May 13—Johnny Cash used to sing that he could "hear the train a'comin" and now those living near — even not so near — the South Coast Rail construction sites are finding themselves singing the same tune.
Some on social media believed the horns are being heard further away from the tracks because of trees that have been cleared along tracks and right of ways where equipment is being brought in for the massive commuter rail construction project.
However, Joe Pesturo, communications director at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, said he doesn't believe that's why more residents are hearing the train horns.
"The likely reason that some residents are hearing more train horns is because of the work taking place along the railroad right-of-way," he told the Standard-Times in an email. "For safety reasons, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requires that engineers sound the trains horns when passing through an area in which workers are nearby."
This would account for the horns being heard by residents who never heard them before — because they are being blown at more locations along the track than at just the required crossings.
"I'd assume they are more frequent and louder due to the work being done on the tracks in preparation of the commuter rail," said Wendy Bell-Bethoney of Lakeville. "I think the overall concern will be the noise pollution once the commuter rail is operational."
She surmised that since each crossing requires a series of safety horns and with increased trains it will exacerbate the noise level.
"I believe there are 12 crossings in Freetown with six peak hour trains a day and two to three trains running every three hours on off hours. That's a lot of horns throughout the day in town," Bell-Bethoney said.
South Coast Rail is part of the state's $8 billion, five-year capital investment program, and will offer a transit connection between southeastern Massachusetts and Boston. Riders will be able to take a one-seat trip—no transfers needed—for the first time since the late 1950s. New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton are the only major cities within 50 miles of Boston that do not currently have commuter rail access to Boston.
According to the South Coast Rail website, freight trains currently operate along existing tracks, but they are infrequent. The commuter rail trains will "run multiple trips every day beginning in late 2023."
MBTA noted that funding will be provided for a set of alternative noise mitigation measures to owners of properties that are affected by noise above the impact level. The details of this program for affected homes and apartments are under development. Property owners will be contacted directly when the program is implemented, according to the South Coast Rail website.
New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton are currently undergoing construction of layover stations — work that is supposed to be prevalent over the next several weeks, according to South Coast Rail project manager Jean Fox.
The Train Horn Rule and Quiet Zones
According to the FRA, under the Train Horn Rule (49 CFR Part 222), locomotive engineers must begin to sound train horns at least 15 seconds, and no more than 20 seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings. If a train is traveling faster than 60 mph, engineers will not sound the horn until it is within 1/4 mile of the crossing, even if the advance warning is less than 15 seconds.
Train horns must be sounded in a standardized pattern of 2 long, 1 short and 1 long blasts. The pattern must be repeated or prolonged until the lead locomotive or lead cab car occupies the grade crossing.
There is also something called Quiet Zones that can be granted to those communities who have successfully made such a request to the FRA.
In a quiet zone, according to the FRA, railroads have been directed to cease the routine sounding of their horns when approaching public highway-rail grade crossings. Train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with other federal regulations or railroad operating rules. Localities desiring to establish a quiet zone are first required to mitigate the increased risk caused by the absence of a horn.
Establishing a quiet zone requires following a set of intricate criteria. Communities must install Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs) such as medians or channelization devices, one‐way streets with gates, four quadrant gate systems, and temporary or permanent crossing closures at their own co.
Back in 2018, the Lakeville selectmen asked the FRA to establish quiet zones at road crossings in neighborhoods along the rail lines.
State Rep. Norman Orrall, who represents Lakeville, Middleboro, East Taunton and Berkley, said a bond authorization in the Transportation Bond Bill of 2020 was secured that would "add additional equipment to the crossings that exist" in those communities to make them quiet zones.
"The request to make them silent crossings needs to come from each individual municipality," Orrall added. "There is a lot of work to make them a reality, but at least the initial steps have begun."
Orrall said he has also filed legislation to form a commission to "review the tree clearing practices of the MBTA and other agencies." He noted that in his experience as a transportation engineer, "a little thought and flexibility when it comes to removing natural barriers of sound like trees and other vegetation can help projects to be more successful."
Full steam ahead for planned work over the next few weeks
The most recent project update on the South Coast Rail website states that work will continue on tree clearing along the right-of-way from the East Taunton Station site heading south. Other ongoing work includes ground survey, site preparation, sheet pile wall installation, drainage and utility installation, and equipment, material and soil deliveries occurring at the station and layover sites and along the railroad right-of-way from Middleboro to New Bedford. There is also continued installation of steel sheeting for retaining walls in the railroad right-of-way from I-495 in Middleboro to Old Colony Avenue in Taunton. Next week steel sheeting begins from the East Taunton Station site heading south on the New Bedford Main Line.
As always, the project updates note that ongoing work may be disruptive to residents and that crews are using various pieces of heavy equipment and trucks along the railroad right-of-way. Low to moderate noise levels and vibrations will be generated.
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