1. Presentation to City of Palo Alto Rail Committee on Quiet Zones
March 22, 2017

2. Background Atherton Palo Alto Ave
Overview
Background
Atherton
Palo Alto Ave

3. 1
Background

4. FRA Locomotive Horn Rules (FRA Fact Sheet)
Locomotive engineers must sound train horns for a minimum of seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings, except:
when it is within ¼ mile of the crossing (whichever is less)
0.25 mi
0.25 mi

5. FRA Locomotive Horn Rules (FRA Fact Sheet)
Exceptions (continued):
If a train stops in close proximity to a crossing, no horn when the train begins to move again
A “good faith” exception at locations where engineers can’t precisely estimate their arrival at a crossing

6. Establishing a Quiet Zone (FRA Fact Sheet)
Only local governments or public agencies may establish a quiet zone, not the owner (i.e. not CPUC, etc)
Must be at least ½ mile in length, and have at least one public grade crossing – cant be at random location
Public grade crossing in a quiet zone must be equipped with the standard or conventional automatic warning devices (i.e. flashing lights and gates)for safety
Local governments (City, County) must work in cooperation with the railroad that owns the track, and the appropriate state transportation authority to assess the risk

7. Current State of Quiet Zones
Currently 46 established FRA quiet zones in CA (FRA web report)
25 in Nor CA, including 4 along the Peninsula: 2 Campbell (UP, SCCT), 1 San Jose (SCCT), 1 Atherton (JPB)
Local study: City of San Mateo train horn issue studied extensively (City of San Mateo Staff Report, Sept 2013)
Concluded UP horns louder than Caltrain
Sound is within FRA standards
Establishment of Quiet Zone is an option
Cost of Implementation can range from $25K to $5M, excluding maintenance costs.
Key factors: ease of adding median barrier to local street, existing equipment, no. of lanes, location

8. UPRR Quiet Zone Costs (UPRR Website)
Public authorities are responsible for the cost of preliminary engineering, construction, maintenance and replacement of active warning devices
Public authorities are required to reimburse the railroad for all project development and engineering design costs
$ 5,000 per wayside horn location
$10,000 per crossing signal location

9. UPRR Quiet Zone Costs (UPRR Website)
Public authorities are required to guarantee reimbursement to the railroad for all actual costs
Examples of costs as estimated by Union Pacific:
Four-Quadrant Gate Systems: $300K-$500K
Basic Active Warning System*: $185K-$400K (*includes Flashing Lights and Gates, Constant Warning Time, Power Out Indicator and Cabin)
Basic Inter-Connect: $5K-$15K
Annual Maintenance: $4K-$10K

10. 2
Atherton

11. Fair Oaks Lane - Atherton Station (Atherton website)
Two lane road
Adjacent to station
Atherton Quiet Zone Issues:
Adjacent to Atherton Station Platform
Station Platform has track crossings to center platform
Adjacent grade crossing intersections still require horn

12. Atherton Quiet Zone Intersection
Atherton Quiet Zone Improvements:
Quad Gates plus Ped Gates
Loop Detectors
Signage

13. Quiet Zone in Atherton Atherton Quiet Zone Study:
Quiet Zone Violations – Fines of $1,000 or $2,000
Horns still required at adjacent grade crossings
Horn can be used for safety reasons

14. 3
Palo Alto Avenue

15. Palo Alto Ave - Quiet Zone
Currently does not meet criteria to be a “Quiet Zone”
Need to have for implementation:
Accident study
Risk assessment
Meet with jurisdictions: FRA, CPUC & JPB
Agree on safety measures
Could include quad gates, intrusion detection, pre-emption devices, signage, fencing, warning lights, train signal house

16. Palo Alto Ave - Quiet Zone
Palo Alto Ave is less than 1,000 feet from Palo Alto Station
Station includes side platforms, undercrossing, and fencing
Pedestrian safety/warnings could be an issue

17. Palo Alto Ave - Quiet Zone
Palo Alto Ave Grade Crossing:
Ped gates and crossing on north side only
Single vehicle gate in each direction
No vehicle detection within the crossing

18. Palo Alto Ave - Quiet Zone
Palo Alto Ave Looking East
Palo Alto Ave Grade Crossing:
Existing median islands
Track crossing is “skewed”
Bicycle traffic to be considered

19. Questions?