Downtown Brookhaven

The first project for the Brookhaven Downtown Association:

Railroad Quiet Zone

What is it?
A zone for at least one-half mile that railroad horns can only be used in an emergency.

Why do we want one?
“The obvious benefits from a quiet zone include a drastic reduction in noise levels, as the whistle noise stops immediately. Also, according to Houston City Council Member and HAR member Michael Berry, property values rise dramatically when a quiet zone is enacted – as much as 50 percent.”
http://houstonrealtor.har.com/DispArticle.cfm?ARTICLE_ID=13864&ISSUE_ID=1012

How do we get a quiet zone in Downtown Brookhaven?
The City of Brookhaven needs to be encouraged to work go through the process of creating a quiet zone. The steps are laid out by the Federal Railway Administration, who will work with the railroad and city manager to create the zone.

What steps does the city take to create a quiet zone?
Using calculations provided by the FRA, the city may need to upgrade the most dangerous crossings by installing lane medians or channeling devices and signs. The channeling devices prevent driving around the gates. Our most dangerous crossing is Minnesota St., based on accidents over the last five years.

What are the costs involved?
Upgrading crossings can cost from $13,000 to $100,000 each. Most likely, minor upgrades of three crossings will cost about $40,000. The cost rises if it hires a consultant to do the paperwork.

For the full technical details see the technical information link to the right >>