(Revised March 19, 2008)

The Montclair Township Public Transportation Advisory Committee provides below answers to some frequently asked questions about a Quiet Zone in Montclair.

Background

On Sept. 30, 2002, New Jersey Transit started its much-awaited MidTown Direct service through Montclair. This service offered rail passengers a “one-seat” ride into New York’s Penn Station from any of the six train stations in Montclair. Within hours of its commencement, however, Township officials were besieged by residents objecting to train horns that sounded louder than ever and blew several times an hour starting before 6 AM and ending after midnight.

Residents were correct. In addition to the number of trains increasing immediately from 28 to over 70 per day, the horns on most of the new electric locomotives blew at a higher decibel level and shriller pitch. Moreover, NJ Transit unexpectedly revoked its observance of Montclair’s long-standing “whistle ban,” an ordinance adopted by Montclair in the 1970s that prohibited trains from sounding their horns at any Montclair grade crossing between the hours of 7 PM to 7 AM. Louder, more-piercing train horns were now sounding for about 18 hours a day at each of the town’s 12 grade crossings. The advent of MidTown Direct service had created an unanticipated, but serious, noise pollution problem.

Following a joint public meeting in October 2002 among the Township Council, representatives of NJ Transit and numerous residents from throughout the town, NJ Transit agreed to reduce the decibel level of the horns from 115 to 100-105 and to again honor Montclair’s nighttime whistle ban. However, the pitch of the horns could not be adjusted, as it was set by the manufacturer.

At about that time, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued proposed regulations governing noise from train horns. The regulations were a response to complaints from residents from all over the United States, including other New Jersey towns, about the health hazards and quality-of-life impact associated with train horns. To address these problems while maintaining acceptable safety levels, FRA regulations permitted the implementation of “Quiet Zones.” Starting in June 2010, these FRA regulations preempt any existing municipal or transit operator horn protocols, including Montclair’s 7 PM-to-7 AM whistle ban.

Since the start of MidTown Direct service in September 2002, Montclair officials and members of an ad hoc Montclair Connection Citizens’ Advisory Committee have been jointly investigating the implementation of a Quiet Zone. Because of the importance of all modes of transportation to, from and within the Township, the Montclair Township Council in 2004 established the Public Transportation Advisory Committee. The committee’s overall stated purpose is to make a continuous study of transportation needs and facilities in Montclair. In that regard, one of its missions is to carry on the work of the Montclair Connection Citizens’ Advisory Committee in advising the Township Council on the steps Montclair must take in order to qualify as an FRA-approved Quiet Zone.

To date, the committee has prepared filings for submission by the Township to meet the deadlines necessary for keeping the 12-hour whistle ban in effect: a Notice of Quiet Zone Continuation, and a Notice of Intent to Create a 24-hour Quiet Zone. The next Quiet Zone deadline is June 24, 2008, at which time Montclair must file a Notice of Detailed Plan to officially inform the FRA of the means, cost and schedule for implementing a 24-hour Quiet Zone. Montclair then has until June 24, 2010, to construct the Quiet Zone. If Montclair does not file the Notice of Detailed Plan by June 24, 2008, the 12-hour whistle ban will immediately and permanently cease to be in effect.

Questions and Answers

1. What is a Quiet Zone?

A Quiet Zone is an uninterrupted section of railroad at least a half mile long in which trains do not routinely sound their horns at grade crossings.

2. When did the Township Council establish a Quiet Zone?

The Township Council has neither voted on nor formally considered the establishment of a Quiet Zone. However, the 2007 Master Plan encourages the implementation of a Quiet Zone and in the past many Council members have indicated their support. The Public Transportation Advisory Committee has kept the Council informed of the FRA deadlines that must be met if it is ultimately decided to construct a Quiet Zone and has also kept the Council apprised of the committee’s meetings with NJ Transit and the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Any Council action to authorize an expenditure to establish a Quiet Zone must be by ordinance, which requires a public hearing.

3. Why is the Township of Montclair considering the implementation of a Quiet Zone?

The loudness and shrillness of the train horns, coupled with the significant increase in the number of trains, has created a township-wide noise pollution problem, dramatically affecting the health and quality of life of many Montclair residents and business owners. Although Montclair now prohibits the blowing of train horns between 7 PM and 7 AM, this ban will cease to be observed if the Township does not file a Notice of Detailed Plan by June 24. If a filing is submitted, Montclair will have until June 2010 to make the required modifications at our grade crossings. If we fail to establish a Quiet Zone, every train that travels through Montclair will sound its horn four times at each of our 12 grade crossings.

4. Does a Quiet Zone mean that there is no warning at all when a train passes a grade crossing?

No. The gates will come down, signal lights will flash red, and warning bells will ring at the grade crossing, just as they do today.

5. Are there other steps being taken to make drivers and pedestrians aware of a Quiet Zone?

Yes. Even though a 24-hour Quiet Zone would not take effect until the quad gates and channelization devices are installed, the Township must, by June 24, 2008, place signs at the approaches to all 12 grade crossings that warn that trains might not blow their horns before entering the crossing. In addition, the Public Transportation Advisory Committee is working with the Township to develop a public information program, which includes this FAQ and other forms of communication on the topic.

6. What are the current requirements of a train engineer to sound the horn at grade crossings?

The FRA mandates that a locomotive must sound its horn four times at every grade crossing. The horns must register at least 96 decibels when measured 100 feet in front of the train. (Ninety-six decibels is the noise level produced by a chain saw; of course, the noise is more piercing at distances of less than 100 feet.) Montclair has 12 grade crossings, and 50 passenger trains pass through the town each weekday between 7 AM and 7 PM. That’s 2,400 horns each weekday. If the current nighttime ban were to end, the number would rise to 3,360 per day, and the horn count would further increase when weekend service begins. Areas throughout town are severely affected, with one of the heaviest impacts on residents and businesses felt in the short stretch of track between the Walnut Street and Bay Street stations, which contains five of the town’s 12 grade crossings.

7. Does a Quiet Zone mean a locomotive horn would never be blown in Montclair?

No. Even if a Quiet Zone is created, trains horns will continue to blow once upon approaching a station, and an engineer will always blow the horn in an emergency, such as a pedestrian on the tracks. The engineer will also sound the train horn if work is being conducted near the tracks.

8. Won’t having a Quiet Zone make it more dangerous for people who walk on the tracks?

As stated above, an engineer will always be able to blow the horn in any emergency situation. When MidTown Direct service commenced, the Montclair Connection Citizens’ Advisory Committee (whose functions were later folded into those of the Public Transportation Advisory Committee) coordinated the production and distribution of rail-safety literature and was instrumental in having NJ Transit conduct a rail safety program in Montclair schools. Recently, a task force composed of police, fire and school officials, working with the Public Transportation Advisory Committee and the Township’s communications director, was formed to address train safety issues.

For the decades that Montclair’s 7 PM-to-7 AM whistle ban has existed, it does not appear to have been cited as a contributing cause to a fatality or other accident on the rails. Nonetheless, it must be emphasized that walking on the tracks, with or without a Quiet Zone, is behavior that should be strongly discouraged. (It is also illegal; Montclair ordinances prohibit trespassing on rail property, and violators can be ticketed by Township police.) Creation of the task force mentioned above is part of a larger plan to expand train-related education and enforcement efforts, and make them ongoing.

9. What must be done to have a Quiet Zone in Montclair?

A Notice of Detailed Plan for a 24-hour Quiet Zone must be filed with the FRA by June 24, 2008. Then, specific improvements, known as Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs), must be constructed, in coordination with NJ Transit, at several of our grade crossings. The Public Transportation Advisory Committee, after consulting with the FRA, the state’s Department of Transportation, NJ Transit, and Township fire, police and engineering personnel, has proposed “quad gates” at some crossings and a “channelization device” at others.

10. What is a quad gate? What is a channelization device?

A quad gate is a set of four gates, as opposed to the two gates that are at our crossings now. In a quad gate system, two gates “interlock” on each side so that a vehicle cannot “serpentine” around the gates and cross the tracks when the gates are in the closed position. A channelization device is a center divider that extends 60 to 100 feet back from the tracks. It prevents a vehicle from going into the opposite lane to cross the tracks.

11. Will the Quiet Zone affect emergency vehicle response time?

No. Township police, fire and engineering representatives have reviewed the proposed SSMs, and have concluded that emergency response time will not be affected.

12. Would a Quiet Zone include all grade crossings in Montclair or only those where improvements are constructed?

The Quiet Zone would include all grade crossings. There is an FRA formula that calculates what improvements must be done at which crossings in order to have a town-wide Quiet Zone. Montclair would have to make specific improvements to seven of its grade crossings in order for the Quiet Zone to be valid for the entire length of railroad track in Montclair.

13. How much will a Quiet Zone cost?

Preliminary estimates indicate that a quad gate system would cost between $100,00 and $250,000 per crossing, and a channelization device would cost between $30,000 and $60,000 per crossing. If the Township puts quad gates at four grade crossings and channelization devices at three others, the cost of installation would most likely not be in excess of $1,180,000.

14. What formal steps have been taken to establish a Quiet Zone?

The Public Transportation Advisory Committee has been drafting the necessary filings and submitting them to the Council and Township attorney for submission to the FRA. In addition, members of that committee and the Township engineer have met with representatives of NJ Transit and the NJ Department of Transportation to get input on the type and location of the SSMs. The committee also has met with representatives from the Fire and Police departments, and the Montclair Public Schools.

The Township Council recently approved the hiring of a rail consultant to assist the Township in completing future official filings with the FRA, to continue discussions with NJ Transit and NJ DOT, and to identify federal and state funding sources that would help to defray the cost of installing SSMs.

15. If the Public Transportation Advisory Committee has been handling the filings with the FRA and has held meetings with NJ Transit and the NJ Department of Transportation, why has the Council approved the hiring of a consultant?

The members of the Public Transportation Advisory Committee are volunteers. Although they have devoted much time to the matter and are very knowledgeable with respect to the requirements of the FRA regulations, they support retaining a consultant to guide them through the increasingly complex process of obtaining a Quiet Zone. In addition, a consultant may be able to recommend potential sources of SSM funding at the state and federal levels.

16. Doesn’t a Quiet Zone benefit only those residents who live near the railroad tracks?

No. While homeowners and tenants near the tracks are most deeply affected by the heightened noise associated with the start of MidTown Direct service, many other Township residents also are exposed to the increased noise pollution.

17. Are there health risks associated with noise pollution?

Yes. Many studies have identified the harmful effects of excessive noise—not only on hearing, but on the cardiovascular and nervous systems as well. Since trains pass through Montclair as early as 5:00 in the morning and continue until after 1:00 at night, sleep deprivation is another serious health issue posed by the horns. Without a Quiet Zone, these problems will be aggravated with the onset of weekend service. In recognition of the health hazards posed by the excessively loud and frequent blowing of train horns, Montclair’s 2007 Master Plan cites the establishment of a Quiet Zone as one of the Township’s environmental objectives.

18. Are there any economic disadvantages associated with excessive noise?

Yes. Values tend to decrease if properties are in close proximity to sources of excessive noise. Studies conducted in several countries have typically found that there is a 10% reduction in the value of houses situated alongside track locations where horns are blown. Excessive noise also can have negative effects on commercial, educational and recreational spaces. Research shows that normal outside conversation is unable to occur within 400 feet of a blaring train horn. Overall, the desirability of Montclair could lessen if train horns began blowing virtually 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

19. Is the fact that Montclair does not yet have a Quiet Zone holding up the start of weekend MidTown Direct service by NJ Transit?

No. Montclair’s proposed implementation of a Quiet Zone has nothing to do with weekend service. NJ Transit will institute weekend service when it is feasible for it to do so, on a timetable that it will determine and control. If a Quiet Zone is in place, the trains will not sound horns at the grade crossings. If a Quiet Zone is not in place, the horns will sound.