Railroad Quiet Zones in Longmont

A quiet zone is a designated area along a railway where train horns are not routinely sounded at crossings, unless there is a specific safety reason to do so. To establish a quiet zone, certain safety improvements, such as gates, flashing lights and other crossing enhancements, are required to compensate for the lack of horns.

The goal of a Quiet Zone is to reduce noise pollution in residential areas by minimizing train horn sounds, improving the quality of life for residents. At the same time, safety is maintained through enhanced crossing gates, lights and warning systems. Quiet zones aim to create a peaceful, livable community while ensuring safety at railroad crossings.

No. Quiet Zones are intended to lessen the noise impact to neighborhoods closest to the tracks. But quiet zones may not always be quiet. There may be times when the train operator deems it necessary to sound the horn due to hazards on the track (e.g., people or animals). Additionally, bells mounted on the top of the railroad gate poles will continue to sound, as these are audible warning devices for non-motorized users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists.

The crossings will receive upgrades mandated by the FRA for a Quiet Zone. These include active warning devices, including flashing lights and gates, equipped with constant warning time devices and power-out indicators. Supplemental safety features may also be added to some crossings such as “quad gate” systems and medians.

This is a common configuration at highway-rail grade crossings. This system includes two gate arms: one for each direction of traffic. When a train approaches, the gates lower to block vehicles from crossing the tracks from a single lane. However, this system does not prevent vehicles from driving around the gates if they are lowered.

A four-quadrant gate system (quad-gate) enhances safety by including four gate arms: two on each side of the tracks, blocking all lanes of traffic on both sides of the track. This configuration prevents vehicles from bypassing the gates and have been shown to reduce collisions at-grade crossings by up to 98 percent.

No. The 14 designated crossings in the Quiet Zones project have been divided into four separate construction projects with two to five crossings in each project group. Each project group will be advertised for bid separately and different contractors may be selected for each group. This phased approach provides less disruption to neighborhoods during construction and provides adequate time to apply for and receive approvals from FRA.

There will be temporary traffic impacts including lane closures and one-way traffic at the crossings under construction. A full road closure at 3rd Avenue/Atwood Street and at Longs Peak Ave/Atwood Street is anticipated for a limited time. Public notices will be posted on the website prior to any closures and detours.

Closing these railroad crossings is part of a broader strategy to enhance safety and reduce noise pollution in Longmont. These crossings were selected for a full closure based upon traffic volume, proximity to other crossings, and the feasibility of implementing alternative safety measures.

No. Railroad facilities and Quiet Zones are regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Construction of the required improvements does not automatically create a Quiet Zone. Once completed, the City of Longmont will file a request with the FRA to implement the Quiet Zone. If approved, the Quiet Zone will go into effect. Since many of the crossings are clustered together, you may continue to hear train horns from other nearby crossings even after one is completed. For example, when the Longs Peak Avenue crossing is complete, you may continue to hear train horns at 6th Avenue until that crossing is complete.