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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Thanks David for your work on this, and
the historical perspective. Sometimes things don't move as <br>
fast as we would wish, sometimes there has be a solid foundation,
and you work at least helped build<br>
that foundation.<br>
bob smith<br>
<br>
On 2/10/15 8:21 AM, David Hiles wrote:<br>
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<font class="" size="5">It is wonderful to “hear” that RP is
moving forward on establishing a quiet zone. Even better if HY
is doing the same for their crossings. Please allow me to
provide some background and </font><span class=""
style="font-size: x-large;">toot my own horn</span><font
class="" size="5">.</font>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5"><br class="">
</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">When I was on the council in
Riverdale Park, I initiated the SHA review of the Queensbury
crossing. I had been a MARC commuter for several years and
had witnessed more than enough train/car collisions. At that
time Queensbury was one of the top five or ten most dangerous
crossings in Maryland. </font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5"><br class="">
</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">We lived on Sheridan Street,
a few blocks north of the intersection. I was very aware of
the quality of life impact of the horns. I researched the
quiet zone concept. </font><span class="" style="font-size:
x-large;">At that time I didn’t think there was council
support for paying for the safety engineering study that would
make the quiet zone a reality. But </span><font class=""
size="5">I worked with SHA to ensure that the crossing design
would qualify Queensbury for a no-horn status and would be </font><span
class="" style="font-size: x-large;">safe</span><font class=""
size="5">. It took a year or so for the project to </font><span
class="" style="font-size: x-large;">actually complete, and by
that time I was off the council.</span></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5"><br class="">
</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">As a result of the
Queensbury crossing upgrade, the main train line that runs
from Baltimore to Union Station qualifies (at an engineering
level) for quiet zone status from Sunnyside in Greenbelt down
to Union Station.</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5"><br class="">
</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">South of Queensbury, there
is a branch line that carries traffic that goes over the
Decatur crossing east towards Bladensburg. Hyattsville may be
able to complete a similar analysis, installation, study, and
approval process for that line.</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5"><br class="">
</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">A few more tidbits:</font></div>
<div class=""><span class="" style="font-size: x-large;">—</span><font
class="" size="5">CSX approves and cooperates on improving the
safety of crossings because it reduces their downtime.</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">—Crossing upgrade costs are
paid for out of a safety trust fund with no payments required
by the community.</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">—The noise plume for horns
is much larger than that of actual train noise. </font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">—The jurisdiction in which a
crossing lies holds the football for moving quiet zone
applications.</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5"><br class="">
</font></div>
<div class=""><font class="" size="5">David Hiles</font></div>
<br class="">
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