Elburn may get stationary horns

Although it is not considered a true quiet zone, Elburn village leaders are hopeful that new plans to silence the whistles of passing trains will be a great improvement.

Trustees approved a motion to direct village staff members to pursue the option of installing stationary horns at its train crossings.

As opposed to the blaring train horns that project noise throughout the entire village, stationary horns are directed at the traffic at the railroad crossing, reducing the noise by as much as 80 percent.

Village leaders elected to pursue this method after visiting DeKalb, where stationary horns are already in use.

"I thought it was fine for what we're looking at and what we can afford," said Trustee Craig Swan. "It's a fine and right way to go."

Last winter, Elburn officials announced that they planned to establish a quiet zone by constructing 100-foot medians at the First Street and Pouley Road crossings.

However neighbors of these crossings objected to the plan which was required by the Federal Railroad Administration to keep motorists from swerving around the gate, because the medians would limit access to their driveways.

"All of the choices that involve medians are hard to implement," explained Elburn Village President James Willey.

The village also considered the use of four quadrant gates, which would extend the arm of the railroad crossing gates across both lanes.

Trustees decided against the option due to the high cost of implementation. In addition, Elburn police pointed out that if the gates were to malfunction, and block the crossings, it would take four police officers to manually lift the heavy gates.

If implemented two stationary horns would be placed at Elburn's Route 47 and First St. crossings.

Out of the four corners affected, only one is residential. Most of these residents are in favor of the stationary horns.

"It's nothing compared to the (train) horns," said Mary Baumstark, who lives on First Street, right next to the tracks. "It seems like it's the best solution."

In order to move forward with installing the stationary horns, Elburn must receive approval from the Federal Railroad Administration, a process which could take up to 24 months.

Once approved, the horns would be installed at a cost of about $200,000.