HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 15_3/14/2024 Agenda Item #15.
Regular Council
STAFF MEMO
Y
Meeting: Regular Council - Mar 14 2024
Staff Contact: Jeremy Allen, Village Manager Department: Manager
Consider Approval of Staff Applying for the Implementation of a "Quiet Zone" at the Tequesta Drive
Railroad Crossing
The Village has maintained "Establish Safe and Quiet Railroad Crossing" as part of the Strategic Plan
dating back to 2021 and has been discussed beyond 2021. As part of the discussion, the Village
would hold off on any further discussion about a "Quiet Zone" application until Brightline had an
established schedule. On December 4th, 2023 at the Village Council workshop, the Village Council
asked staff to bring the item back for consideration in March.
A mechanism has been established whereby localities that could meet certain safety requirements
might designate as a "quiet zone" a segment of a rail line of a public highway-rail grade crossings.
Upon satisfying the regulation's technical requirements, locomotive horns would not be routinely
sounded within this quiet zone. It is important to note, that train horns may still be used in
emergencies or to comply with other Federal regulations or railroad operating rules.
Localities that want to establish a quiet zone are first required to mitigate the increased risk caused by
the absence of a horn. Several years ago the Village implemented safety measures at the crossing
that mitigate some of the safety risks with the dual track, one of which being a high-speed rail.
The application is submitted through the Federal Railroad Administration. The process will take
several months. There is no cost associated with the application itself. Several communities have
been successful with the application of the Quiet Zone. Staff will seek resources available and
consult with Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and/or consultant for application and
implementation.
There are two crossings adjacent to Tequesta Drive Crossings. Below are the status:
County Line Crossing - Martin County - Will review in one year (September 2024) -
Riverside Drive - Jupiter - The Town of Jupiter is currently working through some details with FEC
and Brightline relating to safety fencing along the corridor. Jupiter is actively pursuing the "Quiet
Zone" designation for the crossing. No known timeline.
This document and any attachments may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by
completing our Accessibility Feedback Form, sending an e-mail to the Village Clerk or calling 561-
768-0443.
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Agenda Item #15.
BUDGET INFORMATION:
BUDGET AMOUNT NA AMOUNT AVAILABLE NA EXPENDITURE AMOUNT: NA
FUNDING SOURCES: NA IS THIS A PIGGYBACK:
❑ Yes ❑ N/A
DID YOU OBTAIN 3 QUOTES?
❑ Yes ❑ N/A
COMMENTS/EXPLANATION ON SELECTIONNA
'ATTACHMENTS: '
FRA Train Horn and Quiet Zone Fact Sheet
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Agenda Item #15.
Federal Railroad Administration
Locomotive Horn Sounding and
� , � Quiet Zone Establishment
Fact Sheet
Why Do Locomotives Need to Sound Their Horns?
Since their inception, railroads have sounded locomotive horns or whistles in advance of grade
crossings and under other circumstances as a universal safety precaution. During the 20th century,
nearly every state in the nation enacted laws requiring railroads to do so. Some states allowed local
communities to create "whistle bans"where the train horn was not routinely sounded.
In accordance with a statutory mandate, FRA issued regulations which took effect in 2005 that
require locomotive horns be sounded in advance of all public highway-rail crossings, and provide
local communities the option of silencing them by establishing quiet zones. Under the Federal
regulation, locomotive engineers must sound train horns for a minimum of 15 seconds, and a
maximum of 20 seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings, except:
• If a train is traveling faster than 45mph, engineers do not have to sound the horn until it is
within '/4 mile of the crossing, even if the advance warning is less than 15 seconds.
• If a train stops in close proximity to a crossing, the horn does not have to be sounded when
the train begins to move again.
• A "good faith" exception at locations where engineers can't precisely estimate their arrival
at a crossing.
Wherever feasible, train horns must be sounded in a standardized pattern of 21ong, 1 short and 1
long and the horn must continue to sound until the lead locomotive or train car occupies the grade
crossing. The minimum volume level for locomotive horns is 96 decibels and the maximum
volume level is 110 decibels.
Establishing a Quiet Zone
Only local governments or public agencies may establish a quiet zone, which must be at least '/2
mile in length, and have at least one public highway-rail grade crossing. Every public grade
crossing in a quiet zone must be equipped at minimum with the standard or conventional automatic
warning devices (i.e. flashing lights and gates). Communities have the option to establish partial
quiet zones restricting locomotive horn sounding during overnight hour's between10:00 P.M. to
7:00 A.M.
Local governments must work in cooperation with the railroad that owns the track, and the
appropriate state transportation authority to convene a diagnostic team to assess the risk of collision
at each grade crossing where they wish to silence the horn. An objective determination is made
about where and what type of additional safety engineering improvements are necessary to
effectively reduce the risk associated with silencing the horns based on localized conditions such as
highway traffic volumes, train traffic volumes, the accident history and physical characteristics of
the crossing, including existing safety measures.
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Agenda Item #15.
Examples of additional safety engineering improvements that may be necessary to reduce the risk of
collisions include: medians on one or both sides of the tracks to prevent a motorist from driving
around a lowered gate; a four-quadrant gate system to block all lanes of highway traffic; converting
a two-way street into a one-way street; permanent closure of the crossing to highway traffic; or
approved variations of these treatments.
As an alternative to quiet zones, communities may also choose to silence locomotive horns through
the installation of wayside horns at each crossing (train-activated stationary acoustical devices
directed at highway traffic), as a one for one substitute for train horns.
Once all necessary safety engineering improvements are made, the local community must certify to
FRA that the required level of risk reduction has been achieved. A quiet zone may only take effect
after all necessary safety measures are installed and operational.
Notably, in a quiet zone engineers have no legal duty to sound the horn, but may exercise discretion
during emergency situations (i.e. the presence of a vehicle or a person on the track). Under federal
regulations, engineers must sound the horn to warn railroad maintenance employees or contractors
working on the tracks. If a railroad or individual engineer fails to sound the locomotive horn as
required or is unnecessarily sounding the horn in an established quiet zone, they are subject to
enforcement action by FRA.
Pre-Rule Quiet Zones In some locations, communities had legacy"whistle bans,"which were
established by local ordinance or through agreements with railroads in accordance with state laws,
or through informal agreements honored or abided by a railroad. Whistle ban communities were
required by law and FRA's regulations to affirmatively state their intention to preserve them by
submitting specific paperwork converting the ban to a"pre-rule quiet zone." Those that failed to do
so lost their special status and railroads resumed routine sounding of horns. Pre-rule quiet zone
communities that completed the required paperwork were granted an extended grace period (from 5
to 8 years) to achieve compliance with certain rule requirements.
Additional information can be found at: htlp://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/PO104
FRA Office of Public Affairs
(202) 493-6024
www.fra.dot.s!ov
February 2013
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