The South Florida Rail Corridor (SFRC) traverses the entire length of Broward County from the Palm Beach County line to the Miami-Dade County line. The SFRC is used by South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (TriRail) and Amtrak to operate passenger rail service and by CSX to operate freight service in Broward County. Federal law requires that train engineers sound the train horn upon approach of each grade crossing. The noise from the train horns can have a negative impact on the surrounding communities. Federal law permits the creation of "Quiet Zones," in which trains are not required to sound a horn at grade crossings. These Quiet Zones can be effective in reducing the negative impact of train horn noise. In order to be designated a Quiet Zone, safety improvements must be installed and the affected local governments must apply, individually or jointly, to the federal government for the designation.
Additional safety measures have been installed in the SFRC that meet the federal requirements for the creation of a Quiet Zone. Currently, there are Quiet Zones along the SFRC in the cities of Dania Beach, Hollywood, and Pembroke Park. The cities of Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Pompano Beach, through previous resolutions, supported the creation of a Quiet Zone along the SFRC in their respective cities. The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO) has offered to assist local governments by coordinating the application for additional Quiet Zone designations. If new Quiet Zones are designated, the Broward County Traffic Engineering Division, through an existing Interlocal Agreement with all municipalities, would install the required "No Train Horn" signs, at the County's expense, to protect pedestrians and vehicular traffic at grade crossings consistent with Federal Railroad Administration regulations.
Approval of this Resolution will formally affirm Broward County's support for the creation of a Quiet Zone along the SFRC throughout Broward County.
|