Ark Valley News - The cost for quiet? $5 million

The cost for quiet? $5 million
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: July 22, 2021

It would cost about $5 million to make the railroad crossings in Valley Center safe enough to perhaps convince Burlington Northern Santa Fe to stop routinely blowing train horns through town.

That's the message the city's engineer, Josh Golka, with Professional Engineering Consultants, delivered to the city council on July 20.

"We wanted to get initial feedback from the council," Golka said, "and hopefully get consensus or direction for how we wanted to move forward."

The council's reaction was mixed. But council members told Golka to make a couple of changes, split up the work and put together another recommendation.

If accepted, the plan could make its way to the city's long-range capital improvement projects list. That was not decided.

Council members said train noise was one of the biggest they've heard from residents. The council directed PEC to study the possibility of creating a so-called quiet zone in the city.

Golka said that would require making improvements to the eight intersections in town so vehicles and pedestrians are physically unable to cross the tracks when trains come through.

At the intersections on Fifth, Second, Main, Meridian and Ford, the plan called for raised medians on either side of the tracks, separating the road lanes to keep vehicles from turning around or crossing lanes to drive around the crossing arms.

At Meridian and Fifth, the medians posed a problem at a couple of side streets, preventing left turns from Ramsey at Meridian and from Interurban at Fifth.

Council members did not like that arrangement.

"With traffic going to Wheatland, having a median at Interurban, I think that's a terrible idea," said council member Dale Kerstetter.

The intersections at 69th, Seneca and 61st called for the addition of crossing arms that extend across both lanes on either side of the tracks.

Medians are cheaper to install than crossing arms, Golka said.

The cost of pavement improvements is about $250,000 per intersection, Golka said. One crossing arm is about $250,000, and most intersections would require four.

Though council member Ben Anderson said the council is a "long way to any kind of vote" on quiet zones, a couple of council members said there were more pressing needs in the city.

"I think it's a frivolous thing to have," said council member Matt Stamm. "It would be nice. I'm for not doing it, but that's just me. I'd rather us spend money elsewhere in town on streets and infrastructure."

Council member Paul Davis agreed.

"I personally think the whole thing is a lot of money when we've got a lot of other things that need to be done," he said.

Golka said that even with the improvements, trains could still blare their horns if train personnel perceived a safety issue.

The council directed PEC to separate the project into two phases and put together estimates for crossing arms instead of medians at Fifth and Meridian.

"Keep it on the table, but maybe not push it full steam ahead," Anderson said.

In other business July 20, the council:

•Discussed setting up a committee to make study and make recommendations for the city's capital improvement plan list of projects.

•Heard Anderson proclaim July 30, 2021, as Hershel Smith Day. Smith is retiring from the city's public works department. "I've enjoyed working here and I'm going to be sad to leave," Smith said. A reception is set for 1:30 to 3 p.m. July 23 at the Community Center.

•Recognized city treasurer Matt Koehn for completing the 16-week mini MPA program through Wichita State.

•Heard resident Trish Corcoran talk about issues she and neighbors have had with the Fieldcrest development at Ford and Dexter.

Anderson, the council president, presided over the meeting because Mayor Lou Cicirello was not present.