City to proceed with second 'quiet zone'

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

A local railroad safety board voted to proceed with plans to create a second so-called “quiet zone” in Lincoln where train horns can be silenced once safety devices are beefed up around railroad crossings.

The city’s first quiet zone is in the works on a 6.5-mile stretch of north Lincoln along Cornhusker Highway from about 33rd to 70th street. City Engineer Roger Figard said the goal is to have the north quiet zone ready — and trains silenced — by year’s end. However, it won’t be quiet enough to hear crickets, because the Adams Street crossing will get a “wayside horn” installed near the crossing. Wayside horns focus the sound toward the vehicles and are much quieter than train horns.

The Railroad Transportation Safety District board — which is comprised of three City Council members and three County Board members — has also been studying whether to create two more quiet zones in southwest Lincoln, from south of O Street to the intersection of 14th Street and Yankee Hill Road.

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In this September 2006 file photo, a Burlington Northern train idles just east of the 44th street crossing near Cornhusker Highway, an area included in the city's first "quiet zone." (LJS File)

In this September 2006 file photo, a Burlington Northern train idles just east of the 44th street crossing near Cornhusker Highway, an area included in the city's first "quiet zone." (LJS File)

A consultant hired by the board, Kirkham Michael, studied the southwest corridor and recommended the board proceed on the southernmost leg — from Saltillo Road to Pioneers Boulevard — but hold off on a third quiet zone in the South Salt Creek Neighborhood — from Pioneers to First and J streets.

The South Salt Creek zone is much more complicated, with more railroad crossings to deal with and the impending closure of the nearby Harris Overpass, which will likely increase traffic through the neighborhood. For those and other reasons, the consultant recommended the board hold off on that zone at least until the overpass is rebuilt.

The consultant has made a preliminary recommendation that the board close the crossing at D Street and at the J Street intersections with Second and Third streets.

The safety board voted to proceed with creating the southernmost zone, but extend the zone to include two crossings at the bottom of the northern zone so things can begin to quiet down all the way to the A Street crossing, at a total cost of nearly $290,000. That means the southern quiet zone basically extends from Saltillo Road to about A Street.

Alterations to crossings in the north quiet zone will cost about $259,000.

The RTSD — which is funded by a county property tax levy — will pay for engineering and construction costs, but the city and county would be responsible for maintenance and ownership costs.

Figard said work on the southern quiet zone could begin by early spring.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.