NEWS

Quiet zone project moving forward

Keith Roysdon
kroysdon@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE The city of Muncie is moving forward with its plan to lessen the noise from train whistles downtown.

The city Board of Works and Public Safety on Wednesday approved an agreement with city consulting firm HWC for surveying several railroad crossings downtown and near downtown.

The survey is part of the city’s ongoing effort to quiet train noise in a quiet zone along tracks used by CSX and Norfolk Southern on the southern edge of downtown.

Mayor Dennis Tyler has earmarked $5 million in proceeds from a recent bond issue — which also included funding for a city parking garage — for the quiet zone, which could include safety improvements at some street-level railroad crossings to eliminate the need for the trains to sound their whistles.

The tracks are near the under-construction Courtyard by Marriott hotel and city parking garage, on the southern edge of downtown near the Horizon Convention Center.

During a Tuesday economic development meeting, Tyler was asked about the timeline of the quiet zone project.

Tyler — who noted in humorous fashion that the railroads “were here before Muncie” — said the railroad companies had said their cost estimates for construction in the quiet zone were due to be delivered to the city soon. Several months ago, the city entered into agreements allowing officials to negotiate those costs with the rail companies.

“We have $5 million in the bank,” Tyler said. Once the city has cost estimates from the railroads, public hearings will be held and then construction can begin.

During Wednesday’s board of works meeting, HWC senior project manager Dick Weigel said his firm would survey several areas in the projected quiet zone for various improvements and changes that would have to be made, including those to utilities, driveways and buildings. Cost of the survey is $18,800.

The survey work will be done along Council, Liberty, Walnut, Monroe, Hackley and Willard streets.

Streets that might be closed as part of the quiet zone project are Council, Liberty, Jefferson, Elm, Vine, Pershing and Sixth where they intersect with railroad tracks.

“The city is ready,” Tyler said, adding that quiet zone work could be completed by spring. The hotel and city parking garage are due to be completed in fall 2015.

Contact Keith Roysdon at 765-213-5828 and follow him on Twitter: @keithroysdon