RAILROAD CORRIDOR QUIET ZONES A Quality of Life Solution

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?

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 ½ mi. in length)

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

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

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

Placentia Typical Gate Installation

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

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

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

ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES (ASM’s) ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES (ASM’s)  Modified SSM’s or Other Engineered Safety Improvements  Education  Enforcement

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

OPTION 1  Install SSM’s at All Crossings  Local Authority Self-Certifies Quiet Zone

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

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

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

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

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

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”

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

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

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

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 SSM’s 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

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS A Quality of Life Solution

THANK YOU!

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

FIRST STEPS  Determine the Length of the Proposed Quiet Zone, Including All Crossings  Use the FRA’s 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

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

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

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