Railroad quiet zones nixed by Post Falls council

POST FALLS — After looking into the creation of railroad quiet zones, the City Council decided Tuesday to not pursue them. 

Although several members of the council expressed interest, the money and effort that would be required were deemed too costly. 

In railroad quiet zones, engineers aren't required to sound a horn when approaching public crossings. The intention is to reduce noise for nearby residents.   

“The engineers on those trains have the right to blow the horn anytime they want if they feel that there’s a safety issue, a trespasser on the railroad or workers in the general area of the railroad,” city engineer Rob Palus said. 

He added that the railroad companies are very precise with protocols for safety and that the Federal Railroad Administration backs them up consistently. 

Studies on railroad safety decades ago showed more fatalities occurred if the train horn wasn’t used before intersections, Palus noted.   

“The Union Pacific Railroad will say they feel that quiet zones put in danger their operators and the general public,” Palus said.    

Councilor Samantha Steigleder said she couldn’t back the measure even though she felt the effect would overall be positive for those living along train routes. 

“I think it would really improve the life of so many people who live in these areas. I just don’t think we have the ability to put it on the budget right now, sadly,” Steigleder said. 

Councilor Randy Westlund stated the venture was “a clear no” for him.  

“As nice as it would be to have, the railroads don’t like them and think they’re not safe, and we would be spending almost $100,000 to study something that we have no funding for,” Westlund said. 

Palus said the city revisits the idea every few years as a remedy for railroad horns for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway along the northern portion of the city and the Union Pacific Railroad through a number of residential areas in Post Falls. 

The BNSF Railway spur line largely impacts Post Falls with 22 crossings. A low-speed train comes through once or twice a week. 

Palus noted that the frequency of Union Pacific Railroad trains coming through is unknown, but based on observations and discussions, there are a higher number of trips through the area. 

The Union Pacific has 12 main road crossings through Post Falls.  

The city of Rathdrum currently has an area on Mill Street where there is a railroad quiet zone that has been in place since 2011. 

Current estimates for implementing quiet zones are around $10.3 million, though the cost could be reduced to $2.2 to $2.7 million if a proposed roadway overpass at Poleline Avenue was mitigated.  

Annual maintenance costs were estimated to be between $70,000 to 150,000. 

“The railroads have always been there, so this isn’t really a safety issue or a capacity issue,” Councilor Joe Malloy said. “It’s a nuisance issue.”  

Council members agreed without a vote to not proceed with pursuing the railroad quiet zones.

The city is currently in talks with the railroads to add two railway crossings, including one at Chase Road, Palus said.

*This article has been corrected to reflect that the full name is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.