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Quiet Zones 101: All About Quiet Zones

What is a Quiet Zone? 

A quiet zone is a designated area along a railroad corridor where trains are prohibited from routinely sounding their horns at public crossings, provided that specific safety measures are in place to protect pedestrians and drivers. This concept is governed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in the U.S., which allows for quiet zones if they meet criteria that ensure public safety without the horn's auditory warning.

Why do cities establish Quiet Zones?

1. Improved Quality of Life

  • Train horns can be disruptive, especially in residential areas, affecting people's sleep, mental health, and general well-being. A quiet zone reduces noise pollution, making neighborhoods near tracks more pleasant to live in.

2. Increased Property Values

  • Reduced noise pollution from trains can make nearby properties more attractive to potential buyers and investors, potentially raising property values.

3. Economic Development

  • Noise reduction can help make certain areas more appealing for business and tourism, encouraging economic development.

4. Public Health and Safety

  • Excessive noise is linked to health issues, including stress, cardiovascular problems, and sleep disturbances. By establishing quiet zones, cities can protect residents from these adverse health effects.

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However, quiet zones require cities to implement additional safety measures, such as crossing gates, warning signals, or raised medians to maintain safety without train horns. 

Who can establish a Quiet Zone? 

A public authority—such as a city, county, or other local governmental entity responsible for traffic control or law enforcement at the crossings—has the authority to establish a Quiet Zone.

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If a proposed Quiet Zone includes crossings under the jurisdiction of multiple public authorities (e.g., a county road and a state highway crossing the same railroad tracks), all involved authorities must agree to the establishment of the Quiet Zone and collaborate on the necessary actions. Coordinating public authorities generally establish a written agreement establishing various responsibilities for the Quiet Zone.

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See: 49 CFR 222.37

How does a city qualify to implement a Quiet Zone?

A quiet zone can be established in four ways according to the guidelines in Appendix C of Part 222, Title 49.

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1. Install Supplemental Safety Measures (SSMs) at Crossings

  • If one or more Supplemental Safety Measures (SSMs) are installed at each public crossing (where a railroad and roadway intersect), a quiet zone can be designated by the public authority without needing approval from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). SSMs include the following:

  • Four-Quadrant Gate System​

    • Includes automatic gate arms for each direction to fully block highway traffic.​

  • Gates with Medians or Channelization Devices

    • Medians or channelization devices which prevent driving around gates by vehicles. ​

  • One-Way Street with Gate(s)

    • Automatic gate arms which block all approaching lanes on a one-way street at a crossing.​

  • Closure of a Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

    • Close a crossing to highway traffic.​

2. Achieve a Quiet Zone Risk Index (ZQRI) Below the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT)

  • Before making any improvements to rail crossings, a city can assess whether a set of crossings would qualify for a quiet zone as is.

  • The city uses FRA provided calculator to input details about each relevant train crossing to calculate a Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) (a numerical risk metric used by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to assess the safety of public highway-rail grade crossings).  Note that the FRA may periodically adjust the NSRT to reflect current data on crossing safety across the U.S.

  • If the QZRI is at or below the NSRT without additional safety measures, the quiet zone can be designated. However, the FRA will review this annually to ensure compliance.

  • It's unlikly a set of crossings desired to be in a quiet zone would meet this condition without safety enhancements - which leads to the next option.

3. Implement Additional Safety Measures (ASMs) or Selective SSMs to achieve a Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) below the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT)

  • An Alternative Safety Measures (ASM) is one of the following:

    1. Modified Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs)​

      • Modified SSMs are SSMs that do not fully comply with the standard SSM provisions. Public authorities may propose modified versions if unique circumstances prevent full compliance. If approved, they are treated as ASMs.​

    2. Non-Engineering ASMs

      • Programmed Enforcement​​

        • Establishes systematic crossing monitoring and traffic law enforcement programs.​

      • Public Education and Awareness

        • Conducts programs focused on the risks at crossings, aimed at drivers, pedestrians, and local residents. ​

      • Photo Enforcement

        • uses automated photographic or video evidence collection at crossings, with state law support for enforcement.​

    3. Engineering ASMs

      • These involve engineering improvements to address specific safety concerns, like visibility or geometric conditions at crossings.​

By Applying SSMs or ASMs at certain crossings, the QZRI can be reduced to meet or fall below the NSRT, allowing for the establishment of a quiet zone. This approach may require FRA approval if ASMs or modified SSMs are used. â€‹

4. Reduce the QZRI to Equal or Lower than the Risk Index with Horns

  • A quiet zone can also be established if the risk is reduced to the same level as if horns were sounded at each crossing. This approach bypasses annual reviews and concerns about NSRT changes. 

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References:

Does a city need FRA approval to establish a Quiet Zone? 

There are two main approaches for establishing a quiet zone:

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1. Public Authority Designation (SSMs)

  • This approach allows a public authority to create a quiet zone by implementing Supplemental Safety Measures (SSMs) at all or selected crossings. If SSMs are installed at every crossing within the zone, no further risk reduction demonstration or FRA approval is needed because FRA has already assessed that SSMs reduce risk effectively. If only some crossings have SSMs, the authority must use the Quiet Zone Calculator to show sufficient risk reduction. After improvements and notifications, the quiet zone can be established without formal FRA approval.

2. Public Authority Application to FRA (ASMs)

  • This approach allows the use of Alternative Safety Measures (ASMs), which include modified SSMs, non-engineering ASMs (like law enforcement), and other engineering ASMs. To use ASMs, the public authority must submit a Notice of Intent and an application to FRA with data confirming adequate risk reduction. FRA must formally approve the plan before implementation. Non-engineering ASMs also require ongoing monitoring to ensure continued risk reduction throughout the quiet zone’s existence.

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See Appendix C to Part 222—Guide to Establishing Quiet Zones

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