City News

Status of Establishing a Rail Road Quiet Zone for Mansfield National

We don’t have good news on the status of the Rail Road Quiet Zone.  Currently, we hope the City Council will pursue funding for the quiet zone through TEXDOT or other grant organizations.  We have offered to help the city staff identified alternative funding the same as Fort Worth has done.

What can you do?  

·        Send letters to the editor of the Mansfield Mirror voicing your support for the quiet zone.

·        Vote in the next election by electing someone who supports our issues.

The following is a synopsis of our meetings with the City Council.

On June 22, 2008, the City Staff advised that implementation of a quiet zone for Mansfield National would cost approximately $300,000.  However, several Mansfield City citizens voiced their opposition to implementing quiet zones.  Their points are summarized in the following:

·        Mansfield is a bedroom community and the train noise is part of its history.

·        Quiet zones are more dangerous that regular crossings.

·        A 5yr child was killed by a train in Watuga Texas because of a quiet zone.

·        Mansfield National residents should have exercised due diligence and not purchased a home near a rail road track.

After discussion, the City Council decided to put the funding issue up to the voters in May 2010.

On July 13, 2009 Hal Morton briefed the City Council and countered the opposition’s points.  The following is the notes used by Hal Morton.

I am Hal Morton and I live at 4206 Nicklaus Ave.

I wish to speak on two Issues concerning the rail road quiet zone.

1.  Is the quiet zone a legitimate issue for Mansfield ?

2.  If so, how could it be funded?

 In addressing whether the quiet zone is a legitimate issue, I need to correct the record considering the points raised by opponents on June 22.

1. Point:  Are quiet zones more dangerous.

a.       No – In establishing the quiet zone, additional safety supplemental devices must be installed.  For example, one of these devices prevents cars from going around the train gates – a major cause for train/automobile collisions.

b.      The quiet zones must be as safe if not safer than existing railroad crossings, or the railroads will not accept the liability associated with tragic events.

2. Point: Did a 5 year old in Watauga Texas die because of a quiet zone.

a.       The train engineer saw the boy and blew the train horn as required in an emergency but could not stop in time.  According to a newspaper report, the boy fell onto the tracks and laid there frozen with fear.

b.      The quiet zone had nothing to do with this tragic accident.

3. Point: Is quality of life a viable reason to establish a quiet zone.

a.       Mansfield seems to take quality of life very serious.  \

(1) In advertisement literature, Mansfield boasts one of the highest quality of life indexes in the Metroplex.

(2)  They have established parks, trails, and a skating park reported to cost $225,000..\

(3) Mansfield has even established noise requirements for gas wells.

4. Point:  The Mansfield residents should have exercise due diligence and not purchased a home near a rail road track.

a.       The area in Mansfield National was zoned for residences by the city – They did not believe the train would be an issue – if so – why would the city zone the property as such.

5. A quiet zone is a legitimate issue – but how can it be funded.

a.       Mansfield National Residents are reasonable people.  Establishing a quiet zone is important but we are part of the community and recognize the issues of tight funding and the need to ensure appropriate police and fire protection are provided to all.  We also don’t want our tax rates to increase.

b.      Councilman Rudnicki stated that he specifically recalled telling Mansfield National residents that he supported the quiet zone but other priorities may take precedence such as funding police and fire safety.  I recall that statement as he said it to my wife and me.  Hopefully, the Councilman remembers that we agreed with that priority.

c.       A bond is one method – but I am sure there are others.

(1) At various times there are grants and state funding provided to establish quiet zone – this would not impact our tax base.  Fort Worth has funded several of their quiet zones through TEXDOT.

(2) I read in the campaign literature for Councilman Haynes that he planned to explore the option of funding quiet zones through TEXDOT. How is that going?

(3) State Senator Wendy Davis advised a group of interested citizens that TEXDOT funding was a possibility for quiet zones.  Councilman Mike Leyman attended that meeting and advised the city council was taking care of that issue..

In summary – the Mansfield National residents are willing to work with the city to identify funding sources. 

Thank you.

Hal Morton, HOA Director

Mansfield City Council takes steps to establish train 'quiet zones'

By ROBERT CADWALLADER   JUne 10, 2009

Special to the Star-Telegram

MANSFIELD — The City Council on Monday moved toward establishing quiet zones near the Mansfield National subdivision to heed residents’ complaints about train noise.

Installing stationary horns, medians and other improvements required to keep trains from blowing their horns as they approach crossings could cost $300,000 to $450,000, a hefty addition to the 2009-10 city budget now being planned.

Public Works Director Steve Freeman said the quiet zones for Mansfield National — which would require addressing a group of three crossings — are already included in plans for widening Holland Road . That project would require bond funding, and the next bond election would likely not occur until spring 2010, Freeman said.

The council asked staffers for more information by the June 22 meeting to help determine whether some of that cost can be worked into the new budget. The council also wants the staff to update its 2007 priority assessment of all 11 Union Pacific Railroad crossings so the council can consider addressing those as well.

Mansfield National residents have been the most vocal about the noise. Ten turned out at Monday’s meeting to register their support for a quiet zone. The only speaker was resident Chantella Willis, who told the council that the trains are affecting quality of life. "The children are afraid of the horns," she said. "There is no peace."

The Holland Road widening project includes quiet-zone improvements for the Holland crossing, and it calls for realigning Seeton Road to eliminate its train crossing. Freeman said the third crossing, at Heritage Parkway South , could be temporarily closed until plans for an extension of that road are funded.

That could drastically reduce the quiet-zone costs, depending on the difficulty and expense of acquiring right of way for the Seeton rerouting.

In other matters, the council again postponed action on a proposed $2.3 million settlement in an eminent domain case. Attorneys for the city and landowner Dan Massey, who has provided 10 acres of easements for a city road project, have tentatively agreed on the amount but have to work out details, officials said

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We are making progress toward implementing a quiet zone

 but we really need your support.

When the City Council meets again on June 22, 2009,

we should attend to show our support for the quiet zone.

See you at 7 pm on June 22, 2009 at the Mansfield City Hall, 1200 E. Broad St.

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http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/parks/rec/mac/

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