Quiet Zone reduces noise of trains passing through St. Joseph, Mo.
Written by jrood
Local residents and hotel guests will sleep sounder now that routine horn blowing by trains passing through downtown St. Joseph is diminished due to a joint project between the city, the Missouri Department of Transportation and BNSF, local media report. Work is now complete on safety improvements at several rail crossings that make the city of St. Joseph eligible for a federal quiet zone designation.
A quiet zone, designated by
the Federal Railroad Administration, is a section of a rail line where additional
safety measures have been put in place to justify waiving the requirement that
trains routinely sound their horns when approaching grade crossings.
"When St Joseph was
designated as a DREAM Community in 2007, one of the first goals established was
to implement a Downtown Quiet Zone to assist the city in attracting more
residents and businesses to its downtown," said Clint Thompson, St. Joseph’s
director of planning and community development. "The city is pleased to see one
of our first goals accomplished through the assistance we received from the
state’s DREAM program and our partnership with MoDOT and the BNSF."
Train engineers don’t
routinely sound their horns in a quiet zone, except in emergency and other
limited situations. So, local citizens and visitors staying at downtown hotels
will finally have relief from the blaring sound that often woke them in the middle
of the night.
Even more important, pedestrians, motorists and railroad
personnel will benefit from safety improvements necessary to create the quiet
zone.
Active warning devices with
gates were upgraded and center medians were installed at Fourth Street and
Francis Street. The highway-rail crossings at Monterey Street, Mitchell Avenue
and Seneca Alley were closed.
Costs for these rail improvements,
approximately $500,000, were shared by MoDOT, BNSF and the city of St. Joseph.
"This project would not
have been feasible for one single entity. By working together, MoDOT, the city
of St. Joseph and BNSF were able to make the necessary improvements to create
this quiet zone," said MoDOT Rail Administrator Rod Massman. "Now the at-grade
crossings are much safer and the reduction of noise will make the quality of
life better for those living, working and visiting in the heart of St. Joseph."
"BNSF was happy to work
with the city and state in accomplishing this project," said Cheryl Townlian,
central region manager of public projects for BNSF. "Making the rails safer for
our employees and the traveling public is our highest priority."
