Prosser debates 'quiet zone' downtown for trains

By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer

PROSSER -- You can hear them coming from what seems like miles away.

To many, it's nostalgic. To others, the thundering blast of an oncoming train's horn is just plain annoying.

That includes Clifton Steelman, who wants to create a "quiet zone" around Prosser's downtown where the 13 to 16 trains that pass through the city each day couldn't sound off. He persuaded Prosser Mayor Paul Warden to recently float the idea with the city council, but it quickly ran out of steam because of concerns about possible ballooning liability insurance premiums.

"We're a small city, we don't have a huge budget," said City Administrator Charlie Bush.

If a car or person gets hit by a train, railroad companies are potentially liable. But, said Councilman Steve Becken, "If you take the horn blowing away and someone gets clobbered, the railroad looks to the city for liability."

Warden said he didn't know how much the city's liability insurance premium would increase if the quiet zone was created. He wishes he'd found out because his idea might have been better received if he had concrete numbers.

Yakima officials, who in 2002 created a quiet zone there, couldn't quantify a change in the city's liability insurance premiums, but said it was not dramatic. "I don't recall a significant impact," said Yakima Finance Director Rita DeBord.

Bob Desgrosellier, Yakima senior engineer, said the city also erected barricades and raised curb heights around railroad crossings before the horn ban took effect to discourage people from going on the tracks.

Yakima's horn ban ended in June 2007 when national quiet zone safety standards were raised and the city didn't meet them. Desgrosellier couldn't say if or when Yakima might try to reinstate the ban.

Citing safety and nostalgia, many Prosser residents support the council's decision.

"To me, it's a safety issue," said Wendy Raeschke, part owner of Caffe Villa on Seventh Street, a stone's throw from the railroad tracks. She also feels the horns complement the small town's ambiance. "I think it adds character to downtown Prosser."

As he stood outside a real estate office on Meade Avenue looking at photos of homes for sale, former resident Ruben Lopez said he was glad the council vetoed a quiet zone.

"I think it's a bad idea," he said, "because (trains) can run over people. The safety comes first for me."

Lopez said his family lived less than a quarter-mile from the train tracks when he was growing up in Prosser, and he didn't mind the rumbling trains and bellowing horns.

But Steelman does.

"Sometimes it sounds like they start the horn in Mabton and don't stop until it gets to Benton City," he said, adding that it seems like more courteous engineers lay off the horn later at night.

Federal Railroad Administration rules call for trains traveling less than 45 mph to sound their horn at least 15 seconds before the lead car reaches a railroad crossing. Trains moving faster than 45 mph must sound off once they reach a horn post, which often is about a quarter-mile from a railroad crossing, and continue sounding the horn until the lead car clears the crossing.

Steelman argues that between flashing lights, sensors on tracks and retractable arms, train horns are antiquated and unnecessary. As the owner of five downtown buildings with 11 tenants, he said the city center would be more hospitable to residents if the trains were quiet.

"Yeah, it's nostalgic, but the nostalgia wears off when you're trying to have a conversation and one goes by every hour," said the 66-year-old. "Peace and quiet is awful nice."

Although the quiet zone proposal has been derailed, Mayor Warden said it pops up every two or three years so Steelman may get another shot at silencing the trains.

"Many, many cities have done it," Steelman said. "I hope the city of Prosser is wise enough to follow those many, many cities. ... I hope the city considers it. It would improve on the quality of life."

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Monday, Jun. 08, 2009

Prosser debates 'quiet zone' downtown for trains

By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer