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Home My WebLink AboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab AOM_10/07/2004 � ' - - • - � • - - - - 4 i f I s C THE PALM BEACH POST • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2003 5C , _. �. --_ --...,.__ ,� �� r 21 -- `J � Train horn rules �ma let . Y �Gardens be ` uiet zone �� q , .. . By SARAH EISENHAUER the horns 'until the T(11eS ""` Palm Beach Post Sta}�'Writer were finished. They were �1� PAI.M BEACH GARDENS originallq scheduled to be '� New federal rules that complete in 1996. ' could silence train horns at `�'rain horns are 'impor= thousands of railroad cross- tant safety devices, but they ' i,ngs in the United States also can be a nuisance for have rekindled .this city's ef- residents,": Transportation forts to gain "quiet zone" Secretary Norman Mineta status. said in a statement "The �= "I'm really excited about , rule means less noise for this," Mayor Eric Jablin said millions of Americans living last week `�Ve've waited so near railroad crossings." �ong for these rules so we Under the rules, local could move forward. My governments will be able to goal now is to be one of the establish the quiet zones if first cities in America to get they can prove the crossing it done." is a low.crash risk or if they ' `. �e Federal Raili Ad- make specific safety im- '# tninistration on Thursday provements. Those improve- ,`� published the long awaited ments include installing � rules, which'would allow cit gates that entirely block traf- � ies to require locomotive en fic in both directions, pro- t gineers to silence their hibiting cars' from maneu- � �iorns at specific crossings if vering around a lowered � certain safety requirements gate. 'They could alternative- ; are met ly install a median divider ._; _ ; 7ablin, who for several that does the same thing. ` � pears has pushed for the The rules also allow au- ` creation of a quiet zone at all tomated horns, which are � su� of the city's crossings, speakers mounted on poles ' �aid he's already inshvcted that sound a horn directed the city manager and engi at fhe road in front of the �eer to begin gathering the crossing, instead of having �.ecessary data. to petition the engineer blast the h t�e agency for approval. horn as it approaches a a Garden Woods resident crossing. �toger Blangy; who regular: "Right now, we're hying , Iy speaks out about train to figure out what informa noise in his community, said tion we need to qualify for he hasn't had a chance to cluiet zones at all. our cross� �ead the new rules, but he's inSs, and if we don't qualify, � �xcited at the possibility of What we need to do to get � progress on the issue. there," Jablin said. - •"It does give us some The rules will go into ef- f�ope," he said. fect Dec. 18 next year, but :� Blangy and other city Federal Railroad Adminis- r�sidents who live along the �1�on officials have agreed Florida East Coast Railway to review quiet aone applica #racks have been. told for tions in the meantime to per- y_eazs that there's nothing mit the zones as soon ,as federal, state or local offi- possible. �;ials Can do about silencing � sarah_eisenhauer@pbpostcom � _ �i . � . � 1HEPAtM BEAC1i POST •" SATURDAY, SEP'iFMBER 6, 2003 � � i � q'-�-Q � � v" .".' . . `��, 'V . � � How the sound travels � j ` � T� � ` A study comparing the impact of having an engineer � 'a blow a horn as a train approaches a crossing vs. having � �eS1U.en.tS U.S� a horn blow at the crossing showed that noise was f � � reduced substantiall b � .� . y y mounting the horn at the gate. � g ' � -tech - j� � lan m e diagrams show the decibel levels and how the ` �" sound travels under the two systems. � � : f; muf f le train� � � � � _ � .�O -� .- , . j i 'x } �'�, �- s :-- ?no ,.s `��g��.�'�s"� � $ _ � � _ • ' � "Y :_. - � �,.�,�->z - I . . . � � - � . . .. . :. n : _ . . . ` , . " . . . ` - � � �. 7�iey want Palm Beach Gaydens to : �� r �'��° � � �k � kF � � � 3 try out the `wayside' horn system. �� s ' y�� _; ��= x � : < �.� '� � �, ' . � �Cdl[f<fr�C{G � ., � � � : � . � `�� ti � � By SARAH EISENHAUER ' ' � °�E� � �� ' � � � �� { � i � . Palm Beach Post Sta$Writes - ' . : � x �� '� � � � � ' ti , x '� � f . �� °�� PALM BEACH GARDENS = When �arden . � �zg �� y �;�� ; I � Woods residents learned the city wanted to ��°�x� �� ` ' ��.�� * �� build a railroad= crossing near their homes, . 7 � a.�- -� r�",� y �� y� their reaction was almost as deafening as the _ j �� r �� train horns they fear will invade their quief ` ��-�°�-��_��:��3�. `�'a ::��' r � neighborhood. But instead of just howling, residents got �'''' ' ' �X��`� � �`�� w � �x-��Ro � ;��7.11�declbels�� "� § to work. � ��,��¢ � "�� g � ��`�� . �" g��p�� . The information they gathered might not' � �� x �.�� gOsdecibs(�. �� ' � onl solve their dilemma but also . end � �h�� `�� `�`� ��`� �� : conversation sleep �`�:�a�n tC�dCk.�� `��.�� 9� d�hels� �� . � train horns that make life� miserable for � thousands of county residents living along the � x� Y � �� .��z� � `� � ��s�� `� �`� � �` � tr some say • — ��,� � �"' �.��"��'� �� d �� € �, ��,-�� : ��i� �r _ �a-� � �{�, ��e,s�z �--� t� �x {f xs �� x' '� uK s.�� a +��Z, r ° „c�"u� .z` - -�,� "We think this is a com romise that would � �.� , � E � j � x � �� °� � � ��° � � work for everyone," � said resident Sharon �,�� ,�� _ � f �� ,,�� ' �` �� `� � Long, who with several other neighbors has �'�� • � � � � �. spent more than three years studying possi ' ble ways to reduce train noise. � The chart shaws how much {ess area is affected when train horns are �.} The solution, residents say, rests in high � mounted at the gate instead of blown by train engineers. As a point of f; tech train horn technology that has not been ; reference, a food blender at 3 feet registers 87 decibels � used in the state It's called an 'automated i Sound levei Traln horn Gate horn Reduction hom system, also l�own as a`�vayside" horn '. mGie�ter t�at��(� deabet�::. �6� acr��, ��'�� etes`: ,�� system. . � , Greater than 80 dec�bels 171 acres 5 acres 97% !_ Now the�re on a new mission: hying to ��ate�t� ��Yttecabel� ��f; cre�s �es�ifta�� GI'�`� �� ' persuade local leaders to make Palm Beach ' � �-- � - - � � - �� - � � - �- s � � See TRAIN. HORNS, 8A � Source: lawa Department ofTransportatian . STAFf 6RAPHIC � au� �,arden Woods resi- lne stuciy showed a 70 �e system, however, has ► TRAfN HORNS �rom � dents aren't giving up. Some, Percent decrease in safety vi- its critics who prefer tradi- ,, ' who originally pushed to get a olations, such as motonsts tional train whisdes. A prima Gardens the first city . in the "9uiet zone" in the city for driving around downed gates. ry complaint, according to the state to try it out tram horns, now believe the Further, the study found, �atest study, is that motorists automated horns are a more noise levels near the tracks � The system works like decreased b u t can t tell which direction the this: A horn with a digital r� realistic solution. Residents Y P o$5 percent train is traveling using the cording from an actual loco- and transportation agencies �'ound crossings. throughout the country have " wayside horns. motive is mounted on a ole at On both counts, the au- p been waiting for more than tomated horn proved ex- But residents in Gering, the crossing. The horn r� three years for the Federal ; tremely successful," Mun- Neb., the first city in the ceives a signal as a train ap- Railroad Administration to fi- ' delein Mayor Marilyn Sindles United States�to use the tech- proaches, and the system nalize new rules that could. �'I'ote in an introduction to nology, are extremely ha�r mimics an actual train horn allow quiet zones with certain the report. , PY with the system, said warning until the train travels safety improveinents at The system has been Gering City Administrator through the crossing. The lo- crossings, such as gates that studied in several states and Michael Steklac, who added comotive engineer would not completely block cars from noW is used at about 40 that both noise complaints sound his horn, unless he de- oin over the tracks. crossings throughout Illinois, and safery violations have tects an unsafe condition. � g Iowa Nebraska Kansas Cal- dropped since the system was The pole-mounted hom ��e quiet zone is really > > > installed at three crossings in reduces the noise for people hard to get, . Long said. "This �ornia and Texas. In. most 1994. who live near railroad tracks, is an alternative that's work- cases, municipalities paid for �e automated horns like those in Garden Woods able and has had good suc- the system, which costs about ' cess in other communities." $50,000 for each crossing, but were originally experimental, who endure the whisfle as it's ; a few were bought with state but he said residents don't blown a quarter-mile in ad- Mayor prefers quiet zones i and federal dollars, Anderson �'ant to live without them. vance. of all crossings, said i said. "The residents have really ; Kurt . Anderson, public� Residents have lobbied Although the Federal gotten used to it,",Steklac I projects director for Texas- Mayor Eric Jablin, who said Railroad Administration is said. "I think we'd have a real � based Railroad Controls Lim- the technology has piqued his closely monitoring the cross- Problem on our hands if we ited, which manufactures the interest Jablin said his first ; ings that use the technology, ever had to take them out' _ systems. � choice would be a quiet zone, it has not of6cially deter- O sarah_eisenhauer@pbpost.com `The whole idea is to force but he'll pursue the automat mined whether automated the noise direcfly at the road- ed horn technology in case horns are an acceptable al- way and cars in front of the the quiet zone is permanently ! ternative to train-mounted crossing, where iYs needed sidetrac,ked. He has spoken to : horns, said agency spoke�- tlxe most, and away�from peo- �derson and plans to lobby ; man Warren Flatau. The ple living adjacent to the top managers at the FEC. ; technology probably will be _.._ . .. . . . .. . ...._._ . trac s.leading to the cross-� "I'll work on them togeth- -, ing," Anderson said. . er," Jablin said. "It might take addressed in its upcoming Homs subject to approval Just as long to get the wayside niling on train horns and qui- . horns as the quiet zone." et zones, he said. ` Still, it appears the resi- �derson said he wants to "I can't disclose where dents have a struggle ahead. initiate a demonstration ,�'e're going with it," Flatau : • Before the automated horns project of the system along � said. "We've definitely ac- ' could be put at the new Flori- the FLC line in Palm Beach knowledged the interest. We da East Coast 12ailway cross- Gardens. He's contacting know there are a number of ing at Kyoto Gardens Drive, communities very interested approvals would be needed » - from.the city, the railread, the ` would be very � this. state Department of Tran� jnteresting to See how Boca expressing interest portation and probably the federal governmenf. The it would work in South Boca Raton is the only crossing at Kyoto Gardens , other city in Florida that has Drive, 500 feet from Garden Fiorida expressed interest, said Larry Woods, will replace the one at Merritt, a transportation PGA Boulevard, which will be �RRY MERRIIT manager with the Florida De- eliminated with t}ie cOnstnlo- Florida Department of.Transportation p1�ent of Transportation. tion of a new flyover. Officials there allowed a one- ; A sgokesman with the . state officials to figure out b t backed off the dea�be-� FEC said the railroad strongly � how to proceed, since a full cause of lingering questions supports traditional train scale test fias never been over whether it would hurt horns. conducted in the state, he � the city's chances of getting `°I'hey are a proven and ' said. extra gates. tested safety device that have 7ablin said he's especially "It would be very interest- saved.lives in the past and will interested in the latest study � to see how it would work continue to in the future," said of the system that was com- in South Florida," Merritt spokesman Husein Cumber, . pleted in January by the Cen- said. "4Ve certainly support , who declined further com- ter for Public Safety at �vestigating any technology ment Northwestern University. �at could reduce noise im- _ The study looked at safety pacts for residential commu- — and noise reduction at nine nities and still maintain safe- crossings where automated �,.�� horns are used in the village of Mundelein, Ill., a Chicago suburb. 1.J 1�]►11-_i. i .L - 1� lvl. ••• Vu�,uu,r v�, �vv ,��c vv,u..u .....�...... r. � � � � � ��' Wh 1 � � � s� I n a� n st es II w� t es to e ce F s to a o e By JOHN SEEWER Associated Press Writer "`'�-� �'��,`` FOSTORIA, Ohio — Harold Pelton has put up '<'` `` r' �.�' �:� with trains all his life. � � . �`:;,,�_ ��-�.� . � � � Years ago steam engines sprayed cinders and _ J ,,,.- , , � � _ `'� � coals onto the roof of his general store, forcing :�-`^- - � ,�„ � ; t ,, him to climb up and shovel them away. Now ��. "� ;% ti j`•,,� �� whistles blare from as many as 190 trains that }�� `" � y �;� ��` �, ._, converge each day in town. � h , '-'�i, f- ;; '�.�' "Sometimes it blows your drums oat," said � - ` � y ` ` , ' �;� , ' ; r ' ' � ; Pelton, 80, who sells a little bit of everything — �� , � � '�' " �; '�.� .�� fresh popcorn, steaks and screws — at his store a � i ^ r°n''' � '� -' �`�; . few steps across the street from the track. "They ' -• "°� i� `� � *� just lay on the horn all the way through town." � � � ;� �� , � �..-�•��z- It's such a common complaint around the , - p� �� '" 3 � � `` r ::. . E <"�. � ` � f _'` �,— € �..'1 3F nation that the Federal Ra'ilroad Administration - �` � �'� � � �r t� , ��,_. � plans at the end of the year to let cities ban the ��} � � _ �`�'�:� i-'_� t �`�.•-� �� . ��#��_�� '�r;,:�� :�'_ whistles as long as they add or improve safety �� - � ` < - " ' � r � -� �'�, '"��^ ' *� ` '° `` y � ; � �� r . . . . , devices at crossmgs. � `� ?" � '�' � t � � � ' �� + q - � - � � ��:( � ��. � K -�. R7'e�q ; � 3 �f ��. 'T I �• .r . f �qr. . Z iLt} S ��.� t1 Train whistles alread are banned in about -�----�- ��a� �r.• � Y , 3 b+ i ��.,�g < �� a�'; E ��. �� `}i . v.,? � � ,y,��,�,� t 3 �"� 4 ��, �t � � � }� w 2,000 communities in 24 states, mainl in Illinois, > � �� `" � - °� � � ��-�-. ��° 3. ' " Y g '�./� _ Y � �� t r � . _a. "��A�� ^� t 'E (' f Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Virginia. �r ` � � �;�inl � � ,�E� . { � ; � �� The federal agency says train whistles are a :.�"�`� -'`�� ^ ��, � nuisance for 9.3 million people nationally, in part _ -� � � '`" �"� � � � ��' � ' 1 � because rail traffic has increased and towns are " • '"� _ - ` . . • - . - < ° ..:�- � -' �.— � � -�--,� �.-n�cs,. expanding toward once-remote railroad tracks. ��---� ` `'"' • � _ < ,-� . "Train whistles are there so the railroads and '�� '' r `� `� . �� _ � �._ _ � -��.�-�.M - - .--. •- - .. -r -�' � .-` ,�--�-�^2"'`'�`��'�``� __ - ,� , .�. _ . . . . - , . . �_•.� � � : _ _ .....-�: - - ., � . r -..; <;w ,. tt . municipalities don't get sued," said Fostoria ` � _ Mayor John Davoli. "There's no penalty for being � ' S � ; ' `� �- �: _,,,,,�,_ - - � too loud, so the whistles have become louder than � � � � � r' ` � } � - ' ,� „��;�,;,��' ±-"' '"` " � they need to be." ` � �' ` r '' � <.� �'-:�*� r "'��'�� . -. &� �'`':�' T . �: -� `" . . _ _ He has been lobbying state and federal law- , Q _-„ - _ - •-, makers for about two years for help in creating - - , � _�,�`� _, . ._ � "quiet zones" in the northwest Ohio city of 14,000 . � � � - ��""" - �� people, where so many tracks converge they look � -- � �_ �. like tangled spaghetti strands, ' : � „ � �- ` ., � -, Piercing whistles are more than an inconve- ,� �; � . ,��`'� ,� _ _�-4 nience. Neighbors of busy rail crossings say the noise — Associated Press 1.D. Pooiey lowers their property values, forces some people to move and increases stress and sleeplessness. A train moves past houses Tuesday in an area known as the "Iron Triangle" where train tracks cross in every direction in Fostoria, "They stop you from having a conversation on Ohio. Complaints about train whistles are so common around the nation that the Federal Railroad Administration plans at the end of the phone or in the house said Charles Ferillo a the year to let cities ban the whistles as long as they add or improve safety devices at crossings. resident who is leading efforts to establish a quiet As part of its proposal allowing quiet zones, crossings have automated ��arning signals such as to limit how loud whistles can be and require zone in Columbia, S.C. "You can't sit on the the Federal Railroad Administration is requirin� lights or gates. locomotives to blow their horns 15 seconds before porch or watch kids play in the yard. that cities install safery devices that do more ro Sai'ery improvements can include constructing a crossing instead of a quarter of a mile from it. "It's a question of livability, public health and prevent drivers from trying to cross in front of a lun��er �Tates, and barriers [�71C stop cars from That would reduce the amount of time slower property values," he said. train. zigza�gine around crossin; gates such as moving trains are sounding their whistles. The city council in Columbia is studying the ��W� �on't want to trade safety for quietness," installing permanent pylons wi[h ret7ectors near The proposals, which are to take effect Dec. idea. ' Ferillo said. the crossings. 18, would set a national standard for train whis- Ferillo estimated it would cost $2.5 million to The Federal Railroad Administration said "What will prevent death and accidents is tles, eliminating various state laws on quiet zones. upgrade crossings along a six-mile stretch of track crossinbs with only conventional gates were like- keeping people off the tracks — not whether they Still, some people aren't sure silencing trains is that runs past several neighborhoods and three ly to have 34 percent more wrecks than those will react ro louder and louder tr<iin whistles." a Qood idea. universities. where horns are also blown. Ferillo said. Sandra Keel, who works for her father at In a review last year of ?5 rail crossings in Szven deaths at crossings in 2002 where whis- Another option is putting up automated horns Pelton's market in Fostoria, has become accus- Rockland County, N.Y., just north of New York tles were banned mibht have been prevented had that direct a recorded warning at traffic and not at romed to the whisdes at home and at work. City, consultants found that the county would the horns been sounded, accordin� to the agency. surrounding homes. "It's better than having accidents," she saitl. "A need better gates and barriers before quiet zones The Association of American Railroads, which Northwestern University's Center for Public month a�o someone drove right through the could go into effect. represents the ❑ation's major freight railroads, Safery found that homs at crossin�s in subarban_ �ates." The county, where freight train traffic has dou- 5upports improving safety at crossings while also Chicago decreased the noise by 30 percent. It also � bled in recent years, is seekin� $2 million in fed- allowing quiet zones. said drivers were more likel,v to hear the warnin� On the Net: eral aid to improve the crossinas and wants to cre- gut it has not fully reviewed the agency's pro- than train whisdes. Federa! Railroad Administration: { ate 14 quiet zones. posed rebulations and may recommend some The Ohio Rail Development Commission http://w�vtiv.fra.dot.go��/ It would be worth it, Ferillo said, to quiet whis- tweaks to the rules, �aid Tom White, a spokesman plans to test the horns this year at three crossings Assoc. of American Rnilroads: tles that have been measured to be egual.to [he for the Washi7Rt��n-ba�ed , �roup. ,,.,:: T,�led��. l,trp://�v�r�c.unr.or�' sound of a jackhammer. [�(utionwide�.�bvut half ot all public hi��hway The Federal Railroad Administration also p(an�