Do quiet zones increase the likelihood of accidents at railroad crossings?
• FRA and railroad documentation indicate that quiet zones may increase the likelihood of accidents at a crossing. In its consideration of establishing quiet zones, City Council will need to weigh the trade-offs, as a single tragedy at a railroad crossing will have a significant impact in our community. Return to top of page Are quiet zones really quiet? • Experts estimate that 90% of train noise comes from blowing the horns, so quiet zones can make a significant difference. Other noise comes from the engines and from train wheels, particularly on curved sections of track. A variety of infrastructure improvements can be used at quiet zones. Some communities have chosen to replace the train-mounted horns with horns mounted on the poles at the crossings. The pole-mounted horns are more directional (aimed down at the railway), which can reduce the number of homes and businesses impacted by the noise. Whether or not these pole-mounted horns are appropriate for some Boulder crossings is bei
