Downtown San Diego Condo and Downtown San Diego Loft home owners and residents have a major concern about the noise and safety at the rail crossings and tracks in Downtown San Diego. The Federal Government has finalized a legislation to limit the noise from train horns in residential areas. CCDC is moving forward with an application to the Federal Railroad Administration to designate Downtown San Diego a Quiet Zone at the 13th grade crossing located at Park Boulevard to Laurel Street in the Columbia District and the Marina District. To be able to make this Quiet Zone happen, the railroad crossings are improved with safety enhancements such as additional gates, medians, traffic signals and warning lights. The $20.6 million estimated cost will be funded by Redevelopement Agency tax-increment financing. Click here to see the Quiet Zone Map.
The San Diego City Council approved the Quiet Zone to go to bid in September 2008. Many organizations are involved in the design, construction, fuctionality and long time maintenance which makes this Quiet Zone one of the longest and most complex ones. The organizations involved are Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF), Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), AMTRAK, San Diego Imperial Valley Railway, North County Transit District, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
The project timeline/approval for bid fall 2008
- Plans, Specifications and Agreements Finalized Fall 2009
- Contract Advertised to Bid Winter 2010
- Contract Awarded/Construction Begins Spring 2010
- Quiet Zone Complete and Implemented Spring 2011
To read more about the Quiet Zone visit their website at www.quietzonesd.com and to read 92101 Urban Living’s former blog about the Quiet Zone please click on Downtown San Diego Quiet Zone. ')}