March 20, 2008: Kaptur delivers on commitment to Vermilion as $1 million dedicated to "Quiet Zone"
March 20, 2008
Marcy Kaptur made good on her commitment to help Vermilion deal withexcess noise caused by heavy rail traffic through the center of town.Kaptur announced she has secured $1 million in federal funds throughthe U.S. Department of Transportation to assist the city inestablishing a rail “quiet zone.” Kaptur said she has enlisted the helpof the Ohio Rail Development Commission to administer the federal fundsand to work with the community on a comprehensive plan that increasessafety at Vermilion crossings and alleviates constant noise from trainwhistles.
“The members of Concerned Citizens of Vermilion have proceeded with duediligence and an unwavering commitment in their efforts to address thenoise created by increased train traffic,” Kaptur said during a visithere. “I promised to help in one of my first ‘Congressional ListeningSessions’ after Erie County was added to the 9th District. I am pleasedto honor this commitment to a more livable community. I applaud thecity and its concerned citizens for working together towards a solutionthat will result in a safer, more peaceful community,” said Kaptur.
Norfolk Southern and CSX Railroads applied in June, 1997 for jointacquisition of Conrail lines in Northeastern Ohio, resulting in athreefold increase in freight train traffic through the area. A 2003agreement rerouted 97 trains a day traversing the center of Vermilion.The Concerned Citizens of Vermilion organized to address the noisecaused by increased traffic. Although the city could qualify forfunding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s designation of“quiet zones,” state constraints prohibited the community fromobtaining it. The group eventually met with Kaptur, explaining thedocumented loss of tourist trade and businesses from the noise of 97train whistles blasting through every day. Study had demonstrated thata “quiet zone” through which train whistles would not be blown could beachieved by limiting the number of crossings and with the installationof quad gates at crossings in a one mile space through the center ofthe city.
Kaptur worked with the Concerned Citizens of Vermilion and cityofficials worked together to move the “quiet zone” concept forward.“Though work towards the final plan remains, today we celebrate theperseverance of a community engaged in an effort to make communityimprovements and accommodate important economic activity at the sametime,” Kaptur said.
What are railroad quiet zones?
“A quiet zone is a railroad grade crossing at which trains areprohibited from sounding their horns in order to decrease the noiselevel for nearby residential communities. The train horns can besilenced only when other safety measures compensate for the absence ofthe horns.
“The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) train horn rule provideslocalities nationwide with the opportunity to establish quiet zones.The federal rule pre-empts all applicable state laws. To qualify,communities wishing to establish quiet zones must equip proposed gradecrossings with adequate safety measures to overcome the decrease insafety created by silencing the train horns. The additional safetymeasures must be constructed at the community’s own expense and mustmeet federal specifications. The federal rule also contains languagewhich for the first time restricts the volume of train horns.”
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Consumer Information Guide
“The members of Concerned Citizens of Vermilion have proceeded with duediligence and an unwavering commitment in their efforts to address thenoise created by increased train traffic,” Kaptur said during a visithere. “I promised to help in one of my first ‘Congressional ListeningSessions’ after Erie County was added to the 9th District. I am pleasedto honor this commitment to a more livable community. I applaud thecity and its concerned citizens for working together towards a solutionthat will result in a safer, more peaceful community,” said Kaptur.
Norfolk Southern and CSX Railroads applied in June, 1997 for jointacquisition of Conrail lines in Northeastern Ohio, resulting in athreefold increase in freight train traffic through the area. A 2003agreement rerouted 97 trains a day traversing the center of Vermilion.The Concerned Citizens of Vermilion organized to address the noisecaused by increased traffic. Although the city could qualify forfunding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s designation of“quiet zones,” state constraints prohibited the community fromobtaining it. The group eventually met with Kaptur, explaining thedocumented loss of tourist trade and businesses from the noise of 97train whistles blasting through every day. Study had demonstrated thata “quiet zone” through which train whistles would not be blown could beachieved by limiting the number of crossings and with the installationof quad gates at crossings in a one mile space through the center ofthe city.
Kaptur worked with the Concerned Citizens of Vermilion and cityofficials worked together to move the “quiet zone” concept forward.“Though work towards the final plan remains, today we celebrate theperseverance of a community engaged in an effort to make communityimprovements and accommodate important economic activity at the sametime,” Kaptur said.
What are railroad quiet zones?
“A quiet zone is a railroad grade crossing at which trains areprohibited from sounding their horns in order to decrease the noiselevel for nearby residential communities. The train horns can besilenced only when other safety measures compensate for the absence ofthe horns.
“The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) train horn rule provideslocalities nationwide with the opportunity to establish quiet zones.The federal rule pre-empts all applicable state laws. To qualify,communities wishing to establish quiet zones must equip proposed gradecrossings with adequate safety measures to overcome the decrease insafety created by silencing the train horns. The additional safetymeasures must be constructed at the community’s own expense and mustmeet federal specifications. The federal rule also contains languagewhich for the first time restricts the volume of train horns.”
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Consumer Information Guide