City’s sad summer saga ends with reinstatement of federal quiet zone
As trains rumbled through the City of Burlington Monday morning the only sound heard was the clickety-clack of steel wheels on rails.
The train horns that have roused residents from deep sleep and interrupted downtown business meetings were – for the first time in more than three months – no where to be heard.
The horns ceased sometime after midnight Monday, Oct. 7 – not a minute before the official reinstatement date of the city’s quiet zone.
The reinstatement, which was granted Sept. 14, puts to rest a summer of discontent for city officials and many of those who live within earshot of the railroad tracks operated by Canadian National.
The city lost the quiet zone status it held for many years in late June after officials missed a deadline to complete safety improvements at local rail crossings.
City Administrator Kevin Lahner has blamed the mistake on an erroneous entry on a planning calendar, which led officials to believe the deadline was not until 2014.
However, since losing the quiet zone city crews have scrambled to implement safety improvements to meet federal requirements and reapply for quiet zone reinstatement.
Mayor Robert Miller last week apologized to residents and business owners in a letter published in the Burlington Standard Press.
For follow-up coverage, see the Oct. 10 edition of the Burlington Standard Press.
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What is this silence you speak of? Heard them after midnight last night and just now heard one again. Probably one moron who “didn’t get the memo”.
they might not have the updated restrictions with the dispatcher. its not going to be a wam bam thank you ma’am deal. it takes time to get this done.
there are a few variables that are still causing them to blow the horn: signal malfunction, person in the tracks, car in crossing, information about quiet one not recieved by crew, or they dont give a damn if you want some peace and quiet. no matter what the issue is it isnt gonna disappear magically just because you want it to. there are more important issues in the world than a little noise from a damn train going through town
I was hoping October 7th would quiet more than just the train horns. Now we can move on from childish comments as well.
so explaining why they are still blowing horns is childish.
Not at all. A quick review of your past posts that were very insensitive to the people who expressed their concerns about the horns were childish. Your explanation on this thread on the other hand, was helpful & insightful. Just stating a fact. If indeed you work for the railroad, your posts should have been this helpful the entire time. By doing so, you would have represented them very well. Instead, your comments added fuel to the fire for those who made comments.
the way you are making it sound my hobby of watching trains and enjoying the sounds they make is childish. no i dont work for the railroad, however i have been working my @$$ off to become a conductor.
Not at all, your previous posts made it seem you represented the railroad. I wish you all the luck in the world chasing your dream. I must ask, Conductor or Engineer? Working hard to achieve your goals is the right way to do it.
conductor