(The following story by Jeff Abell appeared on the Hawk Eye website on September 17.)
BURLINGTON, Iowa — The city of Burlington believes that the glass is half full when it comes to BNSF Railway partially funding a planned downtown quiet zone to silence train horns.
When it comes to funding safety upgrades, such as medians or crossing arms, the railroad considers the city’s notion all wet.
“We don’t fund quiet zones. That has always been our position,” said Craig Rammussen, project manager for BNSF. “We may pay toward closures, but not for things like medians.”
That news came as a surprise to City Manager Doug Worden.
Based on a Sept. 3 telephone conversation between Rammussen and Public Works Director Ron Knoke, Worden said city officials were under the impression the railroad would be willing to consider paying a portion of the cost for the proposed quiet zone.
The city wants the railroad to provide funding to complete safety upgrades and modifications at three downtown crossings. Upgrades to the crossings will not be addressed until 2010 under the city’s quiet zone plan filed with the Federal Railroad Administration.
“I just talked to him (Rammussen) this morning (Monday). I said we would like to get all 10 crossings done at the same time if the railroad was willing to pay for that cost. He didn’t indicate that they were not willing to do that. He didn’t say anything to dispute what Ron (Knoke) said he was told,” Worden said.
Rammussen had a different take on his conversation with Knoke.
“There must be some confusion on the city’s part. I know we talked about those three crossings, but I never said paying for the quiet zone was an option,” Rammussen said.
City officials had planned to complete the quiet zone project in two phases, with safety improvements at seven out of 10 downtown crossings to be completed by next year at a cost of less than $400,000.
Earlier this year, BNSF voiced its concern over delaying work at the remaining three crossings at Third, Fourth and Fifth streets because it would result in safety issues due to the absence of train horns.
City officials indicated they would complete safety upgrades at all 10 crossing if the railroad would provide financial support.
According to Worden, the city council will move forward with finalizing a plan for the three crossings in question.
A citizens advisory committee recommended that the council complete safety upgrades at Fourth and Fifth streets and close the Third Street grade crossing, which would cost about $88,000 as proposed.
“We’re moving forward, and we will see what the railroad is willing to do. If they want us to do all of them at once, the railroad needs to help pay the cost,” Worden said.
In February, the city submitted a letter of intent outlining its plan to the Federal Railroad Administration. Under federal law, all quiet zones must be approved by the agency.
To qualify as a quiet zone, the risk assessment for downtown crossings along BNSF rail lines has to be reduced below the national average, which is based on several factors, including the number of accidents reported at each crossing.
The FRA has not indicated if it intends to approve the plan as written.
Money from the downtown tax increment financing district, sales tax revenue and general obligation bonds will be used to pay for the project.