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Board discusses pursuing railroad quiet zones, recommends feasibility work and grant pursuit
Summary
Board members, led by the chair and Administrator Renee, discussed pursuing grants and feasibility studies for a railroad "quiet zone," emphasizing federal requirements, likely infrastructure costs, limited enforcement of horn use by train operators, and the need to consult DOT and railroad attorneys before committing funds.
The Board of Public Works discussed whether to pursue a railroad quiet zone for parts of Monroe, with members asking staff to compile grant and feasibility information and to consult railroad attorneys and the Department of Transportation.
The chair said residents have complained about nighttime horn noise and urged the board to gather grant details and the railroad’s options before spending any city money. “There are options that have no impact financial impact on the city of Monroe that can be done to lessen the noise,” the chair said, and asked the administrator to obtain the railroad attorneys’ contact information so the board could meet with them.
Administrator Renee said the board would likely need a feasibility study to apply for federal grants and that such studies and infrastructure improvements would carry costs. “Even to apply for the grant, you do have to do a feasibility study, that would cost money,” Renee said, adding that small communities can be less competitive for some federal programs and that improvements could include changes to crossings or street closures.
Board members also noted limits to what a local government can enforce. One member summarized guidance from a webinar: “The federal DOT…said several times that if a community does put in quiet zones, it’s still up to that train operator whether to blow his horn or not,” meaning a quiet zone does not guarantee horns will not be sounded for safety reasons.
Members discussed train frequency and local conditions: Renee said scheduled trains serve the town about three days a week, with roughly six train movements weekly, so the board should weigh traffic and safety impacts against nuisance complaints. She also cautioned that nearby crossings outside Monroe’s jurisdiction could continue to produce horn noise even if the city establishes a quiet zone.
The board agreed to collect the relevant grant materials, pursue contact information for the railroad’s attorneys, and request further information from DOT and the webinar materials before considering any formal commitment. The chair suggested returning the item to a future agenda with the grant details and railroad recommendations so the council could decide whether to proceed.
The discussion did not produce a motion to pursue a specific grant or to start a study; members characterized the next steps as information-gathering only.
