Establishing Railroad Quiet Zones in Longmont
The City has received a grant from the FRA for $4 million to fund a portion of the Quiet Zone Safety Improvement project. Of the 17 railroad crossings that require improvements, 14 are included in the FRA Grant project. The remaining crossings are being improved by the City under separate projects, funded by the City’s voter-approved ¾-cent Street Fund sales and use tax. Improvements at the Emery Street crossing have been completed.
Project Overview
The purpose of the Quiet Zone project is to implement additional safety measures at identified BNSF railroad crossings with City right-of-ways in order to create a section of rail road line through which locomotive horns will not sound routinely. The City conducted a study in 2016 that outlined modification recommendations for each of the 17 crossings. City Council approved these modifications in June 2019. The modifications will be made between the fall of 2023 and the end of 2026.
Phases
The Quiet Zone project is planned to be completed in phases with four design and construction packages. Each crossing requires BNSF Railway, FRA and Public Utility Commission approval. Additionally, each crossing requires a separate Construction & Maintenance (C&M) Agreement with BNSF.
Crossings included in each package with proposed upgrades:
Package #1:
- 3rd Ave. – Proposed improvement: Gates with Median
- Longs Peak Ave. – Proposed improvement: Quad Gates
- 9th Ave. – Proposed improvement: Gates with Median
- 17th Ave. – Proposed improvement: Gates with Median
Package #2:
- 4th Ave. – Proposed improvement: Quad Gates
- 5th Ave. – Proposed improvement: Closure
- 6th Ave. – Proposed improvement: Quad Gates
- 21st Ave. – Proposed improvement: Gates with Median
- Terry Street – Proposed improvement: Closure
Package #3:
- Coffman Street – Proposed improvement: Quad Gates
- US 287 Main Street – Proposed improvement: Gates
- Mountain View Ave. – Proposed Improvement: Gates with Median
Package #4:
- SH 66 – Proposed Improvement: Gates
- Hover Street – Proposed Improvement: Gates with Median
Project Status and Proposed Schedule
Package #1:
- Final plans approved
- Anticipated 2nd bid solicitation advertisement: late summer/early fall 2024
- Anticipated construction: 2024-2025
Package #2:
- Final plan approval anticipated for 2025
- Anticipated construction: 2025-2026
Package #3:
- Final plan approval anticipated for 2026
- Anticipated construction: 2026-2027
Package #4:
- Final plan approval anticipated for 2026
- Anticipated construction: 2027
Report a Blocked Railroad Crossing
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has a dedicated webpage for the public and law enforcement to report blocked railroad crossings. It takes an average of three minutes to report a blocked crossing and the FRA will use this information to gain a more complex picture of where, when and for how long such obstructions occur. FRA will share this information with stakeholders, using it to help facilitate local solutions to blocked crossing issues.
- Visit the FRA website to report a blocked railroad crossing.
- You can also contact BNSF to report a Train Blocking a Crossing: 1-800-832-5452 option 3
Maps
< View a map illustrating Longmont’s 17 crossings divided into 7 potential Quiet Zones
View a map illustrating the areas and levels of sound disturbance >
What is a Quiet Zone?
The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway corridor passes through Longmont. Those who live near railroad lines experience the passing of as many as nine trains per day and eight trains per night, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requires that all trains sound their horns at all public railroad crossings. The resulting noise significantly impacts quality of life for those within range of the horn.
If certain safety modifications are made to railroad crossings, trains are able to pass by without sounding their horns. In 2016, a technical analysis studied each of the 17 area crossings in Longmont (see study area map) to determine what modifications could be made. Once these modifications are in place, BNSF and the City of Longmont can create what is called a “Quiet Zone.”
A Quiet Zone is a section of rail line that contains one or more consecutive public crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded. This initiative requires coordination between the City, BNSF, FRA and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
Some key issues to keep in mind about quiet zones:
- Trains are required to sound their horns ¼ mile in advance of a crossing. This means that closely spaced crossings must either all be completed concurrently or phased with no expectation of a reduction in train horn noise until all closely spaced crossings are completed.
- Horns may still sound in the event that the train engineer observes a hazard, such as a pedestrian in the path of a train or a vehicle in the path of a train.
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