Union Pacific Railroad Quiet Zones?

Question

The train track is directly behind our home. We would like for our crossing to be a quiet zone. Is there paperwork to fill out and where do we get it? The late night horns are keeping us and everyone else in our community awake. I would appreciate any information on this matter and how to solve it.

Answer 1

I would try the county commisioners, they should at least be able to get u pointed in the right direction.  Be ready for a battle though, the horn blowing is required by the FRA for safety reasons when approaching a road crossing and when going across it.  A community we go thru tried to get their area made into a quiet zone and from what I understand the railroad wanted them to pay for the crossing gates that cover the entire road, unfortunately, the citizens weren't as motivated when they found out they would have to pay, but that was here on the east coast, maybe things are done a little differently on the west coast

Answer 2

what was their first the rail road or the houses.same thing for people near highways and airports.unfortunate with the noise but things need to move to keep our country alive.there is nothing anyone can do.

Answer 3

There are such things. In New Jersey some of the towns and railroad came up with agreements not to sound the horn at railcrossings during certain time periods.

Rutherford and Denville are two.

Why not contact the office of Community Relations at NJ Transit. www.njtransit.com to get some of the details.

NJ Transit is also at

1 Penn Plaza, Newark, NJ 07101

Answer 4

Most communities cannot afford the necessary upgrades to railroad crossings at grade.  The FRA is the governing body and the agency to contact.

Then follows studies of vehicular traffic patterns.  Grade crossings are required to be 'four quadrant' protection, meaning four separate gates the lower om both sides of the railroad, even protecting for a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction.  It is the community that is responsible for the costs of these upgrades.

But, all around, it is a foolish idea.  One life lost as result of quiet zone implementation is not worth any number of nights' sleep undisturbed for any number of people.

The locomotive whistle is a warning device.  It buys TIME, for someone to hear and get out of the way if not able to see due to limited sight-line, such as in curvature or heavy vegetation blocking the view or urban areas where buildings obsruct view.  It's even worse in inclement wether.  

To enjoin its use is to make more unsafe a property that is dangerous to begin with, such as railroad right of way.

I can only speak for myself, but I never respected a 'quiet zone' nor would I ever.  You see, you sleepy heads won't see the expression of sheer horror on a human beings face the moment they realize their date with eternity is now but a heartbeat away.

But the train crew does, every night, over and over, whenever THEY try to go to sleep.  They're human beings, you know.  And they will always be left to wonder, "Would a life have been saved if I HAD been blowing the whistle?"

Then there's the UP.  They must be contacted as well. They'll be happy to help you realize your sweet dreams since, once the ordinance is in place, they're off the hook of liability when the lawsuits start comin' in.  While your City Council is grappling with the financial issues, be sure they factor in LOTS of money for wrongful death lawsuits and serious personal injury claims.

Don't forget court costs either...............

Crossing gates do not protect pedestrians.  Whistles do.

Buy some ear plugs, then all will sleep better.