Railroad Quiet Zones

Quiet Zones are railroad crossings that include physical infrastructure and warning systems so train engineers are not required to sound the train horn at the crossing, although they still have the authority to sound the horn if an unsafe condition exists. Community members in the surrounding areas of a Quiet Zone can expect less train horn noise.

The following railroad crossings in the City of Boulder are official Quiet Zones:

• 47th Street
• 55th Street (north of Arapahoe Avenue)
• 63rd Street (north of Arapahoe Avenue)
• Pearl Parkway
• Valmont Road

There are additional Quiet Zones in Boulder County, including 2nd Avenue in Niwot, Niwot Road, Monarch Road, 63rd Street, 55th Street, Jay Road and Independence Road. For more information, contact the Boulder County Department of Transportation.

With the establishment of Quiet Zones, train engineers are no longer required to sound their horn upon approaching the crossing, so the surrounding areas should expect less train horn noise. However, the train engineer still has the authority to sound the horn if an unsafe condition exists – this remains at the train engineer’s discretion.

In terms of Quiet Zone compliance, every train conductor receives an internal BNSF documentation bulletin with each train they board, that notes such information as upcoming repair work or the presence of a Quiet Zone crossing along their route. Beginning on the day that a crossing is recognized as a Quiet Zone, these bulletins will convey that information for the relevant crossing.

Creating Quiet Zones involves installing physical barriers and warning systems that comply with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements. Quiet Zones may involve roadway improvements, railroad improvements or a combination of both:

• Roadway improvements include safety measures such as traffic control devices, median extensions, raised medians and signage that enables a crossing to become Quiet Zone-eligible, if no further railroad improvements are required.
• Railroad improvements include circuitry improvements, four-quad gates, signal upgrades and installation of exit crossing gate arms, and can only be implemented by BNSF, owner of the right-of-way at railroad crossings. Railroad gates are activated when a train is approaching and are linked to the traffic signals proximate to the tracks, preventing people from traveling over the tracks when the gates are down and signaling for all road users to stop and wait for the train to pass.

Once the improvements are made and approved by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the location is recognized as a Quiet Zone.

Learn more on the BNSF website.

• BNSF Train Horns