Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.a. Quiet Zone UpdateAGENDA ITEM: Quiet Zone Update AGENDA SECTION: Response to Public Comment PREPARED BY: Andrew J. Brotzler, PE, City Engineer AGENDA NO. 5.a ATTACHMENTS: Letter, Map APPROVED BY: 0 j RECOMMENDED ACTION: None 4 ROSEMOUNT City Council Meeting: October 21, 2008 BACKGROUND: CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This item is on the agenda to respond to inquiries regarding train noise and outlines the ongoing process and current status for potential improvements to roadway -rail grade crossings within the city as required for the establishment of a 24 -hour Quiet Zone. The Quiet Zone would create an exception to the rule requiring locomotives to sound a warning horn at crossings, thereby providing some level of relief from unwanted horn noise within our community. The quiet zone is proposed to be located between 160 Street (CSAH 46) to Akron Avenue (CR 73) along the Union Pacific Railroad line, and is illustrated on the attached map. Below is a brief listing of the project's history, current status, and anticipated next steps. May 2004: A memorandum was prepared by the city's engineering consultant, WSB Associates, and reported to City Council on the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) new train horn rules. At the time, Council directed staff to continue monitoring the program and update the Council with potential opportunities to moderate the impacts of the train horn rule. March 2006: WSB prepared a memorandum to the City Engineer stating the requirements and procedures that Rosemount would have to meet to establish a new quiet zone. October 2007: Council authorized preparation of a feasibility report for the 2008 Street Improvement Program Project and Quiet Zone Improvements. This report, received by Council in December of 2007, recommended the completion of a diagnostic team review meeting to determine the project scope and costs. April 2008: Stakeholders for the Quiet Zone Improvements project met for a diagnostic team review at each intersection location. Project requirements for crossing improvements as well as preliminary cost estimates were determined from this process. May 2008: WSB prepared a letter to council members itemizing the requirements and costs for each crossing prior to the establishment of a Quiet Zone. Present: Union Pacific Railroad is currently preparing a design and cost estimate for crossing G: \ENGPROJ \418 \Quiet Zone Response CC10- 21 -08.doc improvements to be constructed by the railroad at each crossing. Once complete, this information will be forwarded to the City for review and approval, and an agreement is anticipated to be executed between the City and the railroad for funding and construction in early 2009. Spring Summer 2009: Crossing improvements are anticipated to be made at each crossing to meet Quiet Zone requirements. Summer 2009: Following completion of crossing improvements, the City will formally request a Quiet Zone designation of the Federal Railroad Administration. Approval will require additional inspection and evaluation of all crossings within the proposed quiet zone. Fall- Winter 2009: Anticipated Quiet Zone approval by FRA. CONCLUSION: At this time, City staff is waiting for Union Pacific Railroad to complete the design process and cost estimation for track, signal, and crossing improvements necessary at each roadway -rail grade crossing within the proposed Quiet Zone area. Once complete, as a next step an agreement between the City and Union Pacific Railroad authorizing the crossing improvements will be presented to Council for consideration. 2 K ROSEMOUNT October 16, 2008 Mr. Kevin Grass 2724 138 Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 Re: Quiet Zone Improvements City of Rosemount Project No. 418 Dear Mr. Grass: This letter serves to provide more information to you regarding the at -grade roadway -rail crossings within Rosemount, the rules regulating the sounding of locomotive horns at crossings, and the current status of the creation process of a "quiet zone" that allows for exceptions to the requirement of sounding locomotive horns, as well as some of the potential improvements to the crossings that have been determined as necessary to allow for the creation of the quiet zone. Prior to April 27, 2005, state laws and railroad operating rules governed use of the horn at highway rail grade crossings. After this date, a federal rule called the Final Rule on Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway -Rail Grade Crossings took effect, which now determines when the horn is sounded at public crossings and private crossings within "quiet zones This rule was intended to uphold and maintain a high level of public safety while at the same time respond to the varied concerns of many communities that have sought relief from unwanted horn noise. Consistent with the statutory mandate requiring its issuance, the rule requires that locomotive horns be sounded at public highway -rail grade crossings, but provides several exceptions to that requirement. Specifically, local public authorities such as the City of Rosemount may request approval of "quiet zones" in which train horns are not required to be routinely sounded. The details for establishment of quiet zones differ, and depend upon the type of safety improvements required at the highway -rail grade crossings within the proposed quiet zone. These safety improvements, such as upgrades to crossing signals and gates, or raised center concrete roadway median, are designed and implemented to replace the use of the train horn as a warning device. Until a quiet zone is established, the pattern for sounding horns will remain, as it currently exists today (two long, one short, one long repeated or prolonged until the locomotive occupies the highway -rail grade crossing). This pattern is per Federal Railroad Administration rules. Locomotive engineers may vary this pattern as necessary where highway -rail grade crossings are closely spaced; and they will also be allowed (but not required) to sound the horn in the case of an emergency. Since May of 2004, the City has been monitoring the development of the Federal Railroad Administration's new train horn rules, and in October of 2007 authorized preparation of a feasibility study and the formation of a diagnostic team to review the requirements, scope, and costs involved in improving each of the seven roadway -rail grade crossings in the quiet zone area proposed in the SPIRIT OF PRIDE AND PROGRESS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT G:IE GPRO II1811ei QZ KeW' Grnu- 101608doe.dou 2875 145th Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 4997.651- 423 -4411 TDD/TTY 651- 423 -6219 Fax 651- 322 -2694 www.drosemount.mn.us Kevin Grass Letter Quiet Zone Response feasibility study. These crossings are illustrated on the enclosed map. The goal of this effort is the evaluation and development of improvements at the crossings to facilitate the establishment of a quiet zone within Rosemount. In April of 2008, all stakeholders involved in the project, including Federal Railroad Administration, Canadian Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Progressive Railroad, City of Rosemount, Dakota County, and Mn /DOT, all met as part of the Diagnostic Team, and concluded that several improvements are required throughout the Quiet Zone area. These improvements include crossing signal upgrades, median installation, roadway striping modifications, four -gate signal crossing installation, and the closure of two private crossings. At this time, Union Pacific Railroad is developing a design and cost estimate to install the improvements needed to meet Quiet Zone requirements. Following review and approval of the estimate by the City, the crossing improvements are anticipated in 2009, which will allow for the City to make the formal application to the Federal Rail Administration for establishment of a Quiet Zone. It is anticipated that this designation should be approved by the end of 2009. As a preliminary estimate, the total cost of the proposed Quiet Zone Improvements is estimated to be approximately $900,000 and is proposed to be funded by the City of Rosemount's Municipal State Aid fund. As you can see, the issue of minimizing or eliminating locomotive horn noise as a nuisance to residents has been a goal of the City of Rosemount's for some time and several positive steps in the lengthy process of establishing a Quiet Zone have already been successfully completed. Once the project is completed and the Quiet Zone area has been designated, a significant improvement in train noise will be to the benefit of all residents. I hope this letter provides you with adequate additional information you have requested regarding this issue. Please contact me at your earliest convenience at 651 322 -2025 if you have any questions or comments regarding this letter. Sincerely, kotR Andrew J. Brotzler, PE City Engineer Cc: Anthony Aderhold, PE, WSB Associates 2 G: \ENGPROJ \418 \Letter -QZ Kevin Grass- 101608.doc.docx