Article Contributed on: 10/23/2007 4:44:00 PM
COMMERCE CITY - The city has completed safety improvements to the crossings of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway tracks at 72nd Avenue and Rosemary Street/Quebec Parkway. These two crossings are now eligible for inclusion in a designated Railroad Quiet Zone.
"A quiet zone is a section of a rail line that contains one or more consecutive public crossings where locomotive horns are not routinely sounded," Matt Wiederspahn, a civil engineer for the city, said.
The crossings are required by the Federal Railroad Administration to incorporate safety measures that will reduce the risk caused by the lack of locomotive horns. The crossings include railroad gate arms, flashing lights and bells. In addition to these active warning devices, raised medians are included to prevent motorists from driving around the gates. Advanced warning signs will be installed indicating to motorists that the train horn will not be sounded at these crossings.
While the creation of this Quiet Zone will greatly improve the quality of life for residents along this corridor, it was also very important to improve safety at each crossing for motorists.
The city has sent the final notification to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), BNSF, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Railroad Commission for creating this railroad Quiet Zone and anticipates establishment in November 2007.
For more information about the new Quiet Zone, contact Wiederspahn at (303) 289-8171.