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New Mexico Rail Runner Express "Quiets" Last Two Railroad Crossings in North Valley Quiet Zone
(Albuquerque, NM – May 27, 2008)
–
Beginning today at 5 p.m., the last two crossings in the stretch of
railroad track between Menaul and Osuna Boulevards in the North
Valley will officially “go quiet”. Even though that whole section of
track was designated a quiet zone back in January, two of the six
crossings had to wait until construction work on “The quiet zone has made a significant difference
in this area in terms of train noise reduction”, says Lawrence Rael,
Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “With
the addition of these last two crossings going quiet, more
neighborhoods and businesses along the Rail Runner corridor will now
be less impacted by the sound of train horns”. Until recently, all trains were required to issue
a warning horn as they approached railroad crossings in the city.
But Federal Railroad Administration rules released in 2005 outlined
specific safety guidelines that would qualify a crossing for quiet
zone status when equipped with additional warning signs and safety
measures to compensate for the absence of the train’s horn as a
warning device. Utilizing appropriations from the 2007 legislative
session, this area in “Safety is at the top of our list”, says New
Mexico Department of Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught. “These
quiet zone crossings are specifically designed to discourage
motorists from trying to beat a train through the crossing. The fact
that they also reduce the impact of noise in the community is
certainly a nice bonus”. In addition to the County’s lane expansion work along the heavily-traveled roadway, Rail Runner crews recently erected some new and very visual signage at the Montaņo crossing warning motorists to “not stop on the tracks” when approaching in their vehicles.
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