Quiet Zone Temporary Suspension
The Federal Railroad Administration (F.R.A.) reinstated the Woods Cross Quiet Zone on March 18, and train horns will stop sounding within one week. Continue reading for more information.
The Latest
On March 18, the F.R.A. approved the joint waiver application for the train crossings in North Salt Lake and Salt Lake City. The F.R.A. said it would immediately tell the railroads to stop using train horns, and they have seven days to follow this instruction.
The waiver allows the cities to implement temporary safety measures until the permanent measures are made. The cities have one year to complete the necessary safety improvements and may request an extension if needed. The F.R.A. can change or revoke the waiver if any conditions are unmet. For details, please see the F.R.A.’s decision letter.
1000 West Closure
Starting March 27, 1000 West between South Temple and 15 South will be temporarily closed to fix safety issues at that crossing. Construction will begin this fall. Read the Press Release.
Background
On Sept. 30, 2024, the Federal Railroad Administration (F.R.A.) temporarily suspended the Woods Cross and Lehi Quiet Zones due to non-compliant train crossings within the zones.
During the suspension, train horns sounded at all at-grade crossings in the Quiet Zones. The suspension stayed in effect until all crossings met federal regulations or the cities received authorized waivers.
What is a Quiet Zone?
A Quiet Zone is a section of a railroad line where train horns are not regularly sounded at crossings. However, train horns can still be used in emergencies or to comply with other Federal regulations or railroad operating rules. For a quiet zone to remain in effect, all crossings within the zone must meet specific safety requirements, such as flashing lights and gates. Since train horns sound to reduce the risk of collisions, these requirements are crucial to ensure the same level of safety is maintained in the absence of a horn.
What are the Woods Cross and Lehi Quiet Zones?
In 2008, the cities from Ogden to Salt Lake City and UTA established the “Woods Cross Quiet Zone” through the FRA. In 2012, the FRA and cities and counties along the FrontRunner line (SLC to Provo) established the “Lehi Quiet Zone.” Each agency with a street crossing the tracks is responsible for keeping the crossing compliant with the Quiet Zone regulations.
Resources
- To learn more about Quiet Zones, please visit tinyurl.com/FRAQZ.
- Notify Union Pacific of non-emergency incidents or complaints at UP.com/NotifyUP. To report an emergency incident, call 888-870-8777 immediately.
- For questions or concerns related to UTA services, please visit rideuta.com/Rider-Info/Customer-Service.
- To receive email updates about the suspension, please visit tinyurl.com/SLCCouncilEmails and sign up for the “Transportation” topic.
Previous Updates
Woods Cross Quiet Zone Updates
Salt Lake City and North Salt Lake petitioned the F.R.A. to reinstate the Woods Cross Quiet Zone with the good faith that both cities are taking the preparatory permitting, engineering, and construction steps required to make the necessary safety improvements at the two crossings. The F.R.A. approved the waiver on March 18 and reinstated the Quiet Zone.
On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Council adopted an ordinance allowing the temporary closure of a segment of 1000 West between South Temple and 15 South. This closure will enable the City to make safety improvements to the crossing so the Woods Cross Quiet Zone can be restored.
Lehi Quiet Zone Update
On Jan. 3, 2025, Lehi City received notice that all crossings in the Lehi Quiet Zone are now compliant and the quiet zone has been reinstated. This includes crossings at 800 South, 900 South, and 1700 South in Salt Lake City.
For more information, please view this post.
Tags: Transit