(The following article by Virginia Groark was posted on the Chicago Tribune website on February 13.)
CHICAGO — Responding to local concerns about a rule that could affect train-whistle bans in 50 northern Illinois municipalities, the Federal Railroad Administration announced Thursday it would extend the public-comment period on the complex proposal by 60 days.
“That is what we were hoping for,” said Larry Bury, transportation director for the Northwest Municipal Conference. “The additional 60 days will allow them to really evaluate the impacts of this rule on the communities.”
Announced in December, the rule would allow municipalities to maintain train-whistle bans, or quiet zones, if crossings meet safety criteria. Those with dangerous crossings would either have to let the trains sound their horns or make potentially costly upgrades, such as adding gates, putting in median barriers or making streets one-way.
The comment period was originally scheduled to end Feb. 17.The railroad agency decided to grant more time after officials from the Chicago area and Massachusetts said they were struggling to understand the complicated, 48-page rule and had difficulty using the agency’s Web tool to determine whether railroad crossings in their communities were deemed safe.
A preliminary report issued last month by the FRA found that quiet zones in 50 northern Illinois municipalities do not meet the safety criteria. Though the report could be based on outdated data, officials in several communities confirmed the findings and said it could be a conservative estimate.
The federal agency decided to wait a year before putting the rule into effect so it could get feedback from municipalities.
Representatives from the Chicago area also had pushed for a public hearing to be held in northern Illinois. Though one has not been scheduled, Alan Rutter, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, has agreed to come to the Chicago suburbs Monday to discuss the proposal in meetings with government officials in Western Springs and Arlington Heights.