Washington, DC – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to follow through on its commitment to review its train noise rules and consider how to cut red tape and make the required train-crossing upgrades more affordable for local taxpayers.
In a letter to acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg, Bennet wrote, “The FRA announced that it intended to re-evaluate the train horn rule and open up the rulemaking process for feedback. Two years later, however, communities throughout Colorado continue to wait for the rule to be re-opened. While I understand the complexity of this issue, I am nonetheless concerned that this delay will continue to stifle economic development in several Colorado communities where the railroad crosses through the center of town.”
After hearing from communities across Colorado, including Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Greeley, Commerce City, Arvada, Castle Rock, Westminster, and Windsor, Bennet has worked to advocate for increased flexibility from the FRA to help communities establish quiet zones around railroad crossings.
In January 2013, Bennet led efforts urging the FRA to reopen the train horn rule for comment. He also introduced an amendment to a transportation bill that year that would require the FRA to work with Colorado communities to examine its train horn rules and consider revisions.
Bennet also urged the Senate committee with jurisdiction over the FRA to review the train horn requirements. At his request, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) asked FRA Administrator Joseph C. Szabo if the agency was willing to work with communities to provide flexibility around train horn regulations. Szabo indicated a willingness to work with Congress to ensure its train-noise and quiet-zone rules protect public safety while also work for Colorado communities.
Full Text of the Letter:
May 29, 2015
Dear Acting Administrator Feinberg:
I write to urge the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) to move swiftly to re-open the rule governing train horns and quiet zones.
In January 2013, I wrote to the FRA, conveying the concerns of several Colorado communities that the current requirements to establish “quiet zones” are cost prohibitive and inflexible. These requirements continue to prevent certain municipalities from achieving the shared goal of developing quiet zones, which seek to reduce train horn noise while maintaining safety.
As you know, later in 2013, the FRA announced that it intended to re-evaluate the train horn rule and open up the rulemaking process for feedback. Two years later, however, communities throughout Colorado continue to wait for the rule to be re-opened. While I understand the complexity of this issue, I am nonetheless concerned that this delay will continue to stifle economic development in several Colorado communities where the railroad crosses through the center of town.
Given the delay from its previous announcement, it is my hope that the FRA can work as quickly as possible to re-open the rule governing train horns. I believe that a more flexible rule would give communities the options they need to craft a system that works for their budget while still reducing disruptive noise from train horns. I urge you to continue working with municipalities to achieve flexible and affordable solutions that maintain safety at grade crossings while mitigating the effect of train horn noise.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
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