Commission considers railroad 'quiet zone'
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 01:57 p.m., January 24, 2008
Updated 01:57 p.m., January 24, 2008
Following up on public requests, the city commission is looking into establishing a railroad quiet zone in Emporia.
At its work session on Wednesday, the commission discussed setting up a quiet zone on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line.
A 2007 study indicated that establishing a quiet zone would cost a little under $1.5 million, which was deemed to be too pricey for the city. City Manager Matt Zimmerman produced an updated cost estimate at Wednesday’s meeting. The new estimate, $876,500, took into account money that the Kansas Department of Transportation and BNSF could contribute to close some crossings for public safety reasons.
Both the railroad and the state have told the city they were willing to talk about contributing money to the project, Zimmerman said.
City Engineer Keith Beatty told the commission that KDOT doesn’t set aside funding specifically for quiet zones; the state looks at the changes made to create a quiet zone as safety improvements.
“We are kind of on the radar with KDOT and also Burlington Northern because we have so many crossings right after each other,” Beatty said. “We don’t have any idea what Burlington Northern would bring to the table, if anything. We assume they’d bring something, but we haven’t even been given a clue what would happen.”
A chart issued by Beatty itemized the costs of the various projects that would be involved in establishing the quiet zone, mostly involving closing crossings and installing medians. The projects would affect crossings on Weaver, Carter, Peyton, East, Sylvan, Cottonwood, Exchange, Union, Market, Commercial, Merchant and Constitution Streets.
Zimmerman said he wanted to see how much public support there was in the affected neighborhoods through public meetings in which everyone in each neighborhood would be invited.
Mayor Julie Johnson said after that process, the commission can decide whether the quiet zone project belongs in the capital improvement program.
“We can at least show Burlington Northern that it is a goal and we intend to work on it,” Mayor Julie Johnson said. “Then we can talk about funding.”
The commission’s consensus was to move forward with public meetings, and Zimmerman said his office would send Burlington Northern a letter about possible participation in the project.
In other activity Wednesday, commissioners:
• Considered expanding the boundaries of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program to include all of C of E Drive. Doing so would make both Kenyon Hall and the KVOE radio building eligible for the program and its tax rebates. In order to change the program’s boundaries, a public hearing would have to be held, and a new legal description of the boundaries would have to be drafted and passed. Commissioners decided they wanted to take the proper steps toward including C of E Drive in the program.
• Reviewed the city’s policy on bringing food and drink into William Lindsay White Auditorium, which currently allows event patrons to do so. Auditorium Facilities Manager Ed Rathke said his research into similar facilities in other cities — including Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan and the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka — indicated that White Auditorium is the only such facility in the state that allows outside food and drink.
• Discussed looking into the possibility of hiring a city lobbyist, who would act on the city’s behalf as a liaison to state legislators. Commissioners were lukewarm at best to the idea and decided they would definitely not hire one for the legislative session already in progress, but might look at doing so for next year’s session.
• Discussed specifications to solicit bids for city ambulances.
• Reviewed recent changes to the city’s debt management policy for 2008.
• Reviewed the goals it set for 2007 and tentatively set a date for a new goal-setting session. Commissioners and Zimmerman decided on a 6:30 p.m. meeting March 3 at the Water Treatment Center, if that can be arranged.
Commissioners planned to head to the annual League of Municipalities meeting at the Statehouse in Topeka this morning.
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
how do they close that many crossings and still have it so cars can cross them?
January 24, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
they aren't going to close that many crossings, just close some and modify the others so that they have other warning devices that wouldn't be nearly as loud as a train, but directed at vehicles and pedestrians coming up on the crossing
January 24, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
YES!!!!
January 24, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
oh
January 24, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jasonesu (anonymous) says...
White Auditiorium is owned by the people of Emporia and we are taxed to up keep the facility, I think that it is a shame that they would consider telling the patrons that they cannot bring in their own food and drink. If the concessions were not so expensive maybe more people would buy food and drink from them. Why would I pay 3 dollars for a piece of pizza and why would I pay 2.50 or 2.75 for a 20 bottle of Coke or water. I can go across the street to Scotty's and buy a 44oz drink for 1.29, and am stil Shopping Emporia First. If they pass this no food and drink brought in how is it going to affect city employees? Are they going to be able to bring their lunch or snack, if it is only for the arena are the police and fire department personell going to be allowed to bring in their drinks? I think that this is pathetic that they need to consider this, as if we do not have more important things to worry about in this town.
January 24, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hillbilly (anonymous) says...
damn, does this mean that I can't bring the cooler no more??? your right, the tax payers are taxed to keep the auditorium in great condition, but does that make it OK for everyone bring their own food? I can see it now, a bunch of chicken bones under the seats, and uneaten zip-lock bags of food everywhere. Just how much does ESU pay for the use of it at night anyway?? anything? I will bet it is not even enough to clean the mess that is left there now.........Now, that I think about it, they probably dont pay anything, and that is wrong, yes it does bring money to the city, but the college can still pay like everyone else who uses it. If you want to watch them play then you can pay.
grab the grill, and some hotdogs, lets go watch some basketball!!!!!!!
January 24, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I'm going to guess that BNSF won't pay a thing for the changes, remember the Depot? Some of the Train Engineers are absolute jerks, sounding the horn all the way across town in the middle of the night. You can tell the respectful ones that come thru from 2-6am, they sound short, soft sequences. I'm betting the others are obnoxious in person as well.
Sorry Mr. Lauxman, you won't get a dime of my money if you get your wish. Your prices are outrageous now, that's why we take our own in now. I can imagine how high your prices will be if this happens. Yes I know, you allow social groups and other organizations to run the stands as fund raisers(while still making yourself a healthy profit and not having to pay for help) but that doesn't make me all warm inside paying 2-3 times what I pay at C-stores, themselves charging rediculous prices for the "convenience".
January 24, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
noel_stanton (anonymous) says...
Muffling the train noise: a wonderful improvement for life in Emporia!!
If the new city manager is brave enough to take on BNSF, may I suggest as his next project getting Tyson to capture the stench by converting its animal wastes, manure and sewage into biogas using anaerobic fermentation.
January 24, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Emporiafan (anonymous) says...
I'm not sure how the civic auditorium and Mr Lauxman/concession prices got involved here but I would like to add my two cents worth....Mr Lauxman has to increase his prices to this "outrageous" amount because he has to pay taxes on this food, which you don't becuase it's uncluded in the price, he has to pay his workers an hourly amount and he has to pay the civic auditorium their amount......THEN after he pays for the actual product he gets some out of the amount you pay...seem fair??? He's not getting rich trust me....so yes some of you will rebel and bring in your own food that's fine....but don't blame him.....
January 24, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
momus (anonymous) says...
I have been critical of city leadership on many issues, but I will give credit where credit is due... Kudos to Matt Z. for attempting to tackle the noise issue! The problem of excess noise through both residential and commercial districts caused by trains has been identified by numerous groups on numerous occasions. Solving this problem (without the use of a consultant, I might add) could lead to increase property values in housing and commercial properties within the proposed "quiet zones". Also, quiet zones could lead to more upper story redevelopment downtown, creating alternate residentail sources of income for downtown business owners, business expansion capabilities and potential entrepreneur incubators. Overall, the increased valuation could lead to a decrease relative property tax burden on the city as a whole, or at least a stemming of the tide.
This is a good start, and then on to the many other solvable quality of life issues (after we cross this one off the list).
January 24, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Oh wow - wouldn't a "quiet zone" be nice! I realize that trains and engineers have regulations on how they have to alert the public to their presence, but geez - it does seem a tad ridiculous at times. Many times I catch myself thinking "yes I HEAR you, you can lay off the horn now"!
We are allowed to bring in food and drink to the auditorium? I didn't even realize that. I don't know exactly how the concession stands work as far as profits, fees, etc., but I think everyone should be allowed to make money and we all know that concession prices anywhere (movie theaters, etc.) are always going to be a premium price, so if you don't like the prices and they don't allow outside food/drink - eat/drink before or after the event.
I would be curious to know if ESU pays for using the auditorium. I would assume they do, but I don't want to assume. If the concession guy or anyone else that uses the auditorium has to pay a fee, surely the college would as well.
January 25, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
How many posting here were born & raised in Emporia?
Just asking because I was born & raised in Emporia and the train "noise" doesn't bother me at all.....even now that I don't live there, train "noise" in other places is not something I actually "hear" anymore, if that makes sense. It was so common growing up that it was easy to tune them out. Sleeping through them isn't a problem because I'm so used to it.
Are the people who want to reduce this noise the same people who grew up in this town or are they the people who moved here for a "better" life and now are upset that the town is just average? (Average being subjective, of course). Emporia IS A TRAIN TOWN.
And seriously? Spending $800k + seems really outrageous to me. Especially considering all the other problems right now
M.
January 25, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77flint (anonymous) says...
The Civic food issue is not purely a revenue issue. It is also a safety issue that would help determine if alcohol is being brought into the building. I am sure that the prices would be less if patrons were actually purchasing them. As for being taxed that's part of being an american. Don't tell me that if someone who was drunk hurt you in the build. That you would not cry FOUL. There are also many things that are going on and you can not just ignore them all. Issue can be ranked by priority but all need to be addressed. As for the Silence Zone that was solved this past week.
January 28, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
The concession contract requires that it be open for all events even the games/matches that draw very few people. Not every game has 2000 folks there buying stuff. Civic Aud. concessions also has to compete with the "College Booster Bunch Brunch" in the little theater
January 28, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )