City of Longmont Completes First Phase of Railroad Quiet Zone Safety Improvements and Prepares for Next Phase
July 10, 2026 – The City of Longmont has completed construction of safety improvements at the four railroad crossings included in the first group of the Railroad Quiet Zones Project. This marks a significant milestone in the community’s effort to reduce routine train horn noise while enhancing safety at rail crossings throughout the city.
The recently completed improvements include a variety of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-approved safety measures designed to reduce the risk of collisions between trains, vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Improvements vary by location and include upgraded crossing gates, raised medians, channelization devices, enhanced pedestrian crossings, new fencing, roadway modifications and other safety treatments that meet federal Quiet Zone requirements.
When Will the Crossings Become Quiet Zones?
While construction has been completed at these crossings, train horns will continue to sound until each crossing is formally designated as a Quiet Zone by the FRA. The City currently anticipates the following schedule for routine train horns to stop sounding:
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- Fall 2026: 17th Avenue
- Winter 2026: 5th Avenue/Atwood Street (crossing closure) and Terry Street/1st Avenue (crossing closure)
- Summer 2027: 3rd Avenue/Atwood St., 4th Avenue/Atwood St., 6th Avenue/Atwood St., Longs Peak Avenue, 9th Avenue and 21st Avenue
- Spring 2028: Main Street/1st Avenue, Coffman Street/1st Avenue, Emery Street/1st Avenue, and Mountain View Avenue
- Summer 2028: State Highway 66 and Hover Street
What’s Next for the Quiet Zones Project?
The Railroad Quiet Zones Project is being completed in multiple construction packages to efficiently deliver improvements across the city’s rail corridor. The City is now moving forward with the next phase of work and has selected Noraa Concrete Construction to construct the second group of railroad crossings.
Project Group 2 will include improvements at the railroad crossings located at:
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- 4th Avenue/Atwood Street
- 5th Avenue/Atwood Street (permanent crossing closure)
- 6th Avenue/Atwood Street
- 21st Avenue
- Terry Street/1st Avenue (permanent crossing closure)
Construction is expected to begin in late summer 2026 and be completed early next year.
When fully implemented, the Railroad Quiet Zones Project will establish FRA-approved Quiet Zone along BNSF’s main railroad corridor running north/south through Longmont. This will allow trains to pass through designated crossings without routinely sounding their horns while maintaining or improving safety for the traveling public.
For more information about Railroad Quiet Zones in Longmont, including crossing locations, project updates and construction schedules, visit the City’s group 2 project webpage. Questions or concerns regarding the project should be directed to the project hotline by calling 720-526-2044 or emailing QuietZones@longmontcolorado.gov.
