Edina funds $64,000 study to reduce train horn noise
The Edina City Council approved $64,000 in funding on November 6 to study safety improvements at seven railroad crossings along the CPKC line. The study is a necessary step toward establishing "quiet zones" where train horns would not be required, addressing complaints from residents disturbed by increased overnight noise.
Residents living along the CPKC railroad corridor in Edina have grown frustrated with the noise from train horns, particularly during evening and overnight hours. The city council voted to allocate $64,000 from the city's budget surplus to hire SRF Consulting to evaluate potential safety improvements at seven street-level crossings. This study is essential before the city can apply to the Federal Railroad Administration for quiet zone designation.
The council faces a genuine tension between two legitimate concerns. Train horns serve a critical safety function, alerting motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to oncoming trains and preventing accidents. At the same time, the horns create significant disruption for nearby residents. "The city recognizes that the train horn sounding, particularly in the evening hours, is very disruptive to residents that live along the corridor," a city official explained. "At the same time, we also recognize that the train horn sounds for a good reason."
To establish quiet zones where horns are not required, federal regulations demand that cities first demonstrate the risks have been mitigated through safety improvements. "We first have to show that the risk of not having the train sound its horn at all of these at-grade crossings is mitigated," the official noted. The SRF Consulting study will evaluate what safety enhancements—such as improved signage, barriers, or crossing technology—could justify eliminating the horn requirement.
The city initially pursued a federal grant to fund the study but was unsuccessful. The council then approved using surplus budget funds to move forward. If the study identifies viable safety improvements, the city can submit its findings to the Federal Railroad Administration and pursue quiet zone status, potentially bringing relief to residents while maintaining safety at the crossings.
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Initiation of Train Crossing Safety Study for Quiet Zone Establishment
Residents along the CPKC line in Edina have been disturbed by increased overnight train horn noise. The city recognizes the disruption but also the safety purpose of the horns. To balance these interests, the city has engaged SRF Consulting to conduct a study on safety improvements at seven local street-level crossings. This study is essential to demonstrate mitigated risks to the Federal Railroad Administration, a prerequisite for establishing 'quiet zones' where horns would not be required. The City Council allocated $64,000 from a budget surplus to fund this work after a federal grant was not secured.
The city recognizes that the train horn sounding, particularly in the evening hours, is very disruptive to residents that live along the corridor. At the same time, we also recognize that the train horn sounds for a good reason, to be sure that we don't have any incidents of motorists or pedestrians or cyclists. um being struck by a train through a crossing. So, we're really trying to balance those two interests uh in studying safety improvements at these crossings.
We first have to show that the risk of not having the train sound its horn at all of these atgrade crossings is mitigated.
Source document
[music] Welcome to Agenda Edina, a program summarizing the actions taken at city hall that affect you most. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. Edina's effort to bring peace and quiet back to the neighborhood is picking up steam. The city has hired a contractor to study how to make train crossing safer and eventually quieter. For years, trains along the CPKC line mostly rolled through Edina during the day. But recently, more trains have been running [music] overnight, and their horns have been waking up nearby residents. >> The city recognizes that the train horn sounding, particularly in the evening hours, is very disruptive to residents that live along the corridor. At the same time, we also recognize that the train horn sounds for a good reason, to be sure that we don't have any incidents of motorists or pedestrians or cyclists. um being struck by a train through a crossing. So, we're really trying to balance those two interests uh in studying safety improvements at these crossings. >> SRF Consulting will evaluate all seven street level crossings in Edina for potential safety improvements. The study will help the city figure out what safety upgrades are needed before it can ask the Federal Railroad Administration to allow trains to pass without sounding their horns. We first have to show that the risk of not having the train sound its horn at all of these atgrade crossings is mitigated. >> The city council set aside money from last year's budget surplus to pay for the work after a federal grant did not come through. SRF will complete the initial study for about $64,000. The study will take several months to complete. Quiet zones are still a ways off, but for neighbors losing sleep, this marks real progress toward quieter nights ahead.
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