The City of Garland retained SRF to determine the feasibility of securing a train whistle quiet zone. The feasibility study included a total of 31 at-grade crossings along the Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS), and Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Railroad (DGNO) rail lines. The DGNO line is unique because in addition to freight train traffic, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates light rail transit (LRT) trains within the same corridor seven days a week.
Through numerous discussions with City and Railroad staff, the City is planning to implement a quiet zone at 21 crossings along the KCS rail line. The Garland Quiet Zone Plan includes phased implementation of crossing improvements. Under the initial phase, the City intends to establish a quiet zone based on a combination of pre-existing improvements at three crossings and compliance with the minimum active warning device requirements at the remaining crossings. The City plans to enhance their quiet zone in the future by making additional improvements and eventually having treatments at a total of 18 crossings. The majority of crossing improvements will include full-length or reduced length medians that meet the Federal Railroad Administration’s requirements as well as one private crossing where sight line and signing improvements will be made.
Services provided by SRF included:
- Facilitating an on-site diagnostic meeting and associated field work;
- Leading the project coordination effort between state/federal agencies and railroad staff;
- Developing crossing improvement alternatives;
- Performing risk level calculations and analysis; and
- Completing and submitting the formal quiet zone documentation to the FRA.
