Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The City of Jamestown reports, The Federal Railroad Administration has notified the city that the agency has no reason for, not, enforcing the entire quiet zone, including the 3rd Street Southeast crossing. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad has also notified the city that it would comply as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday (Jan 12, 2012.)
All five Jamestown railroad crossings will then be under the quiet zone, which began in part in late December (2011.) The 3rd Street Southeast crossing was delayed due to safety issues BNSF had at the crossing. Concerns centered on motorists making illegal left turns onto 12th Avenue, Southeast, heading westbound, turning on the tracks, rather than following signs directing traffic around the multiple medians before turning left.
Jamestown Police continue to enforce the area, and continue to issue citations to motorists in violation.

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Mayor Andersen UpdatesJmst Quiet Zone

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Jan 3, 2012) — The Jamestown railroad quiet zone, has been implemented with the exception of the Third Street, Southeast crossing.

On Tuesday’s (Jan 3, 2012) Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, and on the City Matters replay, on KCSi-T.V. 10 THE REPLAY CHANNEL, Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen said, The Federal Railroad Administration has approved the quiet zone for all but the Third Street Southeast crossing, while officials from the city, the FRA, and BNSF Railway, try to reach an agreement on quieting the train horns at the Third Street crossing.

City officials meeting on the topic are City Administrator, Jeff Fuchs, City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf, and officials with Interstate Engineering.
Mayor Andersen said the BNSF concern is west bound motorists on Third Street Southeast, ignoring signage indicating no left turn, onto 12th Avenue, Southeast, until passing the multiple medians.

Mayor Andersen noted over 53 citation have been issued at the location due to stepped up police enforcement. She added, recently the number of citations issued have been less, with more compliance by motorists.
She hopes that officials will be able to reach an agreement, on the Third Street, Southeast crossing issue soon, with local officials meeting this week.

Mayor Andersen pointed out, that train engineers have been informed not to sound the horns at the four other railroad crossing in Jamestown, as of Tuesday. She said it may also take awhile for the engineers to be aware of the quiet zone at those crossing, and train horns may still sound, in the meantime.

Engineers will also sound the horns if they see a safety concern on the tracks. Options to allow the quiet zone at that crossing including moving 12th Avenue, Southeast to the west, at the city’s expense, or making the avenue, one-way northbound.

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Jmst Quiet Zone Back
Train Horns May Sound 3rd Street X-ing
KCSi-T.V. News

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Dec 30, 2011) — Other than the 3rd Street Southeast railroad crossing, trains will no longer be sounding horns, at the other railroad crossings.
The Jamestown quiet zone will be going in effect.
The Federal Railroad Administration informed the City of Jamestown that train horns will not be blown at the four downtown Jamestown crossings.
It’s not known at this time when the quiet zone will take effect in Jamestown, or when BNSF train staff will be notified.
The FRA will inspect the Third Street Southeast crossing possibly as early as next week, followed by decision on the 3rd Street Southeast crossing.

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Train Horns Still Sounding In Jamestown
Quiet Zone On Hold

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Dec 28, 2011) — Despite approval of the Federal Railroad Administration, train horns that were expected to be silenced in Jamestown starting Wednesday (Dec 28, 2011) will still be sounding.
Officials with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad have contacted Jamestown officials with safety concerns, and the horns will continue to sound, until the issue is resolved.
Jamestown City Engineer, Reed Schwartzkopf says the railroad has concerns about the Third Avenue, Southeast railroad crossing.

The on-going issue stems from motorists heading westbound, making illegal left turns across the tracks, instead of following the signage, directing drivers to turn left after the median.
Since October this year, Jamestown Police have given out over 50 citations to drivers making the illegal turns. Additional law enforcement efforts are continuing at the site.

An option includes relocating 12th Avenue Southeast, or turn it into a northbound one-way street. The city would have to pay for the railroad owned land west of the present location.

Earlier this month the Federal Railroad Administration informed city officials that the concerns did not warrant, not enforcing the quiet zone.
Schwartzkopf says the FRA and BNSF need to reach a consensus on the issue.