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Council OKs quiet-zone feasibility study for Bailey Boswell crossing after resident request
Summary
A resident asked the council to study installing a quiet zone at a busy Bailey Boswell railroad crossing; the council approved a feasibility evaluation and staff will work with the railroad and return with findings. The resident offered to pay half the study cost.
Saginaw's City Council authorized a feasibility study to consider creating a railroad quiet zone at the Bailey Boswell crossing after a resident described frequent, loud train horns near schools and housing.
Resident Mr. Lugano told the council he and his wife relocated to the Belt Mill neighborhood and that passing train horns can reach about 85 decibels near his home and may affect nearby Hatley Elementary and adjacent apartment residents. "It's disruptive," he said, and offered to pay half the cost of a feasibility study.
City staff said the crossing was built to allow a quiet-zone retrofit and that a feasibility study would have to meet strict railroad regulations; staff cautioned the railroad has final authority and noted the costs and safety trade-offs of gates and quad arms. Police and fire leaders said they had no opposition to quiet zones, while council members discussed safety implications and precedent from other nearby quiet zones.
Council moved to approve the quiet-zone evaluation and asked staff to work with railroad representatives and report back; no guarantee was given that horns would be eliminated, and staff reminded the council the railroad retains authority over horn use in certain situations.
Ending: Staff will pursue a feasibility evaluation, coordinate with the railroad, and return to council with findings and cost estimates.
