BRUNSWICK — The long wait for a quiet zone between the Freeport town line and Union Street crossing in Brunswick is one step closer to being over, town manager John Eldridge told members of the Town Council on Monday.
Brunswick has received Federal Railroad Administration approval for “alternative safety measures,” which include building islands, or “nontraversable curbs,” about 30 feet long on each side of the center lines at the Stanwood Street and Church Road crossings.
The changes would allow train operators to keep their horns silent when passing certain crossings.
The contractor is two to three weeks away from being able to complete the work, Eldridge wrote in his manager’s report. According to the railroad administration’s quiet zone requirements, the town is responsible for paying for the installation of sings and safety measures — which could cost around $25,000, Eldridge said.
Once these are built they will give “notice of establishment,” and the train drivers will have 21 days to comply, he said, adding that hopefully, they will choose to honor the quiet zones sooner, putting an end to the excessive train noise.
The railroad administration has specific regulations for when, where and how long a train must sound its horn. Even with the quiet zone, trains may still sound horns in cases of emergency, the grade of the crossing or for other safety concerns.
The town applied for the quiet zone in April, but conversations started back in November 2017 after months of complaints from residents about the noise. It has been a “long process,” Eldridge said, and he is not quite ready to celebrate the nearing finish line.
“Save it for the ribbon cutting,” he said.
Also on Monday the Town Council set a public hearing for proposed zoning amendments for marijuana uses within the town on Oct. 15. The proposed amendments to the ordinance establish definitions for five uses: Cultivation facility, marijuana store, medical marijuana storefront, products manufacturing facility and testing facility. There will also be a licensing ordinance brought forth at an upcoming meeting, Eldridge said.
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