(The following article by Guy Tridgell appeared on the Chicago Daily Southtown website on August 27.)
CHICAGO — Gov. Rod Blagojevich has signed legislation that will pay for the installation of special crossing gates along the CSX railroad, creating the first “quiet zone” along a rail line in the city or suburbs.
Blagojevich approved spending $3 million for four quadrant gates at 11 crossings between 87th and 123rd streets ? a stretch touching Blue Island, Merrionette Park, Evergreen Park and Chicago’s Mount Greenwood and Beverly communities.
State Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Chicago) pushed for the money to pay for construction. CSX has agreed to pay for maintenance.
“This is going to be watched not only statewide, but at the national level,” Joyce said. “States like Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska have the same issue.”
The newer, safer gates will block multiple lanes of traffic instead of the single lane at conventional gates. They are supposed to be installed before next summer, though Joyce is hopeful one crossing will be upgraded this fall.
Local officials are banking the improvements will be enough to stop railroad companies from sounding their train horns through residential areas.
To the frustration of several suburbs and Chicago neighborhoods, the industry has ordered trains to sound their horns at all spots where they intersect with roads until the federal government decides what improvements make the practice unnecessary.
Joyce said he’s “99 percent” sure the new gates will keep the trains silent for a long time.
“I’m very, very comfortable with where we are at in the process,” he said. “I’m real happy.”