Residents of Salt Lake City who have been waiting to experience the tranquility promised by the Quiet Zone initiative might soon have a reason to sigh in relief. According to Lehi City, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has signed off on the recent repairs at railroad crossings, with one final hurdle remaining. "We are pleased to provide an update on the status of the Quiet Zones. This morning, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) conducted an inspection of the corrections made to railroad crossings, and we are happy to report that all crossings passed the inspection – excluding the crossing at 1700 S in Salt Lake City," the update reads.
The final step involves necessary adjustments at the crossing near 1700 S in Salt Lake City. The city officials are currently to quickly resolve with the property owners the selection of one out of four proposed options. "Salt Lake City is currently awaiting a decision from the property owners regarding which of the four proposed options they will choose. We expect a decision within the next week," as detailed by Lehi City. Once a selection is made, the swift commencement of construction and subsequent inspection should pave the way for a return to a horn-free environment.
This development is part of a larger effort to bring back the Quiet Zone, a measure that allows trains to pass through certain crossings without sounding their horns, pending adequate safety infrastructure. The initial agreement for the Quiet Zone was put in place back in 2012, but recent updates to FRA standards regarding the median lengths have led to a suspension of these zones until compliance can be reassured. "These medians were originally installed to prevent vehicles from driving around gate arms when they are lowered to signal an approaching train," as stated by Lehi City.
In recent months, officials and work crews have been addressing issues related to updated standards. Three medians within Lehi City were identified as deficient and have since been modified. According to Lehi City, "After several months of hard work, all deficiencies have been addressed and inspected. We are now just waiting for Salt Lake City to finalize the necessary adjustments at 1700 S." The promise of quieter train crossings is nearly fulfilled, pending the completion of adjustments at this final point of concern.
