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<br />34!4% !.$ &%$%2!, 02/#%33 <br />The process for the establishment of a railroad quiet zone (RRQZ) is outlined in rules and <br />regulations published in the Federal Register and under the authority of the Federal Railroad <br />Administration (FRA). <br /> <br />This section provides an overview of the federal process for establishing a RRQZ. It is not intended <br />to be a comprehensive description of the entire federal process of establishing a quiet zone. To <br />establish an RRQZ, safety measures must be installed at the railroad crossings that reduce the quiet <br />-based quiet zone calculator for determining the risk <br />index for individual railroad crossings. A description of each risk index follows: <br />. ³¨®­¶¨£¤ 3¨¦­¨¥¨¢ ­³ 2¨²ª 4§±¤²§®«£ <br /> represents the average severity-weighted collision <br />risk for all at-grade road crossings for railroads equipped with lights and gates nationwide <br />where train horns are routinely sounded. <br />2¨²ª )­£¤· ¶¨³§ (®±­² <br /> represents the existing condition and is the calculated risk assuming <br />train horns are sounded at every crossing within the proposed quiet zone. <br />1´¨¤³ :®­¤ 2¨²ª )­£¤· <br /> is the average of the risk indexes of all the public crossings in a quiet <br />zone. It takes into consideration the absence of the horn sound and any safety measures <br />that may have been installed. <br /> <br />/¯³¨®­² ¥®± 3 ¥¤³¸ -¤ ²´±¤² <br />Safety measures are defined in the FRA Rules and Regulations and include supplemental safety <br />measures (SSMs) and alternative safety measures (ASMs). SSMs include the following safety <br />measures: <br />Four-quadrant gate system (quad gates) - All of the rail crossings within the proposed quiet <br />zone currently have two gates that block traffic in the direction of travel when the gates are <br />lowered. A four-quadrant gate system would add two gates to fully block all traffic from <br />entering a rail crossing when the gates are lowered. A gate would be located for each <br />direction of traffic for each approach. <br />One-way streets with gates The conversion of a two-way street to a one-way street with <br />gates that completely block approaching traffic when lowered. <br />Medians The addition of centerline medians separating the different directions of travel. <br />Medians must extend a distance of 100 feet from the gate arm or, if there is an intersection <br />within 100 feet of the gate arm, the median must extend a distance of 60 feet. <br />Permanent crossing closure Complete closure of an at-grade road crossing of a railroad to <br />all modes of travel motor vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle. <br />Wayside horns A horn system located at each individual crossing and directed toward <br />approaching traffic. A wayside horn must sound at least 15 seconds prior to the arrival of a <br />train to the crossing. A wayside horn must provide a minimum sound level of 92 dB(A) and <br />a maximum sound level of 110 dB(A) when measured 100 feet from the centerline of the <br />nearest track. <br /> <br />ASMs include modified SSMs that do not fully comply with the provisions outlined in the federal <br />rules and regulations. For example, a median that is shorter than the required length of an SSM <br />would be considered an ASM. <br /> <br />0±®¢¤²² 3³¤¯² <br />The first step in developing a set of safety measures (SSMs and ASMs) for a proposed RRQZ was to <br />establish and convene a meeting of a Diagnostic Review Team. The rules and regulations stipulate <br /> 5 <br /> <br /> <br />