OKC seeks railroad quiet zone downtown...

[Urbanized]

Railroad 'quiet zone' sidetracked | Oklahoman.com

[Canoe]

The man at NW 14th leases the land from the railroad on which he owns a building that he leases it to other tenants? Did I read that right?

I wonder if he would accept something other than keeping the road open.

[AP]

It reads as if that crossing has already temporarily been closed, correct? I don't see what the issue is.

[baralheia]

The crossing at NW 14th has indeed been closed, and has been for around 2 and a half years. BNSF removed the pavement and signals for this crossing, and "Road Closed" signs and permanent barricades were erected on the east and west approaches to the crossing.

The main issue is that closing that crossing limits the use of that warehouse building - known as the Morrison Building - because of very limited maneuverability to the four loading dock doors that front NE 14th. Boxtail trucks would have little to no problem getting in and out, but full-on semis would have a very difficult time backing up to the dock. One potential remedy to this situation would be to lease additional land from the railroad; their easement on the south side of NE 14th is the same width as the Morrison Building's loading dock. Lease it, pave it, and then semis could pull head-first into that spot, then back up across the street to the Morrison building. That is, of course, assuming that BNSF would be willing to lease that spot - but I'm sure if the City leaned on them, the option would be available.

[ljbab728]

From yesterday's city council meeting.

Railroad 'quiet zone' takes another step forward

A potential railroad "quiet zone" in OKC's urban core took another step forward Tuesday when the Council voted to approve a number of street closures along BNSF Railway tracks. The Council voted to close NW 27, NW 12, W Park Place and SW 23 near the railroad tracks to help facilitate the creation of the quiet zone. Traffic elsewhere on those streets will not be affected by the changes. Locomotive operators don't have to sound their horns when approaching intersections in quiet zones, which alleviates noise concerns but requires modifications to crossings and some street closures to ensure safety. The Planning Commission and Council still must approve other unresolved issues related to the quiet zone before it takes effect.

[Pete]

During my recent trip, I was staying in SoSA and was amazed by how loud the train is that far west.

And, they seem to roll through about every 15 minutes at all hours.

This really needs to get done.

[sooner88]

During my recent trip, I was staying in SoSA and was amazed by how loud the train is that far west.

And, they seem to roll through about every 15 minutes at all hours.

This really needs to get done.

You definitely get used to it, but still look forward to it getting done. They really do seem to come through at all hours of the night.

[shawnw]

Yeah I used to notice it all the time and now I'm like, what train? OH, yeah, THAT train...

[Urbanized]

Yeah, I actually find it comforting sometimes when the fireplace is in use, screen open, train sound coming down chimney. Other times I'm mostly immune to it. Unless I'm having lunch outdoors on 9th or a conversation at Sidecar, in which case it's brutal.

It's especially bad when the horn is continuos. There is lots of variation between trains, which leads me to believe it revolves around specific engineers. My theory is that someone once got in trouble for not sounding it enough so now lays on out of spite.

[shawnw]

Yeah I once ate outside at Hillbilly's. Probably not the best idea if having a conversational meal. Five trains during our time there.

[AP]

^I've had the same experience. Wasn't great.

[Pete]

I generally like train sounds and have them now where I currently live, but the situation in downtown OKC is crazy loud and frequent.

Even once the quiet zone is implemented I'm sure there will be plenty of train noise for ambiance.

[LakeEffect]

It's especially bad when the horn is continuous. There is lots of variation between trains, which leads me to believe it revolves around specific engineers. My theory is that someone once got in trouble for not sounding it enough so now lays on out of spite.

It's related to the train speed. They have to sound for a minimum duration and in bursts before they approach a crossing, so a fast train essentially has to hold the horn down while blowing through, while a slow train gets time in between to be quiet.

Trains in this corridor are often tied down at 16th (going SB), and therefore take a while to gain speed as they head south. Conversely, many trains stop near OnCue to switch crews, so they begin to slow down in the corridor. It's quite rare that I actually see a train at speed through the entire corridor nowadays...

[Just the facts]

Why is the planning commission and Council just now voting to close crossing that don't even exist. SW23 hasn't existed for months. Pretty sure most of the others mentioned have already been taken out as well.

[OKCisOK4me]

I wonder if they're going to use the whistle blowing crossing guards like what's in use in Flagstaff. All the crossings there are equipped with whistles that are much more quiet than the standard train horn. Being on the BNSF Transcon its quite quiet. All you hear is the diesel engines...

[LakeEffect]

I wonder if they're going to use the whistle blowing crossing guards like what's in use in Flagstaff. All the crossings there are equipped with whistles that are much more quiet than the standard train horn. Being on the BNSF Transcon its quite quiet. All you hear is the diesel engines...

I don't believe they plan to use wayside horns. I think the predominant item is extending curbs and possibly 4-way signal arms at one intersection. And big signs that state no train horn is used.

[baralheia]

From yesterday's city council meeting.

Seems silly to me that they only just now voted to close these crossings, since all of the crossings listed - except for SE 27th St - have been closed (and the grade crossings removed) for a while now.

[OkiePoke]

I wish they would not allow them to block 10th street at 8 in the morning...

[LakeEffect]

The streets for closure are 14th, 12th, 11th, Park Place, and S 23rd.

My memory is a little fuzzy, but I thought the closures were first brought to Planning Commission a few years ago, but Planning Commission balked because the Quiet Zone was not funded or designed. If it wasn't all closures, it was at least one related to the Bomasada plan along Broadway. Now, with funding, design, and the agreement of BNSF and relevant state and federal agencies, Planning Commission was free to recommend approval. Except for 14th Street due to the adjacent property owner's complaint... not sure the status of that particular one.

The 14th, 12th & S 23rd crossings are closed now due to BNSF, not City, actions.

27th is a separate case that I think was inadvertently added to the Council notes.

[OKCisOK4me]

After this is done, I'd like to see the viaduct covered with more murals. It is about as ugly as the Santa Fe Parking Garage.

[warreng88]

Parking issues: Drop in freight volume leaves trains standing near state Capitol

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record March 10, 2016 0

OKLAHOMA CITY – Dozens of train engines have been stored along Interstate 235 due to a drop in commodity demand, a BNSF Railway representative confirmed Friday.

The engines are parked on two stretches of track just east of the Broadway Extension and north of NW 23rd Street. Company spokesman Joe Sloan said they’ve been pulled from elsewhere in BNSF’s 28-state network and do not necessarily represent freight declines in Oklahoma.

“Coal and grains aren’t moving as much,” Sloan said. “You’ll see a lot of grains harvested across the network, that people might be holding on to them for a while before shipping.”

“Commodities are just much lower than other things we typically ship,” he said.

Parent company Berkshire Hathaway reported at the end of February that the freight shipping company’s profits fell 9 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous year, primarily because of weaker intermodal carload volume. BNSF’s intermodal business – moving containers from train to other modes such as truck or ship – still outpaced its closest competitor, Union Pacific Railroad, which saw traffic decline 7 percent for the same period. Both companies experienced weak traffic in 2015 that led to job furloughs and reduced capital spending.

Although Oklahoma oil companies typically move most of their product via pipelines, trains are used more often to the northeast. As oil prices dropped about 70 percent over the last 18 months, those regions haven’t needed as much rail transport.

Sloan said the company would not reveal how many engines have been stored in Oklahoma. The trains will be reabsorbed into the system once freight volume picks up again, he said.

[OkiePoke]

Makes sense that they block 10th street for about 10 minutes most mornings around 8. Very inconvenient.

[turnpup]

Thanks, Warreng88. We've been wondering about all those engines!

[LakeEffect]

Makes sense that they block 10th street for about 10 minutes most mornings around 8. Very inconvenient.

Unrelated to the stored engines... they stop because they make a crew change at the crew change building just north of OnCue - approximately 24th & Broadway.

[rezman]

^ Northbounds also stop for crew changes further north at 41st St where the double track ends.