City looks at 'quiet zone' options

RITZVILLE – The city is looking into options for a proposed “quiet zone” addressing the noise of trains going through town.

The city has hired consultant Guz Garza, who will perform a three-day study this month to map out the decibels of the sound of the trains in different areas of the city.

“He’s a consultant with experience with the light rail in Seattle,” Mayor Gary Cook said. “We will discuss alternatives available, and be moving forward on this immediately.”

Cook said with Ritzville being a Tree City, funding may be available for some of the options being considered.

“We hired a consulting arborist for the city, and he has his ear to the ground for grants from the state,” Cook said.

“Mr. Garza has worked on the west side and in California on different railroad issues, and has in the past put in closely-planted arborvitae and they absorb the noise.

“The advantage is cost; as opposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars for each crossing. There’s a period of growth where you don’t have the effectiveness for a number of years, and I don’t know how patient the city will be. But in the end, it’s going to be a combination of things.”

“Some of the alternatives fit in with other projects the town wanted to do, so we can combine the two of them together and it’s very effective,” said Councilwoman Debbie Chapman, a proponent of green zones in town.

Another alternative is a storm window people can install that drops the decibels up to one third, Cook said.

“So, it becomes more of a noise reduction program than a quiet zone,” Cook said. “There’s also an 8-inch-thick mat up to 17 feet tall which works like a recording studio, where it breaks the impact. We will start with the most cost-effective alternatives.”

Cook said options to address safety concerns people expressed about the trains traveling “quietly” through town include looking at a chain link fence or other ways to limit access to the tracks.

In an open discussion during “Coffee with the Mayor” last week, resident Steve Salins said as a drivers safety education teacher, he always taught students to assume another train was coming from the opposite direction when crossing double tracks.

Resident Marsha Smith said she read of one town which addressed the dangers of people approaching the tracks illegally, such as when the railroad crossing bars were lowered, by having the city police issue jay-walking tickets.

When Salins asked about replacing horns with loud, distinctive bells or the installation of flashing lights, Chamberlain said railroads are dictated by federal law.

“We start with what we can do as a city, rather than taking on the railroad,” Chapman said.

“We are really working hard to find solutions to make as many people happy as possible,” Councilman Dennis Chamberlain said.

As mayor pro tempore, Chamberlain will be taking over as mayor April 1 following Cook’s resignation.

“Sitting on council, we do represent everyone, even though what has been presented to us is, there is a definite majority who want it done. But we still have to think about that minority.”

Cook agreed, stating the split was about 60-40.

“It’s an issue that’s passionate on both sides. “But, hopefully, we can start with something, and it will be ongoing.”