No stopping train whistles

Don't expect the Elburn train whistles to stop anytime soon.

The most recent plan village officials have for establishing a quiet zone has hit some snags, and it's unclear when -- or how -- they can get it on track again.

Last fall, village leaders announced that they received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration to go ahead with the construction of a quiet-zone barrier on First Street.

But the effects that barrier would have on the narrow street, the homes and a nearby business have complicated the process.

Rempe-Sharpe & Associates, the village's engineering consultant, is working to find solutions to the problems.

Elburn officials have been trying for years to set up the quiet zone, which would allow some relief from the conversation-stopping train whistles that sound several times each day.

In order to create the quiet zone, the village must construct 100-foot medians at the village's First Street and Pouley Road crossings. They must have tall round tubes built into them that would prevent motorists from swerving around the gates, and onto the tracks when a train is approaching.

As part of the project, the village had planned on relocating the driveway for Jahn's Structural Jacking Systems from the east side of First Street to the north side of the tracks.

The village had offered to relocate the driveway through a land-swap between the two parties since the quiet zone would have restricted the business's access to right-in, right-out, which is not conducive to the business's semi-truck traffic.

However, studies have shown that the proposed new driveway would not provide a proper turning radius.

In addition, First Street residents on the south side of the tracks also have expressed concern that the medians would be constructed right in front of their homes, limiting traffic access to their driveways and lowering their property values.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," said Mary Baumstark, who has approached village leaders in recent weeks to encourage them to find a different safety measure than the medians. "There's got to be some other alternative."

Baumstark also expressed concerns regarding the safety of both motorists and pedestrians if the quiet zone is established with the medians.

Other alternatives include a four-quadrant crossing gate, or a gate with longer arms to cover the entire street on each side, way-side horns installed in the village to sound when a train is approaching, and the installation of cameras at railroad crossings.

"It's very possible that the geometry will just not work," said Elburn Village President James Willey. "I don't know how this is going to end up."

According to Willey, the village originally applied for a quiet zone using the four quadrant gate to Union Pacific Railroad in 1997, and was turned down.

In addition, the current village budget does not allow for the installation of horns or the upkeep of cameras at the crossings.

Willey said the federal government has set the safety standards for a quiet zone and that Elburn was abiding by these standards with the proposed medians.

"We have to show the federal government that the math for the safety features is equivalent to blowing the horns," he said. "We're trying to meet federal safety standards at as minimal a cost as possible."

However, it's possible that the village may have to put off the quiet zone until they can afford a more agreeable solution for everyone concerned.

"We understand we may hit a wall that simply says, 'No,' " Willey said. "The horns are not going to go silent easily."