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Officials review costly options for rail quiet zones after residents complain about night train horns
Summary
Town officials discussed a diagnostic report on 11 rail crossings and potential mitigations ranging from low-cost hardware to full quiet‑zone installations that can cost up to about $1 million per crossing; officials cautioned quiet zones require certification and ongoing recertification.
Town administrators and residents discussed Nov. 3 the results of a diagnostic process for 11 rail crossings and a spectrum of mitigation measures, from simple geometric changes to full quiet‑zone infrastructure. Staff and consultants gave a wide cost range—about $30,000 on lower‑cost crossings up to roughly $1 million on crossings that would require major reconstruction and signaling changes.
Officials warned that quiet zones require ongoing maintenance and periodic recertification; a crossing may be subject to reexamination every three years, and local measures alone may not prevent horn use if federal or operator safety determinations prompt a conductor to sound the horn. Several residents described sleep disruption and potential property impacts; select-board members said they would host a December community meeting to collect complaints and invite agency representatives.
Ending: Officials said they will wait for the final diagnostic report before pursuing funding strategies, and they noted mitigation options that fall short of a quiet zone—sound‑barriers, vegetation buffers and targeted resident mitigation—may offer interim relief.
