BNSF, IDOT to pay for Burlington, Iowa, crossing closures
Written by jrood
At a meeting September 8, the Burlington, Iowa, City Council is expected to approve a financial agreement with BNSF and the Iowa Department of Transportation for the closure of three downtown grade crossings, according to the Burlington Hawkeye. Under terms of the agreement, BNSF will pay the city $65,500, with IDOT providing $22,500 toward the closure of Third, Seventh and Eighth streetsCity officials had intended to address those crossings in 2010 as part of a plan to silence noise from train horns approved by the Federal Railroad Administration. The quiet zone plan also includes safety upgrades and modifications at seven additional downtown crossings.
Last year, BNSF officials
raised concerns with the FRA about the city’s phased approach. The railroad
said postponing safety improvements at the three crossings would create an
increased safety risk due to the absence of train horns. The railroad lobbied
the city to complete work on the crossings in question at the same time as
other downtown crossings.
In an October 2008 letter
to the city, BNSF officials indicated any funds made available to the city
should not be misconstrued as payment toward the creation of a quiet zone.
"It is not the
policy of BNSF Railway to fund quiet zone improvements for communities,"
said Craig Rasmussen, manager of public works for BNSF, in the written
statement.
Last week, construction
began on quiet zone plan. Work is expected to continue for up to three months. The
$307,498 price tag came in about $100,000 lower than officials had estimated. As
part of the city’s quiet zone plan, 100-foot medians will be installed on both
sides of the Main Street grade crossing, with a channelization island on Market
Street.
Safety upgrades at the
Jefferson/Hawkeye streets crossing includes a 100-foot and two 60-foot medians.
At Lucas Avenue, a 100-foot median will be installed.
Medians will be installed
at crossings at Fourth and Fifth streets, and two 60-foot medians are needed at
the Valley Street crossing. In addition, the east vehicle gate on South Street
near the sewage treatment plant will be relocated.
After the work is
finished, the FRA will review the modifications. Public Works Director Ron Knoke
indicated he is confident the FRA will grant the city quiet zone status based
on a reduced safety threshold. Once established, locomotive horns will not have
to be routinely sounded.
