Quiet Zones

THE PROJECT
Two new quiet zones were established along the heavily traveled CSXT Buffalo Terminal Subdivision and Norfolk Southern Lake Erie District. These parallel quiet zones, where a segment of a rail line has one or more consecutive public highway-rail grade crossings where a locomotive horn may sound, were the first post-rule quiet zones established in New York state.

Erdman Anthony was selected to provide scoping, preliminary engineering, final design, and construction-phase services for the project.

FEATURES/SOLUTIONS
Project features included:

• Preparation of the design report, contract drawings, and specifications for the improvement of 10 grade crossings on five public roads
• Use of a relatively low-cost traffic separator system on rehabilitated pavement as an alternative to a median barrier and significantly more expensive wayside horns or four-quadrant gates
• Extensive coordination with CSX and Norfolk Southern to renew grade-crossing surfaces and upgrade signals at four of the crossings under a separate contract.

IMPACTS
The completed quiet zones have improved the quality of life for over 20,000 town residents, seven schools, and numerous parks and recreation areas located within hearing range of the grade crossings.

The Town of Hamburg gave a “very satisfied” rating of Erdman Anthony’s work in all categories on its client satisfaction survey and commented that “Construction bids came in below engineer’s estimate, and there were no change orders during engineering or construction.”