Kent receives FRA notice to establish quiet zone for Burlington Northern crossings

Mayor Ralph told the Kent City Council on June 16 that the city has received formal notification from the Federal Railroad Administration that triggers the 60-day process to establish a quiet zone for Burlington Northern crossings within Kent city limits.

"We got the official email from the Federal Rail Administration, yesterday. So the 60 day period will begin," Mayor Ralph said, adding that the council's next steps will include public notification and coordination with Burlington Northern. She noted the designation covers Burlington Northern crossings within the city and does not include Union Pacific crossings.

Why it matters: a quiet zone reduces the frequency of train horn sounding at public crossings, improving downtown residents' quality of life and limiting interruptions during community events. The mayor credited Public Works (including Rob Brown and his team) and the office of Senator Murray for helping clear remaining paperwork that allowed the city to reach this milestone.

Next steps and timing: the mayor said staff will provide notifications to affected parties and schedule events and outreach during the 60-day window; she indicated the quiet-zone initiation period would start Aug. 24. The council did not vote on an ordinance at this meeting; the announcement sets in motion administrative and notification steps required by the FRA process.

Officials and staff asked the public to watch city channels for further details about implementation and community events tied to the quiet zone.