MBTA/MassDOT RAILROAD QUIET ZONES

Train Horn Rule The Final Rule on Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2005, was intended to: Maintain a high level of public safety by requiring the sounding of locomotive horns at public highway-rail grade crossings; Respond to the concerns of communities seeking relief from train horn noise by considering exceptions to the above requirement and allowing communities to establish “quiet zones”; and Take into consideration the interests of localities with existing whistle bans.

Use of Train Horn Locomotive engineers must begin to sound train horns at least 15 seconds, and no more than 20 seconds before occupying the crossing  If a train is traveling faster than 60 mph, engineers will not sound the horn until it is within ¼ mile of the crossing, even if the advance warning is less than 15 seconds

Use of Train Horn Train horns must be sounded in a standardized pattern of 2 long, 1 short and 1 long blast. (Federal Regulation)

What is a Quiet Zone? A quiet zone is a section of a rail line at least one-half mile in length that contains one or more consecutive public highway-rail grade crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded when trains are approaching the crossings.  Train horns may be sounded in emergency situations or to comply with other railroad or FRA rules even within a quiet zone. 

Safety Concerns At a minimum, each public highway–rail crossing within a quiet zone must be equipped with active warning devices: Flashing Lights Gates Constant Warning Time Devices Power Out Indicators

Alternative Safety Measure: (ASM) A safety system or procedure provided by the appropriate traffic control authority which, after individual review and analysis, is determined by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to be an effective substitute for the locomotive horn at specific highway-rail grade crossings. ASMs include: Modified Supplementary Safety Measures Engineering Alternative Safety Measures Non-engineering Alternative Safety Measures

Alternative Safety Measure: (ASM)

Supplementary Safety Measure: (SSM) SSMs are engineering improvements, which when installed at highway-rail grade crossings within a quiet zone, would reduce the risk of a collision at the crossing. SSMs are installed to reduce the risk level either to the level that would have existed if the train horn were sounded (compensating for the lack of the train horn) or to a level below the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold. Approved SSMs include: Four quadrant gates Gates with medians or channelization devices, also known as traffic separators One-way streets equipped with gates that fully block the street Temporary closure (i.e., nighttime closure) Permanent closure

Examples of SSMs Four Quadrant Gate System

Examples of SSMs Gates with Medians

Examples of SSMs Gates with Channelization Devices

To Create a Quiet Zone one of the following conditions must be met: 1. The Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) is less than or equal to the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT) 2. The Quiet Zone Index (QZRI) is less than or equal to the Risk Index With Horns (RIWH) 3. Install SSMs at every public highway-rail crossing

Cost Considerations The enabling Federal statute did not provide funding for the establishment of quiet zones. Public authorities seeking to establish quiet zones should be prepared to finance the installation of SSMs and ASMs used. Costs can vary from $30,000 per crossing to more than $1 million depending on the number of crossings and the types of safety improvements required, plus the required federal inspections.

Legal Considerations The courts ultimately determine who will be held liable if a collision occurs at a grade crossing located within a quiet zone, based on the facts of each case, as a collision may have been caused by factors other than the absence of an audible warning

How to Establish a Quiet Zone Communities wishing to establish quiet zones must work through the appropriate public authority that is responsible for traffic control or law enforcement at the crossings.  Process begins with the Federal Railroad Administration.

How to Establish a Quiet Zone 1. Determine which crossing will be included in the quiet zone. 2. Identify any private highway-rail grade crossings within the proposed quiet zone. 3. Identify any pedestrian crossings within the proposed quiet zone and conduct a diagnostic review of those crossings as well.

How to Establish a Quiet Zone 4. Update the US DOT Crossing Inventory Form to reflect current physical and operating conditions at each crossing located within a proposed quiet zone. 5. Provide a Notice of Intent (NOI) to all of the railroads that operate over crossings in the proposed quiet zone, the State agency responsible for highway safety and the State agency responsible for crossing safety

How to Establish a Quiet Zone 6. Alternate Safety Measures must be made if ASMs are going to be used to reduce risk, an application to FRA must be made. 7. Determine how the quiet zone will be established using one of the following criteria:

… Criteria 1. Every public highway-rail crossing in the proposed quiet zone is equipped with on or more SSMs. 2. The Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) of the proposed quiet zone is less than or equal to the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT) without installing SSMs or ASMs. The QZRI of the proposed quiet zone is less than or equal to the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT) after installation of the SSMs or ASMs. 4. The QZRI of the proposed quiet zone is less than or equal to the Risk Index with Horns (RIWH) after the installation of SSMs or ASMs.

… Criteria 8. Complete the installation of SSMs and ASMs and any other requires improvements determined by the diagnostic team at all public, private, and pedestrian crossings within the proposed quiet zone. 9. Ensure that the required signage at each public, private, and pedestrian crossings is installed according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

… Criteria 10. Establish the quiet zone by providing a Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment to all of the parties that are listed in 49 CFR Section 222.43(a)(3) The quiet zone cannot take effect any earlier than 21 days after the mail date of the Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment.

How to Establish a Quiet Zone To learn more about how to establish a quiet zone the Federal Railroad Administration has a downloadable form with all of the steps online. https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L03055