SCENE OF TRAIN ACCIDENT COULD BECOME “QUIET ZONE”
A railroad crossing, which was the site of an accident earlier this month, could become a railroad “quiet zone”.
March 1st, a pickup collided with the railroad crossing arms on FM-109. The collision destroyed the signal mechanism.
Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe Railroad rebuilt the crossing’s signals, which could lead to the city of Brenham designating that area as a “quiet zone” in which trains won’t sound their horns unless there’s an emergency.
In 2011, the city of Brenham and Washington County were able to get “quiet zone” designations at 11 railroad crossings inside the city limits and four in the county. However, the FM 109 crossing wasn’t considered because of the type of warning system in place there.
Public works director Dane Rau tells the Brenham Banner Press that the new device is much more advanced and making the 109 crossing a “quiet zone” would now be much easier and much less expensive.
Rau said the entire process could take six to eight months and would require involvement of the Texas Department of Transportation.
FM 109 is a state roadway, and the arm west of the crossing is in the county, not the city limits.
it sure be nice as there are two mobile home parks on both sides also homes along the 109 crossing. it bothers a lot of people when the horns blow way to far before and after the crossing that dose not need to be day and late night. people can not talk to anyone in person and phone because of the horns.
Speaking as a person who has lived within a mile of those railroad tracks for the majority of my 50+years, we don’t mind the train whistles. In fact we don’t even notice them. They are as normal as the wind whistling in the trees or a vehicle with a loud exhaust system. Frankly I’d rather hear a train whistle than see another person die because they weren’t paying attention. None of us focus on what we are doing much of the time. Let’s stop thinking technology can fix this. Focus on what’s important.
How nice for you, Salem resident. Train whistles aren’t as normal as wind blowing through trees. And loud exhaust systems are almost as annoying as the trains.
Like everything else them cell phones are more important than driving, if people had to pay attention to driving and what’s I front of them it wouldn’t be all the situations that’s real talk, and whoever replies to this your probably one of them