Locust Grove Receives Cost Estimate for a Railroad Quiet Zone

Photo of a Norfolk Southern locomotive pulling a train (Clayton Carte photo).
(Clayton Carte photo)

The city of Locust Grove has learned more from Norfolk Southern how much it would cost for the city to become a railroad quiet zone. The city sought additional information about the option after a resident requested it.

Existing railroad crossings within the city would need upgrades before the railroad could add a quiet zone, potentially at a cost over $2 million dollars. The city does not intend to pursue the idea further.

Locust Grove Railroad Quiet Zone

In November 2023, a city resident spoke before the city council requesting they consider a railroad quiet zone. The quiet zone would eliminate trains blowing their horn or whistle when they approach crossings in the city. Locust Grove then began to explore the feasibility of such quiet zone.

There are seven railroad crossings within the city. They include the following:

  • Colvin Drive,
  • North Jackson Street,
  • Peeksville Road,
  • Jackson Street,
  • Grove Road,
  • Jackson Street (south), and
  • Davis Road.

The city agreed to pay Norfolk Southern up to $12,000 for their engineers to review each crossing. They identified 2-3 crossings needing upgrades to be eligible for a quiet zone. Such upgrades have a cost estimate of $750,000 each, or $1.5-$2.25 million. The city would be responsible for the cost.

City management shared these findings with the city council at the January 27 meeting. Though no council vote was taken, the general consensus was to not move forward.

About Quiet Zones

The federal government oversees the regulations how an area can become a quiet zone. They have a ten-page brochure available online with an overview of the process. For an area to become a quiet zone, each railroad crossing will generally need enhanced safety measures. Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs) can include a four-quadrant gate system, where crossing gates come down to block the entire intersection, or gates with medians to prevent motorists from going around the gates. Closing a railroad crossing is also an option.

The city of Stockbridge spent several years, at least as early as 2020, working to establish a quiet zone. Their quiet zone took effect in August 2023. To achieve this goal, they closed the Nolan Street crossing and upgraded the Love Street crossing.

Featured image shows a Norfolk Southern freight train. Clayton Carte photo.

About Clayton 1746 Articles
Clayton Carte is the founder and owner of The Henry Reporter. He founded the site in 2017 to highlight transportation projects. Over time, he began covering other topics like new development so residents can best know what’s happening in our community.