City may silence train horns

Silencing train horns across Hanford could cost as low as $378,000 but as high as $3 million in modifying safety measures at the crossings, according to a new study released by the city. The city of Hanford has released a Quiet Zone feasibility study this week that examined what it takes and how much it would cost to create a so-called "quiet zone" under federal law provisions.

Responding to residents' complaints and demand, city officials last year began investing time and money to explore the feasibility of such an attempt.

Hanford has 13 crossings close together within city limits, making its noise nuisance concentrated in a populated area.

"The purpose of the study was to determine whether it is feasible to do it," said Public Works Director Lou Camara. "Obviously, the benefit of creating a quiet zone would be the quality of life."

The new federal law requires trains to blast the horn for 15-20 seconds, a longer duration than before, at every crossing it encounters. The law, however, also provides localities like Hanford with an opportunity to silence the horn noise by establishing quiet zones.

But it's a balancing act of quality of life and safety.

In October, the city hired a consultant, R.L. Banks & Associates of Tiburon, to analyze the five-mile stretch of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and determine what improvements are needed at each crossing and what they could cost.

The results of the study were brought back before the city council members Tuesday.

Finding that a quiet zone would be economically and legally "feasible," the study laid out a few options for the city.

According to Ken Withers, vice president of R.L. Banks & Associates, the city could:

l create a single quiet zone including all 13 crossings and still lower the risk to a point below today's risk with train horns by installing medians that would prevent motorists from driving around the lowered gates, a risky maneuver, at Houston Avenue and Hanford-Armona Road;

l create two quiet zones, one between Houston and Sixth Street and another between Grangeville Boulevard and Flint Avenue, by installing similar safety measures at Fargo and Houston avenues; or

l create a quiet zone with increased protection by installing recommended safety measures at each crossing, including a four-quadrant gates at four intersections at Seventh Street, Lacey Boulevard, 11th Avenue and Elm Street and medians for the other crossings.

The first two scenarios, Withers said, would each cost $378,000-$820,000. But the third option -- which goes beyond what's necessary to meet the federal standard -- would cost $2.4 million-$3 million.

But Withers also noted that the city may substitute the expensive four-quadrant gates with "wayside horns" which are stationary horns aimed in the direction of traffic, a less noisy option for nearby residents and businesses.

The use of wayside horns would bring down the cost of the high end option to $820,000-$1.4 million, he said.

Explaining the liability issues, Randy Edwards, city attorney, advised the city council to perhaps consider doing more than a bare minimum to better protect itself from liability exposure.

The city of Fremont, which is in the process of creating its own quiet zone, has chosen to do just that, Camara also told the council.

The only city council member who clearly expressed a preference was Dan Chin.

"I would favor (the alternative with wayside horns)," Chin said. "I favor it because these four intersections are more commercial-oriented."

Wayside horns may be a good enough measure at Seventh Street, Lacey Boulevard, 11th Avenue and Elm Street, where there are fewer residents, Chin said.

The city council made no determination as to whether to move forward with the establishment of a quiet zone or what option might be preferred.

That discussion will likely take place in June, when the city council convenes for a goal-setting session.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(May 7, 2008)