Western Railroad Discussion > San Jose to Pursue its UP Warm Springs Sub Quiet Zone

San Jose, CA residents along the south end of UP's Warm Springs have complained of late night
train horns that increased in frequency when UP restructured some of its local freight operations
in early 2019.  The city will now move forward to establish a quiet zone from N. Montgomery St.
to Horning St.  From todays' San Jose Mercury News:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/01/san-jose-will-institute-quiet-zones-to-stop-trains-from-blaring-horns-at-night/amp/

14 grade crossings will require safety improvements along the 1.8 mile stretch to eliminate horn 
activation by train crews.  The cost is estimated at $19-$32m.  The city released a report last
month detailing the work required at each crossing: 
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showdocument?id=61820

Attached photo dates from August 2011 and shows the then daytime Graniterock job(a remote job at the time)
crossing the 7th and Jackson intersection in the heart of the future quiet zone.  The ABS signals had 
recently been deactivated and the signal heads decapitated.  This neighborhood once had an extensive
network of industry spurs--many serving the canning industry--as the SPINS map from 1972 shows.  It covers
the stretch from Empire St. to US101.

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What is involved besides 4 way gates and signage?   $ 32M?  its 10 mph territory AFAIK,  and thids siounds like political game playing, and some ppl using this to pay for their boat, kids college education, and early retirement.

pdt Wrote:
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> What is involved besides 4 way gates and
> signage?   $ 32M?  its 10 mph territory
> AFAIK,  and thids siounds like political game
> playing, and some ppl using this to pay for their
> boat, kids college education, and early
> retirement.

Raised center median strip for at least 50 feet on each side of the crossing. To make it harder for impatient drivers to cross the centerline of the road.

PHall Wrote:
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> pdt Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What is involved besides 4 way gates and
> > signage?   $ 32M?  its 10 mph territory
> > AFAIK,  and thids siounds like political game
> > playing, and some ppl using this to pay for
> their
> > boat, kids college education, and early
> > retirement.
>
> Raised center median strip for at least 50 feet on
> each side of the crossing. To make it harder for
> impatient drivers to cross the centerline of the
> road.

Medians are cheap.  From the photo above, it looks like that crossing is currently passive so it will need lights, gates, and associated control equipment added.  That adds up quickly.  If an actively controlled crossing doesn't currently have constant warning time, that has to be added per FRA.  And as soon as a municipality wants to touch any signal equipment, that just becomes an open checkbook for the railroad to demand things that "have" to be done.  That 40 year old equipment was fine as long as the railroad had to pay for it but as soon as it becomes someone else's money, it couldn't possibly stay in service another day.

Nathan Beauheim
Loveland, CO

pdt Wrote:
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> What is involved besides 4 way gates and
> signage?   $ 32M?  its 10 mph territory
> AFAIK,  and thids siounds like political game
> playing, and some ppl using this to pay for their
> boat, kids college education, and early
> retirement.

You nailed it correctly.   Since the various on-line industries closed, the associated properties were developed into high density housing.   The area known as "Japantown" has become very trendy and is filled with "new to the area" residents who have no appreciation for a transporation cooridor established in 1868.  I am surprised at the relatively low cost estimage (for public projects) tied to creating the quiet zone.  A large issue, barely mentioned in the report, is the homeless population which, ironically, are attracted to the nearby social services that the city has established.  With the report, council members can legitimately say they are doing something for the vocal residents.   This will be interesting moving forward.

Aave 32 million and run during the day.

This is part of the first transcontinental railroad.  We often think of the "classic" part - Council Bluffs to Sacramento.  But San Francisco wasn't connected to the national rail system until the "Western Pacific" (not the later one we're all familiar with) was built from Sacramento to Stocton, over Altamont Pass, through Niles Canyon, and down to San Jose to connect with the existing San Francisco and San Jose Railroad.  The "Coast Main" through Alviso wasn't used until the SP bought the South Pacific Coast and standard gauged it in the first decade of the 20th Century.  Until then, the line through Japantown (then known as "Chinatown") was the only way to San Francisco.

When the bridge over the Guadalupe River in Alviso was rebuilt in the 1980s, all traffic including Amtrak was re-routed onto this line.  Temporary speed boards were put up allowing passenger train speeds of 60 mph north of Gish Road.

Stan Praisewater

spsunset Wrote:
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> Aave 32 million and run during the day.

Only after the check clears...

I could quote P.T. Barnum...