Quiet Zone public meeting set for June 14

A public meeting to explain the City of Plaquemine railroad Quiet Zone project will be held on Wednesday, June 14 at 6 p.m. at Plaquemine City Hall, 23640Railroad Avenue.

Options being considered by the City of Plaquemine include closing some railroad crossings through Plaquemine in exchange for the state and Union Pacific Railroad putting full arm crossing bars at the remaining crossings, and trains not blowing horns through the city.

Presently between 20 and 30 trains pass through Plaquemine daily, and each must blow their whistles as they pass through the city’s 12 railroad crossings.The La. Department of Transportation and Development has received federal funding to install crossing arms, which can cost $200,000 or more per crossing.

This state railroad safety program requires the city to close some railroad crossings in exchange for the state funding the crossing arms at the other crossings. The crossing arms are also required for the city to get a Quiet Zone designation. The Quiet Zone designation means trains will not blow their whistles through the city as they pass.

Trains will NOT be allowed to increase their speed through Plaquemine, even if the proposed changes are made. There is a curve in the railroad line in Plaquemine which prohibits trains from going any faster than their present speed through Plaquemine, and that curve will not be altered in this project or in the future.

Residents are urged to attend this important meeting where options of railroad crossing closures will be discussed. Residents will be given the opportunity to voice their views on the proposed closings.