Introduction
As part of its capital improvements program, the City of Decatur is considering options for improvements to the railroad crossings at Candler and McDonough Streets in downtown Decatur. The purpose of the work is to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and others using these facilities. Measures required to implement a Quiet Zone* in the railroad corridor are also being considered.
Additional information about the considered Railroad Crossing Improvements is available here.
The project is based on Decatur’s 2008 Community Transportation Plan. A major goal of the Community Transportation Plan is to encourage healthy lifestyles and active living in Decatur.
As you describe your thoughts about redesigning the railroad crossings, please answer these questions:
Q: Which of the following modes of travel do you or your family use to cross the CSX railroad line at McDonough Street and/or Candler Street:
- on foot
- in a vehicle
- on bicycle
- on a bus
Q: Of those modes, which one do you think is the most dangerous at the Candler Street intersection and needs safety improvements? At the McDonough Street intersection?
Q: Are you in favor of investing local resources in a Quiet Zone?
Q: Currently there are large areas along the railroad tracks that can be easily crossed by pedestrians. If implementing a Quiet Zone required erecting a fence the length of the railroad corridor through the city, would you still support implementing a Quiet Zone?
Thank you for your input on this redesign project!
*Railroad Quiet Zones
Locomotive engineers are required to sound the train horn at all public at-grade, highway-rail crossings 15-20 seconds before entering a crossing, but not more than one-quarter mile in advance of the crossing. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published the Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings effective June 24, 2005. The Final Rule does not prohibit blowing the whistle because it gives the locomotive engineer the authority to sound the horn in emergency or potential emergency situations.
The FRA Final Rule preempts any state or local laws regarding the use of the train horn at public crossings. Communities wishing to establish quiet zones must equip proposed grade crossings with adequate safety measures to offset the potential decrease in safety created when a quiet zone is instituted. The additional safety measures must be constructed at the community's own expense and must meet federal specifications.
