[RP TownTalk] quiet zone

Wed Oct 28 10:58:29 UTC 2015

Well to each their own opinion, and I respect that; however, I think safety should take priority over a few seconds of 'noise.'  Sometimes the crossing gates aren't down all the way by the time the train is approaching the crossing, and people continue to drive/walk/bike/whatever across the tracks (I would think they would see the train, however.....!).  Too, quite frankly, the trains have been a part of the town longer than most of the people who live here - there's even a train on the town seal!  Not like the tracks just came to be and there's a lot of noise all of a sudden; nor is it like an airport where planes get bigger and noiser - trains stay pretty much the same.  As I said before, I live right across Lafayette Avenue from the tracks, near the crossing, and I got used to the horns pretty quickly; matter of fact, with some of the regular trains, I don't even need to look at my clock, I can tell what time it is!  (smile).  JMO, but I think, since the trains ARE an integral part of the town, we should 'embrace' them, for want of a better word?  Maybe a "train day," maybe even contact CSX/MARC, have them park an engine for a few hours, have someone talk about train safety, history of the trains in town, etc?  I know that would be a lot of work and, yes, $$$, but as it would be a one-of-a-kind event in the area, I'm betting it would be well-attended.  Lots of train fans around! 

     On Tuesday, October 27, 2015 11:23 AM, Jonathan Ebbeler <jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com> wrote:

All -    As someone who pushed this policy through to its fruition I would like to chime in if I may.  A quiet zone is never necessarily ‘quiet’ per se but there should be a reduction in horns.  The pedestrian crossing, the number of people who are observed daily trespassing onto the tracks etc. led to some modifications to the normal FRA policy as far as I understand it.  I have not seen any final documentation of the establishment.     I do not know for certain but given that our QZ was just legally added to the FRA database I am not surprised that there may be a time for conductors to recognize and learn that they are trans versing through a new zone.  There are only 5 in MD and only ours and the one in Montgomery County were established after they changed the rules; the other three exist in Cumberland and Hagerstown.  It will likely take ‘education’ on the part of the community to conductors to ensure they are following the rules.    Under the Train Horn Rule (49 CFR Part 222) engineers must sound their horn at least 15 seconds and no more than 20 seconds in advance.  They must be blown in the pattern of 2 long, 1 short, and 1 long blasts.  The pattern must be repeated or prolonged until the lead locomotive occupies the grade crossing.  The rule does not stipulate the durations of long and short blasts.  The maximum volume level for the horn is 110 decibels, the minimum is 96 decibels.     In a quiet zone, railroads have been directed to cease the routine sounding of their horns while approaching at-grade crossings.  Train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other Federal regulations or railroad operating rules.  Once the QZ is established there is a 21-day waiting period prior to it going into effect.  I have not looked at track signage but there should be QZ signs posted next to the tracks as well signaling to the engineers they are entering a Quiet Zone (I am just aware of the pedestrian/vehicular signage on Queensbury).  For those who feel that the QZ is not being respected and that engineers are blowing their horn in violation of the established QZ you can file a violation here: https://www.fra.dot.gov/app/violationreport    You can also call the FRA with general questions: 1‐800‐724‐5992    Best,    Jonathan    
_______________________________________________
TownTalk mailing list
To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only
http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk

For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/attachments/20151028/0e26da67/attachment.html>