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Bonner County adopts framework to consider community‑funded railroad 'quiet zones' after public push
Summary
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 29 to adopt a framework that would let communities petition for railroad crossing quiet zones if they fund site‑specific engineering and upgrades. Commissioners said communities must bear costs and the county will require additional legal and risk safeguards before final approval.
Bonner County commissioners on Oct. 29 approved a framework allowing communities to pursue railroad crossing quiet zones, provided the requesting neighborhoods pay for site‑specific engineering, upgrades and any ongoing maintenance. The board instructed the Road & Bridge Department to solicit a consultant engineer to act as the county’s quiet‑zone proponent and to return a professional services agreement for later approval.
The proposal was presented by Matt Mulder, Road & Bridge staff engineer, who described quiet zones as areas where trains no longer sound routine horns at crossings after the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety checklist is met. "Railroad crossing quiet zones are areas where trains no longer blow their horns at every crossing," Mulder said, describing Bonner County’s 2020 pilot at Kootenai/Kootenay Bay and warning that ongoing inspections, maintenance, paperwork and recertification create substantial continuing costs.
The framework Mulder outlined would have the county contract a consultant engineer as a standing proponent;…
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