What are RTD and the City of Boulder doing to help establish quiet zones?
• RTD is currently conducting a planning process for the FasTracks northwest rail corridor. Noise impacts and the mitigation of those impacts is one aspect of the study. RTD has stated that they will upgrade crossings to “quiet zone standards” but the details have not been resolved. Any improvements not funded by RTD will likely be the responsibility of local governments, as will the actual application for quiet zone status. Public input is an important part of the RTD planning process. Visit the RTD-FasTracks Web site for more information. Return to top of page How difficult is it to establish a “quiet zone? • The application process is complicated and time-consuming, requiring cooperation between the city, BNSF, the Federal Railway Authority, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, RTD and others. The quiet zone rules stipulate that the entity that controls the roadway at the crossing is the one who must apply for quiet zone status. A quiet zone must be at least a half-mile in leng
