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Comal County court approves application for FRA grant to add safety arms, quiet zones at two crossings
Summary
The commissioners approved a resolution authorizing submission of a Federal Railroad Administration grant application to install safety arms and quiet zones at Orion Drive and Howe Street. The two-crossing program is estimated at just over $3 million, with the county—xpected to cover roughly $633,000 (20%) if awarded; construction would likely occur in 2027.
Comal County commissioners voted June 4 to authorize filing a Federal Railroad Administration grant application to add safety arms and quiet zones at Orion Drive and Howe Street, the two remaining public crossings in the county without arms.
"The cost of the two projects together is just over $3,000,000," a county staff presenter told the court, and "the county's portion would be just over $633,000" under the program's roughly 80/20 reimbursement split. Staff said Orion Drive has had accidents, including a fatality last July, and recommended applying to accelerate installation rather than wait on Union Pacific's unspecified schedule.
Commissioners asked technical and fiscal questions about timing, responsibility and precedence. Staff responded that, if selected, construction would probably occur in 2027 and that the county would manage the reimbursable contract work and submit invoices to the Federal Railroad Administration. The presentation also said quiet zones would be implemented while crews were on site and would add roughly $100,000 in project cost when done alongside the safety-arm installation; standalone quiet-zone installations could be $300,000–$400,000 each, staff said.
Some commissioners expressed concern about using county funds to subsidize safety improvements on private railroad infrastructure. The court nevertheless approved the resolution and authorized the presiding officer to execute or submit required documents given the June 8 application deadline.
