This Week's Column: Train Horns
Train horns keep you up at night? Maybe not for too much longer.
A federal rule that takes effect next month allows communities to ban the loud air horns blasting from locomotives upon approach to rail crossings.
Here's how it works:
If all crossings in a given area have certain types of warning lights and arm gates, local governments can post signs along tracks telling engineers to keep their hands off the horn.
These zones must be at least a half-mile in length. And engineers may sound their approach when they see something - or someone - on the tracks ahead.
If a crossing within the stretch doesn’t meet standards, a town or county must make improvements before submitting its "quiet zone" proposal to the Federal Railroad Administration.
And there's the catch, at least in North Carolina.
Almost all funding for crossing improvements comes from the state. Officials use a formula to determine what crossings need work.
If a crossing in a proposed "quiet zone" is far down that list, it might be up to the town to foot the bill for upgrades. And crossing improvements run upward of $250,000 each.
"Local governments don't have the kind of money," said Paul Worley, assistant director for engineering and safety with the state's rail division.
While Greensboro transportation officials are open to the idea of these new "quiet zones," no plans exist to implement any.
"We typically haven't received complaints or concerns from folks in the community about noise associated with train crossings," said Jim Westmoreland, director of the city's transportation department. "Part of that probably has to do with the railroads being out there since the 1800s and people use to the horns at crossings."
The rule's intent is to balance safety with quality of life. In Greensboro, one place that's sure to see greater demand for less noise is the South Elm Street and Southside neighborhoods.
New townhouses in Southside, coupled with the Smothers Place complex next to the railroad crossing on South Elm, have plenty of locals moving near tracks.
A few business owners in the area there said Friday they'd prefer to keep the horns active.
Greensboro's South Elm Street crossing meets all the requirements to be part of a "quiet zone," but it hasn't stopped close calls in the past.
Jim Gutsell, owner of South Elm Pottery and Gallery, had an Amtrak train strike his vehicle a few years back after crossing arms boxed in his vehicle.
"If people want to live downtown, they'll get used to it," Gutsell said. "I don't think (horns) bother businesses. Why should it?
"You have this big, incredible thing going by, and you want to put mufflers on it?"
Gutsell made one other observation that I have to agree with. Part of the mystery - and part of the allure - to these steel centipedes is the sound they make passing through.
Then again, I'm a train buff. And I don't live near a crossing.
Air Harbor Road
Mary Elizabeth Parker of Greensboro recently sent an e-mail message about the lack of a traffic signal at the T-intersection of eastbound Air Harbor Road with North Church Street.
"I've lived in this area for 12 years, navigate this intersection almost daily and am amazed it's been allowed to remain so dangerous," Parker wrote.
"Because it's a hilly area, drivers stopped on Air Harbor waiting to turn onto North Church can not see approaching traffic rising from the hollow from either direction on North Church and must turn blind hoping they won't be hit ...
"And because North Church is a through street, there's no sign to slow approaching drivers, who likewise don't see the Air Harbor intersection until they're in it because it's at the top of a rise.
"I see debris there from time to time as the aftermath of accidents. Will it take deaths to get a stop-light to make this intersection safe?"
Nope. It will take funding.
State transportation engineers recently completed a study at the intersection and concluded it was time for a traffic light and road improvements.
But money comes from Raleigh, which divvies up the cash pie among plenty of competing projects statewide. The division traffic engineer in Greensboro said the project should cost about $105,000.
The figure includes right-of-way purchases, signal installation and removal of a concrete island on Air Harbor Road. Taking out the concrete island makes room for a turn lane.
"(The study) found there is some congestion there during peak hours," said Vance Barham, division traffic engineer.
As for the accidents, they appear to be few and far between.
Barham said three accidents occurred at that intersection over the past three years, and none involved serious injuries.
Final Thoughts
John Hayes of Greensboro called to share his thoughts on a non-Fast Forward article I wrote late last week about Highway Patrol's plan to deploy empty cruisers in work zones to slow traffic.
The driverless vehicles use solar panels to operate blue lights and radar.
"These blue lights are a good thing, but it's a dangerous thing, too," said Hayes, who drives trucks for a living. "If a car passes you real fast and dashes in front of you, sees blue lights and jams on the brakes, what do you do?
"If you have 40,000 pounds behind you or more, and there's another vehicle behind you jamming on the brakes at the same time, what are you going to do? It’s something to think about."
Indeed it is. Thanks for the reminder, John.
Final Thoughts II
One other e-mail caught my attention - from Matt Adams of Graham:
"I really enjoyed the story about the solar powered police cruiser decoys. I bet the cops are having a good laugh with them, too.
"It is unfortunate that people don't have the common sense or thoughtfulness behind the wheel to slow down when traffic gets heavy, or when in a construction zone.
"But if a little fear is what it takes to get these people to slow down and stop endangering people, then I'm all for it."
Fast Forward runs every Saturday. Got questions you want answered or need to vent about transportation issues? Send ‘em my way at 373-7008 or etownsend@news-record.com. Be sure to leave your name and a way for me to get in touch with you.