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RAILROAD CORRIDOR QUIET ZONES A Quality of Life Solution

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AGENDA What is a Quiet Zone? What Improvements or Provisions Need to Be Made? What Criteria Need to be Met? What is the Process To Establish One? How Does a Community Start?

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INTRODUCTION What is a Quiet Zone (QZ)? A segment of rail line where locomotive horns are not routinely sounded at one or several consecutive rail crossings. (at least mi. in length)

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Quiet Zone Establishment Federal Railroad Administration Final Rule Effective June 24, 2005 Defines Criteria and Process Local Authorities Implement Supplemental Safety MeasuresSupplemental Safety Measures Alternative Safety MeasuresAlternative Safety Measures Establish Zone in Accordance with 49CFR222 Either Self-Certifying or with FRA Approval

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EXAMPLE PROJECTS Quiet Zones Under Development: Pomona Improvements made in anticipation of future applicationPomona Improvements made in anticipation of future application Placentia pre final rule zone with improvements under construction; currently has night-time restrictionPlacentia pre final rule zone with improvements under construction; currently has night-time restriction San Diego In design phase with improvements at 13 CBD crossingsSan Diego In design phase with improvements at 13 CBD crossings Palo Alto feasibility study completed prior to final rulePalo Alto feasibility study completed prior to final rule

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PLACENTIA QUIET ZONE Intermediate Quiet Zone with Alternative Safety Measures: Three gates with raised mediansThree gates with raised medians CPUC and railroads required:CPUC and railroads required: Video of crossings continuous - 4 month period prior to installation of third gate -4 month period after Quiet Zone established No photo enforcement Placentia applied for approval by FRA Placentia required to re-certify the Quiet zone at three year intervals

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Placentia Typical Gate Installation

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SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY MEASURES (SSMs) SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY MEASURES (SSMs) Temporary or Full-Time Closure of Public Crossings Automatic Gates with Median Islands or Channelization Devices Four-Quadrant Gates One Way Streets with Gates

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FOUR QUADRANT GATES Currently operating on Pasadena Gold Line Light Rail System

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MEDIAN BARRIERS Minimum Length 100 or 60 to Nearest Intersection No Commercial Driveways within 60 of Crossing Gates

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ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES (ASMs) ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES (ASMs) Modified SSMs or Other Engineered Safety Improvements Education Enforcement

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QZ OBJECTIVES Optimize Safety at Rail Crossings Optimize Quality of Life Through Noise Mitigation

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OPTION 1 Install SSMs at All Crossings Local Authority Self-Certifies Quiet Zone

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ENGINEERED ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES (ASM) Typically a Modified SSM: Combinations of Medians and Gates (3- Quadrant Gates with Opposing Median)Combinations of Medians and Gates (3- Quadrant Gates with Opposing Median) Medians Not Fully Meeting SSM CriteriaMedians Not Fully Meeting SSM Criteria Public Agency Must Develop Engineering Justification and Obtain FRA Approval of Effectiveness Ratings

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NON-ENGINEERED ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES (ASM) Enforcement (Police and Photo) Public Education/Awareness Requires Audit of Effectiveness Using Statistically Significant Methodology Public Agency Must Apply to FRA for Approval of Quiet Zone Follow-Up Monitoring May be Required

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QUIET ZONE RISK INDEX (QZRI) Average of the Risk Indexes of All Public Crossings in a Quiet Zone Corridor Considers the Elimination of the Horn Sounding Considers Any Safety Measures That May Be Installed Considers the ADT and the Number of Trains

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NATIONAL SIGNIFICANT RISK THRESHOLD (NSRT) The Average of Risk Indexes Of All Crossings Nationwide Where Horn Is Sounded Calculated by the FRA Annually

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OPTION 2 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT) < Provide Combination of Treatments Adequate to Reduce Risk: FRA Approval Required to Establish Zone Subject to On-Going Compliance Review

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RISK INDEX WITH HORNS (RIWH) The Measure Of Risk To The Motoring Public When Locomotive Horns Are Routinely Sounded At Every Public Highway-rail Grade Crossing Within A Quiet Zone

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OPTION 3 Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) Risk Index With Horns (RIWH) < Provide Combination of Treatments Adequate to Reduce Risk: FRA Approval Required to Establish Zone NOT Subject to Future Compliance Reviews

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WAYSIDE HORN Considered to Be a One-to-One Substitute for Use of the Locomotive Horn

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QZ PROCESS NOTICE OF INTENT DEVELOP EXISTING CROSSING INVENTORY Existing EquipmentExisting Equipment Accident Records at Each CrossingAccident Records at Each Crossing Average Daily TrafficAverage Daily Traffic Train CountsTrain Counts PUBLIC MEETINGS PUBLIC MEETINGS CONDUCT FIELD DIAGNOSTIC MEETINGS AT CROSSINGS ENTER FRA CALCULATOR FOR CROSSINGS IN CORRIDOR DESIGN/ CONSTRUCTION NOTICE OF ESTABLISHMENT

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GETTING STARTED Prepare Feasibility Study Convene Group of Stakeholders Railroad OperatorsRailroad Operators Highway AuthorityHighway Authority California Public Utilities CommissionCalifornia Public Utilities Commission Consider Use of SSMs at all Corridor Crossings Allow public agency to self certify the Quiet Zone and re-certify every 4-5 yearsAllow public agency to self certify the Quiet Zone and re-certify every 4-5 years Address Pedestrian Safety at Corridor Crossings

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS A Quality of Life Solution

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THANK YOU!

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INTRODUCTION OBJECTIVES Ensure a high level of public safetyEnsure a high level of public safety Respond to the many communities that have continued to press for relief from unwanted train horn noiseRespond to the many communities that have continued to press for relief from unwanted train horn noise

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FIRST STEPS Determine the Length of the Proposed Quiet Zone, Including All Crossings Use the FRAs Web-Based Application Tool Quiet Zone Calculator Review and update crossing dataReview and update crossing data Create scenarios using various safety measuresCreate scenarios using various safety measures Play with it until you meet one of the criteriaPlay with it until you meet one of the criteria Apply On-Line, Once Improvements Are Made www.fra.dot.govwww.fra.dot.gov

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EFFECTIVENESS RATING A Number Between One and Zero It indicates the reduction in accident potential as a result of installing:It indicates the reduction in accident potential as a result of installing: Supplemental safety measures Alternative safety measures

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WHO APPROVES A QUIET ZONE Public Authority Responsible for Safety and Maintenance of the Roadway Crossing the Railroad

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PERIODIC QZRI UPDATES REQUIRED Public Authority Must Provide Updated Grade Crossing Inventory Form to FRA 4-5 years where SSMs are implemented at each crossing4-5 years where SSMs are implemented at each crossing 2-3 years where SSMs are not implemented at each crossing2-3 years where SSMs are not implemented at each crossing When ever asked by FRAWhen ever asked by FRA