than 1/4 mile in advance of the crossing.  On June 24, 2005, the final version of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Train Horn Rule became effective, allowing for the establishment of quiet zones where sounding of the train horn is not required.  City staff has researched the feasibility of establishing a quiet zone in North Lawrence which would be comprised of the railroad crossings at 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th Streets. 

 

Initial staff research focused on the most cost effective way to establish a quiet zone. In order to lower the overall risk index of the proposed corridor to a level that would permit the establishment of a quiet zone, staff targeted the highest risk crossings – 3rd Street and 7th Street. Using the “Quiet Zone Calculator” on the FRA website, staff determined that installing non-traversable medians extending north and south from the gate arms at 3rd and 7th would lower the risk index of the corridor to just below the acceptable threshold. The estimated cost to install the medians was $50,000.

 

As required by the FRA, the City then assembled a “diagnostic team” to gather information and answer questions regarding the proposed corridor for a quiet zone application. The team met on August 16, 2006, and consisted of representatives from the City of Lawrence, Union Pacific Railroad, KDOT, FRA, USD 497, Laidlaw Transit, the North Lawrence Improvement Association and others.

 

The diagnostic team made a number of important findings that complicated the process of establishing a quiet zone and significantly increased the estimated costs. In summary, the team determined that prior to establishment of a quiet zone the train detection at 3rd Street would have to be upgraded, that impediments to motorist vision exist at all of the crossings, and that the crossing at 9th Street has the potential to be a hump crossing where long, low clearance vehicles might get stuck.

 

Staff recommended a more comprehensive approach to alleviate safety concerns raised by the visibility issues and the hump crossing. The more comprehensive approach would be to make improvements at every crossing, not just the most dangerous crossings, by installing either four quadrant gates or wayside horns. Four quadrant gates would make it impossible for vehicles to drive around the gates when lowered, and wayside horns are gate-mounted horns that direct sound down the road (instead of into the neighborhood in general) when a train approaches. The installation of either four quadrant gates or wayside horns would allow for the establishment of a quiet zone.

 

Staff worked with FRA, Union Pacific Railroad and a vendor of train crossing signal hardware to develop cost estimates for four quadrant gates or wayside horns at each crossing. Staff then created CIP requests for each of those options, and the North Lawrence Improvement Association decided to submit the less expensive option – wayside horns.

 

Attachments:  CIP Request – Wayside Horns

                   CIP Request – Four Quadrant Gates