Winter Haven city managers update residents on long-awaited quiet zone initiative

The City Commission Meeting held on April 14, 2025, in Winter Haven, Florida, focused primarily on the long-awaited establishment of quiet zones in the city, a topic that has garnered significant public interest and concern.

The meeting commenced with the approval of minutes from previous sessions, including the regular city commission meeting on March 10, 2025, and the agenda review on March 19, 2025. Following the approval, the commission opened the floor for public comments, particularly regarding the quiet zones.

Several residents voiced their frustrations over the persistent noise from train horns, emphasizing the negative impact on their quality of life. Debbie Kajrovich, a local resident, expressed her gratitude to the commissioners while recalling her late friend, JP Powell, who had championed the quiet zone initiative. She urged the commission to expedite the process, highlighting that the project has been in discussion for nearly a decade.

Barbara Klein echoed these sentiments, detailing her struggles with sleep disturbances caused by train noise. She urged the commission for clarity on the progress of the quiet zone initiative, which she felt had stalled since Powell's passing. Another resident, Frank Lochsinger, raised concerns about speeding on Lakeshipped Drive and suggested implementing stop signs to enhance safety.

In response to the public comments, Mayor Brad Dantzler acknowledged the residents' frustrations and reiterated the city’s commitment to the quiet zone initiative. Deputy City Manager MJ Carnivale provided an update on the project, outlining the significant milestones achieved thus far, including the completion of a feasibility study and the design of necessary improvements. He explained that the city is currently awaiting a right-of-entry permit from CSX, which is crucial for proceeding with construction.

Carnivale noted that once the permit is secured, the city will move forward with bidding the construction work, which is expected to take approximately 180 days. He assured residents that the city is making every effort to expedite the process, despite the challenges posed by the railroad's authority over operations.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the commission to keep the community informed about the progress of the quiet zones and to address the ongoing concerns regarding train noise. The next steps involve awaiting CSX's response and preparing for the construction phase, which will ultimately lead to the establishment of the quiet zones aimed at improving the quality of life for residents affected by train noise.