Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Enlarged rail quiet zone studied

Enlarged rail quiet zone studied

May 31, 2007 - 04:06:13 CDT

By GORDON WEIXEL
Bismarck Tribune

The Bismarck Renaissance Zone Authority isn't quite ready to make any recommendations to the city commission on a Quiet Rail Zone, but it shouldn't be too much longer.

The authority met Wednesday to discuss the Quiet Rail Zone, particularly about adding crossings to the zone assessment and possible financing options.

The Quiet Rail Zone, which would be built by BNSF Railways and charged back to the city, involves improvements at the various crossings so that trains would not have to blow their horns as currently required by federal law. Early estimates place the improvements anywhere from $590,000 to $650,000 per crossing, depending if there is a pedestrian crosswalk involved.

Rick Lane, with Fargo-based SRF Inc., is conducting an assessment for four crossings, including Fraine Barracks, Third, Fifth and 12th streets at a cost of about $15,000. Planning staff found that it will cost an additional $10,702 to add the 19th, 24th and 26th street crossings to the assessment.

Planner Kim Lee said the additional crossings are outside the Tax Increment Financing District, and a new source of funding would have to be found. Authority Chairman Sandi Tabor said she would talk to Bismarck finance director Sheila Hillman about possible other funding.

Authority member George Keiser made the motion to recommend to the city commission that the additional money to be spent on the added crossings be added to the assessment, which was approved.

The city of Fargo implemented a Quiet Rail Zone at a cost of $2.2 million for eight crossings. Among the funding sources were an assessment district extending seven blocks north of the tracks and three blocks south.

The Bismarck authority is looking at tax increment district funds to pay for those crossings within the district (Third, Fifth and 12th), but the others will need another source. Lee said that the staff had discussed a tiered assessment district of two to three tiers, where those property owners closest to the tracks would pay the most.

Arguments for a citywide assessment could be made, Keiser said, but he noted that there are areas that will receive significantly greater benefit with the Quiet Rail Zone.

Authority member Curt Walth said that the tax increment district will be picking up nearly half the cost of the Quiet Rail Zone. He also brought up the question for the necessity of Fraine Barracks to be in the Quiet Rail Zone. The National Guard facility is gated and it wouldn't necessarily have to be part of the zone.

Tabor pointed out that should the area be excluded, BNSF might protest extending the process by a couple of years. It was decided to send a subcommittee, consisting of Keiser and Bruce Whittey, to talk with the National Guard about the issue.

Traffic engineer Mark Berg said that the DMVW Railroad has crossings at Divide, Rosser and Main avenues and is coming through with one or two trains a week.

"With the ethanol plant going in, there may be more trains and they are required to blow their whistles. If you are looking at a citywide assessment, perhaps you should look at these crossings," Berg said.

But city attorney Charlie Whitman and the rest of the authority didn't feel there was enough activity to warrant putting in Quiet Rail Zone crossings for DMVW.

The authority did ask the city planning and finance department staff to look at various funding options, including a special assessment tiered and untiered and a citywide assessment.

Walth said that he had been reading an article about existing Quiet Rail Zones, which questioned whether the concept really worked.

"The question is, do they work? But supposedly there is this community where a pedestrian was killed because there wasn't a whistle,"Walth said.

Whitman said that there are all sorts of visual deterrents to keep vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the tracks when a train is in the vicinity.

"What's happening here, is that people are actually walking into a train that is crossing before them, for whatever reason," Whitman said.

Tabor said the authority is still not at the point of making a recommendation to the city commission on the Quiet Rail Zone, which could include a citywide election. She's said she's hoping that at the next meeting of the authority it will be ready to make those recommendations.

"I've heard instances that there is a real concern we're losing tenants downtown because of this issue, and I hope we can keep moving forward,"Whittey said. "There seems to be an overwhelming support for the Quiet Rail Zone out there."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

quiet finally wrote on Jun 8, 2007 10:44 AM:

" The railroad accident in western N dakota was a blessing in disguise as we had quiet in Bismarck for some hours with the track and coal transport on hold. "

Joe wrote on Jun 7, 2007 6:54 PM:

" The amazing comments from "kill this story" sound more like someone making do in Russia, China, or Nazi Germany better than in a democracy like America. We accept the skids being greesed for the powerful few at our own peril. What we think can matter - only if we have the guts to participate. "

kill this story wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:27 PM:

" This story has gone on long enough. BNSF is big and so what if the railroads got this law passed. We got to work and so what if the corporations CEO's make 500 times the average Joe who works there, so what if Europe does not have 1/3rd that rate I will keep plugging away and maybe my luck will turn! "

stand up wrote on Jun 6, 2007 2:31 PM:

" To ccn and whine with cheese. You insist that Americans roll over and play dead. Don is correct when he says you limit us to a false choice. Good positive change happens when we work together to have both a comfortable, prosperous life and quality of life that includes as much peace and quiet as we can...at least not the jolts of train whistles when it is not necessary. Why do some of you insist that we have no voice in what happens where we live. You seem to say "Just let the RR and other powerful do as they wish." Looks like some of our neighbors have a little more back bone and are standing up. Lot of good things have come about that way. "

another study wrote on Jun 5, 2007 6:06 PM:

" That is all we need. Just get away from behind the desk and listen to this noise, this aggravation. I would be curious how the youngsters in schools are handling it with the open windows. The adults do seem to be fighting more. "

Don wrote on Jun 4, 2007 1:04 PM:

" I am glad the city is beginning to move on this. I am amazed at those who apologize for the railroad corporations by claiming it is a choice between 1) having this particular noise or 2) the so-called "politically correct" folks will make civilization as we know it fall apart. That's a false choice. This is America. Let's not give up so easily on the USA being a democracy. If we want both progress and less noise we have to ask for it and work for it. Apparently, Bismarckers are asking for this and being heard. I'm going to pitch in and help make it work. "

tiredofnoise wrote on Jun 4, 2007 10:40 AM:

" To stop whining, I would move to Podunk but they have train whistles there too. The railroads blow there hugely loud whistles for 15 seconds there too, whether there are people or not. ask people in rural nd. There has to a better way than ear plugs. "

nsm wrote on Jun 4, 2007 9:20 AM:

" To Supporter-My windows are closed at night too. That is a shame as our nights in ND are beautifully cool. I also miss the birds chirping in the morning. I have a fan on now and will need my AC soon. Loud rail whistles increase energy costs for us all in a large part of both N and s Bismarck.Bismarck. "

supporter wrote on Jun 3, 2007 10:34 PM:

" I like the idea of a quiet zone! I just moved to a house and life between sixteenth street and 26th street, so I hear three crossings with trains. I don't sleep with my windows open because they are so loud. I can also understand why businesses don't like being close to the train tracks. I wouldn't mind paying higher taxes if I could get some great sleep! "

nsm wrote on Jun 3, 2007 10:14 PM:

" I doubt if much will come of this. The powerful people live far from the tracks nowadys in country west and fox island. this horn noise is so frustrating. What kind of freedom is this that the train can make us so angry. There has to be something that can be done NOW. "

highland acres wrote on Jun 3, 2007 10:39 AM:

" walth is right.fraine barracks is quiet enough. Though lots of homes on ave b along the tracks in Highland acres seem to for sale these days. why? "

skg wrote on Jun 3, 2007 9:54 AM:

" It's Sunday.. Quieter today.The birds sound lovely. The garden is blooming. Lovely day to sit and write. The jet skiers must be on lakes or the river. The ATV,s are out on the trails like the new 33 mile loop south of Mandan along the west side of the missouri river, the lawn mowers are mostly off. a neighbor is edging his lawn and blowing leaves as though the yard is his living room. Never comes out though. The small aircraft up above and the second train of the last 30 minutes after blwoing its whistle will be soon gone. Maybe we are noisy and busy so we don't have to think. Maybe we cannot think. "

wwc wrote on Jun 2, 2007 11:25 PM:

" noise really is not a problem in our town. all we need is to stay indoors and turn some music on. Our homes are pretty sturdy. I guess the trailer parks get the brunt of the railroad and other noise but i guess that is a minority and life goes on. As long as the majority of us are OK that is what matters. "

whine with cheese wrote on Jun 2, 2007 3:50 PM:

" how did we ever survive before all the political correct folks popped thir head out of the garden plot. get over it and life will be better and you may just live longer "

tiredofnoise wrote on Jun 2, 2007 11:59 AM:

" It was a beautiful morning in ND till the first lawn mower started at 8 15 today. It seems that as one person gets done the other starts. Its almost noon now and the lawn mowing goes on and on. "

asg wrote on Jun 1, 2007 11:40 PM:

" Another study. We need a suggestion box at the city/county websites so we the citzens can say what we would like for the city to spend on. Looks like the NPCC was a big hype. How much have we sunk into that place. "

ccn wrote on Jun 1, 2007 11:23 PM:

" Whine,whine,whine I hear lots of whining here - garbage trucks, tree shredding service, vacuum service, carpet cleaning, highway, train whistles --maybe we should turn back the clock because nowadays we do need machines and they make noise! Not to mention the indoor machines - washers, vacuums, blenders and so on. cannot go back to the 19th century. Though our hearing would surely be better and we would likely have less ringing in the ears which has reached epidemic rates. "

asw wrote on Jun 1, 2007 11:53 AM:

" I live near grandview. Boy a slower less noisier I 94 would sure allow me to enjoy my backyard. "

wnd wrote on Jun 1, 2007 11:43 AM:

" Did you never hear the carpet cleaning service vacuum in my driveway! I had him over and made sure i was not home for those three hours. Could have called the neighbors when i scheduled the cleaner...but who talks to neighbors in the 21 st century. we are a big city. "

and wrote on Jun 1, 2007 11:39 AM:

" The tree service is here and is it fun. The sound is Musical as the branches go thru the shredder! Is it noise. well the neighbor didi look upset. Maybe he was trying to rest. But we live in a free country. Who needs sleep. "

sg wrote on Jun 1, 2007 9:49 AM:

" That huge noisy robotic garbage truck's brakes squeak at each driveway going one way and then again when they come back going the other way. More noise to whine, nay squeak,about. The manned trucks did both sides and 2-3 driveways at the same time. Not counting the double road wear and tear from heavy vehicle use. "

c d wrote on Jun 1, 2007 9:43 AM:

" What noise. We can drink ourselves to sleep everynight. "

ks wrote on Jun 1, 2007 9:39 AM:

" let us have more noise and more fights and more anger and high BP and more overeating and drinking- that is the american way, to life, liberty and the pursuit of......absurdity? "

corporatocracy not democracy wrote on Jun 1, 2007 9:34 AM:

" fargo has been working on the quiet zone for 10 years. And we have just started- 15 years to go. Only in 2005 did the railroads ram thru the longer train whistle federal law and negated over 2300 quiet zones passed by local govts over the prior two decades. now that is our corporate controlled democracy at work. "

Corporatocracy not democracy in America wrote on Jun 1, 2007 9:28 AM:

" They have been working on this for a decade in fargo and we in Bismarck have finally just started. 15 years to go! It is not easy in our corporate controlled democracy to go up against the likes of BNSF etc. It was a public hearing validated process where the railroads pushed thru this federal law in summer 2005 of the longer whistles and nullified 2300 existing quiet zones that local govts had passed in various towns nationwide. Some democracy eh! "

MamaMia wrote on May 31, 2007 5:15 PM:

" I was in Fargo last weekend and there were trains coming through downtown blowing whistles just like in Bismarck. What kind of "quiet" rail zone are they supposed to have? "

Stop whining! wrote on May 31, 2007 2:56 PM:

" Noise is part of city life. Like it or not, whiners, we live in a city. Don't like the noise? Head for Podunk. Yes, train horns are annoying. Yes, freeway noise from trucks (especially "jake brakes") is annoying. Lawnmowers and snowblowers are annoying. Booming stereos and loud exhaust are annoying. Robins at 3:45AM outside the bedroom window are annoying. Country music is annoying. We have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, not the right to never be annoyed by noise we don't like. "

Mandan Resident wrote on May 31, 2007 2:54 PM:

" Mandan does not have any "crossings" where traffic and/or pedestrians must cross the rails. They have underpasses or overpasses. No whistles blowing there. Funny though -- people are stil moving out of Mandan or the downtown area -- don't try to blame it on the railroad. "

noise problem? wrote on May 31, 2007 1:50 PM:

" What noise problem?? You people don't know what noise is. Go live in Grand Forks for a few years say around that area of 46th St and Gateway Dr. I did let me tell you you don't know what noise is until you listen to the trains blowing for 30-45secs at 2am as they go through crossing after crossing after crossing not mention the scream of tires from the trucks on I29 and Gateway Dr. (50mph) Had to sleep with ear plugs there I'll take the whistles in Bis any time over what I put up with there. Yes I am close to the tracks here to I now live on Sweet Ave a few blocks from Washington. "

Quiet Zone Approval wrote on May 31, 2007 11:14 AM:

" If a city wide election is approved, there will be those individuals who, even if a train ran through their house, would not vote for this project because they have never voted for a project that would enhance the livestyles and "quality of life" for those who suffer through the daily grind of obnoxiously loud train whistles. This project should get the go-ahead from the officals and get this train noise problem solved A.S.A.P. "

Sk wrote on May 31, 2007 10:04 AM:

" Heh, you think its bad now, wait until the commerce center is done and train traffic and semi. traffic goes up, then you will know what noise is. "

openwindow wrote on May 31, 2007 9:09 AM:

" In the ND summer I like to sleep with my windows open. Saves money, (global warming!). Also the morning birds chirping is a better alarm than the clock radio. Cannot do it now with the loud railroad noise disturbing sleep. Quality of life includes no intrusive noise. "

quietnd wrote on May 31, 2007 9:04 AM:

" Reversing beepers, lawnmowers, commercial buiding air compressors - remember the one at the Workmen's comp building downtown near the old TCBY order window. One man's noise is another man's productivity. "

quietnd wrote on May 31, 2007 9:01 AM:

" We could use more quiet in our cities before we all move further away from town. Why don't we do something about the highway truck speed in town also. cut it down to 40mph from the river east to K mart or start exit. noise all adds up. "

msh wrote on May 31, 2007 8:56 AM:

" what is mandan doing about this noise. "

skg wrote on May 31, 2007 8:54 AM:

" Study and more study. It will be a case of closing the barn door after the horses are gone. It took fargo many years (? 8 years )to finally get where they are now with the quiet zone. Where are our "leaders"? Following way behind I see! And the noise from the railroad goes all thru town especially downhill to the south, so all should pay. (viz the water problem N of town for which the whole city is to pay i believe) Also Mr Walth should get his hearing checked. LET US DO IT NOW not 8 years from now. (ala washington St!) And if fraine barracks is gated already at least turn the whistle off there now. The number of homes on sale in the south part of Highland Acres has zoomed up the last 18 months as the railroad noise escalated. "

tired of horns wrote on May 31, 2007 8:30 AM:

" i see no mention of the 26th street and 19th street crossing, what about those that hear the horns in this part of town "

Gaylen L. wrote on May 31, 2007 7:01 AM:

" I commend the commission for including the 19th, 24th, and 26th street crossings into the quiet rail zone. The people who sleep in ear-shot of those crossings are just as deserving of a quiet sleep as those in the downtown area. Which brings up the reason to keep the Fraine Barracks crossing in the zone. We aren't doing this just for Fraine Barracks, we are doing this for people who live in the vacinity of Fraine Barracks. And to exclude them would be wrong. "

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