Any public authority with jurisdiction for the roadway may create a Quiet Zone. The public authority must show that the lack of a train horn does not pose a significant safety risk. Careful consideration must be given to the treatment options to be employed.
- Feasibility Study: A Quiet Zone (QZ) study is initiated by Council Office or citizen’s request. A diagnostic team, consisting of City of San Antonio Transportation Department, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) staff, visits QZ crossings to identify safety improvements.
- Data Collection: UPRR provides train data (including day trains, night trains, switching trains, train speed, etc.) and PWD staff collects daily traffic counts.
- Quiet Zone Risk Index (QZRI) Calculation: The collected traffic and train data and proposed safety improvements are entered into the FRA’s QZRI calculator to ensure that QZ can be established.
- Identify Funding: Identify an available funding source with City Council recommendation and approval (NAMP, HUD 108, CDBG Funds, etc.)
- Complete Design: Design plans are prepared to include the safety improvements and signage and pavement markings modifications.
- Notice of Intent (NOI): NOI and design plans are submitted to stakeholders, such as FRA, UPRR, Amtrak, TXDOT, etc. The stakeholders are required to respond within a 60-day timeframe.
- Complete Safety Improvement Construction: Current on-call contractor is used to build the geometric and traffic improvements.
- Final Inspection: An inspection is done by the diagnostic team to verify the safety improvements.
- Notice of Establishment (NOE): NOE application and as-built plans are submitted to stakeholders, such as FRA, UPRR, Amtrak, TXDOT, etc. The stakeholders are required to respond within a 30-day timeframe.