Clark County Directs Staff to Pursue Quiet Zone Petition, Seeks $20,000 to Restart UTC Process

Clark County public works staff briefed the council on Sept. 24 about a long-running neighborhood effort to establish a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-approved quiet zone at the crossing near 122nd Street. Staff sought direction on whether to pursue a third petition to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) and to secure roughly $20,000 to carry the application and diagnostic work forward.

Ken Later, the county’s Public Works director, introduced the topic and recognized Scott Sawyer’s service. Paul Morin, a project manager, reviewed the history: a mountable median (the “quick curb”) design previously received conditional approval from the FRA as an alternative safety measure, but BNSF Railway objected and refused to sign a waiver required by the UTC petition process. Morin summarized the consequences: “BNSF expressed concerns about the elimination of train horns... limited lane widths and sight distances, dual trap traffic, and the type of vehicle traffic at this location.”

Morin told the council the…