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Committee delays quiet‑zone decision while seeking updated train and traffic counts
Summary
Village finance committee members heard that railroad and traffic counts in the packet are outdated and agreed to obtain new data from the ICC/FRA before committing funds for engineering, fencing or crossing closures.
Chair opened a long discussion of the proposed railroad "quiet zone," reporting on a call with the ICC and the Federal Railroad Commission (FRA). The Chair said the previously submitted engineering and count numbers were dated and would need to be re‑engineered before any quiet‑zone application could proceed. "We'd have to pony up another, he said roughly between, 50 and 80,000 for the railroad," the Chair said.
Committee member (Speaker 3) summarized the FRA advice and emphasized the need for current traffic and train counts. "We can probably get a quiet zone, but it's gonna cost us money," the committee member said, noting that the Chastain report's counts appeared incorrect and must be updated. Members flagged that Pontiac Street may contain two crossings (including an industrial spur) and that counting it as two crossings could improve the village's risk index and the chances of qualifying.
The group reviewed possible mitigation steps — fencing, signage and gate upgrades — and discussed easements for properties backing to railroad right‑of‑way. Staff (Speaker 5) said the ICC indicated it could contribute up to $150,000 for fencing but reminded the board that the village must either follow prior minutes' agreements or reconvene to change them. The committee concluded it would not commit new local spending until the ICC or FRA supplies corrected numbers and the FRA contact runs the feasibility calculator.
